The channel’s Women in Technology agenda has hit an inflection point where heightened awareness must be converted into tangible progress – and men need to play their part.
Fri, 24/06/2022 - 15:30
Product availability issues and disruption to supply chains are likely to plague altnets for some time to come, warned Comtec Head of FTTx Sales and Business Developments John Greene, who explained how the company is helping to offset these impacts.
“The last couple of years had a huge impact on global supply chains with soaring costs in manufacturing and logistics and added geopolitical tensions likely to persist,” he stated.
Greene explains how Comtec is leveraging 40+ years of industry experience to ensure altnets and their build partners have access to the quality fibre infrastructure products they need to install, commission and maintain fit-for-the-future full fibre networks.
“We are mitigating supply chain issues with global sourcing, materials forecasting and investment in stock,” said Greene. In the UK alone, Comtec has grown its stock from £11m to over £21m in the last 12 months.
This cache of supplies covers fibre cable, PPE, site equipment, tools and consumables through to installation, commissioning and test equipment from over 750 global sourcing, manufacturing and supply partners.
Greene said: “Our supply chain solutions support the altnet community with product sourcing and procurement, forecasting and inventory management, kitting and technical support and asset management and logistics.”
Comtec’s ability to enhance its supply chain proposition and invest in stock was boosted following its acquisition by ETC Group back in 2020. The combined entity is backed by global investment with the Group announcing earlier this month that international private equity firm, Cinven has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake from Carlyle. Carlyle will reinvest for a significant minority stake in the Group.
“ETC Group has nearly two million square feet of warehousing capacity globally making us agile to deliver product when and where it’s needed, whether that’s direct to ISPs or to their build partners,” said Greene. “The Group also boasts an impressive R&D facility to facilitate joint developments and gets product innovations out to market quickly.”
Comtec underpins its product distribution service with tailored managed supply chain solutions, engaging with customers in a consultative capacity to understand their pain points. It then proposes solutions that deliver benefits such as reducing costs, improving efficiency and reducing risk.
“We are helping altnets to build quality and robust networks that remain flexible for growth,” said Greene.
“Networks need to be upgradeable at minimum cost and with the least disruption to the customer.”
Greene’s experience comes from 40 years’ in the telecoms industry having worked his way through the ranks starting in 1980 as an apprentice in BT to holding senior leadership roles in BT Wholesale and Openreach.
Upon leaving Openreach in 2016, he worked as a telecoms consultant and business advisor to ISPs.
He said: “Having predominantly worked on fibre product and network design, with business development responsibilities driving product innovation, value and best in class products, I understand and empathise with the challenges that our altnets and their partners are facing.”
