Two new senior professionals from the telecom operator world have joined Nova Incepta’s growing team of associate consultants as the company seeks to strengthen its expertise in advising telecoms operators on their networking and convergence options.

Jerry Rabast and Chris Petra are both veterans of the telco world with many years of experience working for a number of operators. They both have significant experience in the specification, design, build and operation of telecoms operators’ networks covering both mobile and fixed line. Jerry worked previously as the CTO of a major telecoms operator and led a modernisation programme that included next generation networks, DWDM transport systems and 3G mobile networks. Chris is an architecture specialist and has been involved in the evolution of the legacy Public Switched Telecommunications Network from analogue to digital to IP based “Next Generation Network” architecture, supporting both legacy PSTN/ISDN services and SIP based IP multimedia services.

Jerry and Chris are joining a growing team of experts who together deliver a comprehensive range of services to the telecoms industry. Nova Incepta operates globally to provide people and skills for telecoms projects world-wide. The company delivers a proven range of engineering, operations, regulatory and sales consultancy services to the telecoms industry, in areas such as network transformation, number portability, repairs, network interconnect, optimisation and security, legacy technology support and training & education.

Managing Director, Richard Kendall, said: “Telecoms operators are under extreme pressure to cut their costs and yet deliver ever-improving services and more bandwidth. We make it our business to have the right people in place to complement our customers’ in-house skills by taking on a highly skilled and experienced professional to help with the change and migration for a limited period. Chris and Jerry have worked in these environments and are familiar with the concerns and drivers that telcos face. They can bring real tangible benefit to programmes of changing network architecture, convergence and VoIP programmes .”

Jerry Rabast – expert in carrier networks
Jerry has over 30 years’ experience in the field of telecommunications and has held roles as CTO at Jersey Telecom and more recently Marathon Telecom. He was involved in the creation of an IP backbone using a new “Liberty” submarine cable from Guernsey to the UK including an upgrade to the transmission capacity via DWDM on Jersey and also providing an additional link through France to London. He also worked on Jersey Telecom’s specification and procurement by competitive tender of a fixed Next Generation Network, to replace existing exchanges and broadband infra-structure. This included ADSL2+ for integration to an IP core and SIP/VoIP technology for deployment as IP-Centrex and interconnect, amongst many other projects.

Chris Petra – architecture specialist in telco networks
Chris has over 30 years’ experience in the field of telecommunications, holding a number of senior technology-based roles at Jersey Telecom, including Manager of Core Networks, Technology & Planning Division, Shared Services. Chris has successfully utilised his skills in the evolution of the legacy Public Switched Telecommunications Network from analogue to digital to IP-based “Next Generation Network” architecture, supporting both legacy PSTN/ISDN services and SIP based IP multimedia services. In addition, the implementation of a GSM-based Public Land Mobile Network and its evolution from 2G to 3G to 2G/3G IP-based call server architecture, paving the way for a move to 4G/LTE technology.