As part of its Network Infrastructure Transformation project, EE has had much to do in terms of decommissioning its old technology environment and legacy network.
EE’s ambitious network infrastructure transformation programme presented one of the most complex challenges in UK telecommunications:
Decommissioning legacy systems whilst managing critical services for over 70 major customers, including essential blue light services.
The merger of T-Mobile and Orange UK created an opportunity to consolidate network infrastructure, but success depended on orchestrating this transformation without disrupting customer traffic.
We reveal how Flint Technology Services (Flint TS) partnered with EE to deliver a two-year legacy network decommissioning programme.
This programme halved switch sites, released key customers from outdated equipment, and delivered significant cost savings whilst enhancing customer experience.
The Challenge
The creation of EE through the merger of the T Mobile and Orange UK has offered the new company a great opportunity to optimise its network infrastructure to improve customer experience.
This has included removing a great deal of legacy equipment.
It was essential that this should be effected without impacting customer traffic, so Neil Dix, Senior Manager of Mobile Network Infrastructure Transformation at EE called on Flint TS to assist with the programme.
We spoke to Neil Dix to get his feedback on how the project had gone:
“Over a two-year programme, we wished to halve the number of switch sites – which in itself is a challenge.
Added to that, we were fortunate enough to have lots of blue light services as customers.
So, managing this programme of consolidation with care was crucial, as you can imagine.
With the Legacy Network Decommissioning programme, we set ourselves the challenge of optimising our service to some 70+ major customers, and in doing so, releasing those users from older legacy equipment.
These are key customers and there are many internal stakeholders to manage in such a conversation.
After Flint’s great engagement in the Technology Environment Decommissioning programme, I felt they had the expertise and capability to help with this programme.”
The Solution
“As a first stage, we identified customers and their user base – no mean feat in itself – and got to understand what services they were really using.
The first phase was delivered on time and gave us real legitimacy when talking to the wider organisation, as we all now understood the customers’ usage patterns, and had that information at our fingertips.
It’s perfectly natural but there’s always resistance to change.
Flint TS contributed tremendously.
Their detailed understanding helped us prove to internal stakeholders the common sense of our approach.
Flint has even been part of the customer conversations, where useful, and helped explain our logic for changing.”
The Result
Neil Dix concluded,
“I’m very satisfied with the work we’ve managed together. All the work has been achieved without a major outage or loss of a major customer.
I don’t think we could have envisioned such a good outcome and it’s in great part, a testament to the Flint Technology Services’ competence and effectiveness.
The management of legacy systems to elegantly decommission, whilst creating cost savings and, in parallel, improving the customer experience is complicated, detailed, time-consuming work.
But performed well – as we have with the Flint partnership – it brings great corporate benefits.”
Partnering with Flint TS
Flint TS specialises in managing complex legacy system decommissioning and infrastructure transformation programmes that deliver tangible business benefits without service disruption.
Our deep expertise in customer engagement, stakeholder management, and detailed technical planning ensures smooth transitions from outdated systems to modern infrastructure.
Whether you’re consolidating network sites, migrating customers from legacy equipment, or optimising infrastructure following a merger or acquisition, Flint TS brings the proven competence and strategic insight needed to achieve your transformation goals with confidence.
Ready to transform your network infrastructure?