Participating in a Yen Loan Consulting Project in Myanmar by Kiyokazu Ito
From August 2016 to March 2017, I participated for approximately six months as a transmission technology consultant in the consulting services for the Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) yen loan project, “Communication Network Improvement Plan.” My work involved the basic design of optical transmission line networks and the creation of procurement specifications for DWDM systems.
To cope with the rapidly increasing demand for communication, the “Communication Network Improvement Plan” aims to expand and enhance the core communication network connecting major cities in Myanmar, as well as the Yangon city communication network, including communication civil engineering, lines, transmission systems, and IP systems.
At the local consultant office, a total of about 20 Japanese and Myanmar engineers in the fields of civil engineering, lines, transmission, and IP nodes have been working with MPT engineers to materialize the communication network improvement plan through meetings and consultations.
In the transmission field, I have been engaged in the work, paying particular attention to the following points:
Having sufficient capacity to withstand the rapid increase in traffic and having expandability.
Creating a highly reliable transmission line network that can be automatically restored even in the event of simultaneous failures at two locations.
Realizing integrated maintenance and operation of the core transmission line network and the city network.
Furthermore, expanding to integrated maintenance and operation including existing transmission systems and IP node systems.
I had some experience in the maintenance and operation of transmission equipment, but little experience in research and development. I also had experience interacting with US telecommunications carriers, but no experience working overseas. This project was a major challenge for me, but with the support of JTEC and everyone at the local office, I was able to successfully complete my mission.
This project will continue until 2020, and I would definitely like to participate again if I have the opportunity.
Participating in a Project in Bangladesh by Tsutomu Sugimoto
I traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 9 to July 7, 2012 (28 days) to participate in the TNDP LOT-A proposal evaluation support work for the consultant project as part of the Bangladesh Telecom (BTCL) yen loan project.
My main task was to review the descriptions in the bid documents from the two bidders. This involved technically evaluating whether the contents of over 20 boxes of bid documents matched the contents of the specifications accurately within a few weeks.
The outside temperature exceeded 30°C every day, but the office environment was adequate with air conditioning.
This was the first project under the JTEC International Personnel Registration System and my first assignment. It was a business activity filled with great tension, a sense of mission, and fulfillment. I was able to leverage my past experience in similar consultant projects for Somalia, Jordan yen loans, and Myanmar grant aid, and with the support of JTEC and the cooperation of the members dispatched this time, I was able to complete the project successfully.
Group photo of TSC members (at the BTCL office in Dhaka)
Scenery of Dhaka City
(JTEC Note) We also received valuable opinions for JTEC, but we have omitted them from publication.
