At Tampnet, each employee's day is different. The technical team members in particular, spend their time managing connectivity across a diverse range of technologies serving clients spanning the global markets. We provide critical connectivity for businesses, governments and other organisations worldwide through our expansive fiber optic telecommunications network and complimentary LoS and wireless technologies.
We sat down with Silje Rugsveen, an Operations Engineer here at Tampnet, to learn more about her day-to-day responsibilities and what sets Tampnet apart from other companies in the industry.
A Lot Has Changed – and Now We Are Living in a Hybrid World
To celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, it's essential to take a moment to celebrate industries that have kept us connected during the pandemic, and particularly the people who work behind-the-scenes in the tech industry.
Silje pursued a career in tech, following in her parent's footsteps, who both worked in the telecommunications industry. She said, "I started playing games and exploring all the endless possibilities within computer applications from the age of 6 – It fascinated me on so many levels!"
This experience grew into a passion and sparked her desire to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. While the subjects were complex and some were particularly challenging, Silje said, “I found that I really enjoyed the programming and telecommunications subjects and this kept me motivated to keep going.” Ultimately, she chose a career in technology because of the endless possibilities the future holds.
When Silje first began her role at Tampnet, she imagined it to be very different. "As I had not really worked in an operational role before, I assumed my internship would take a form similar to an entry-level IT service desk job, helping users with quite basic telecoms issues. I very quickly found out that the NOC (Network Operations Centre) is so much more than that. I was paired with a senior engineer, trained on the specific technology and educated on the criticality of the service for our customer base. I was very quickly working with the team to monitor, troubleshoot, and correct faults in the entire global network and for multiple technology verticals such as fiber, LTE, radio, and so on.”
When quizzed further on the most challenging aspects, she notes “the most challenging scenarios are also the most exciting and satisfying to solve. The nature of such a diverse telecommunications network is such that we can deal with anomalies such as weather events one moment, and simple human error the next. Even the most well-laid plans can be disrupted by an event outside of your control, but the team dynamic, our network diversity and the technology we incorporate in our network means that we have the ability to overcome virtually anything!”
Diversifying the Telecommunications Industry
As Operations Engineer, Rugsveen's days are always different, and she enjoys the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the role. "I thrive on the variability of the role," Silje said. "One day, I might be working on a scheduled continuous improvement project for our network, and the next day I could be responding to an incident or helping a customer with something extraordinary. There is always something new to learn.”
Silje has been with Tampnet for over four years, starting as an intern, and following her internship, she was offered a full-time position. During this time, she's seen the company – and the telecommunications landscape as a whole – change rapidly.
"As industries and technologies have been developing, we have a lot more to take care of and monitor, as well as more customers and services," Rugsveen said of the changes she's seen at Tampnet. "Both Tampnet and our network will continue to grow. Tampnet’s Carrier services have developed so many new and unique routes in this time – we are offering a level of excellence that no one in the market can match. On top of this, Tampnet has expanded their services through the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada in this time. The need for high-speed connectivity and high capacity will continue to grow as industries continue to embrace digitization, new industries develop and users demand ‘always on’ connectivity."
The telecommunications industry is competitive, but Tampnet is well-positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for high-speed, low-latency networks. "We are offering our unique routes, low-latency, and high-capacity to these growing markets, providing the best service for the customers in Europe and worldwide. We are also providing services for IOT connection on Private networks on remote offshore facilities, bridging that final gap in the digitalization journey," Rugsveen said. However, the future does not just emphasize the telecommunications industry and its importance, but also the pivotal role of women working in this industry.
The Future of Telecommunications
As more and more companies enter the telecommunications market, it's becoming increasingly crucial for Tampnet to focus on differentiation. "In comparison to other companies, Tampnet is still at a manageable size to make decisions quickly, be flexible in our offering and meet the needs of unique customers," Rugsveen said. "The organic growth of the company has maintained a strong family culture, where the original team is still present, everybody knows each other, and the cooperation between the departments is cohesive." This family culture is evident in how Tampnet employees work together to find solutions for their customers. "We have a ‘can-do’ attitude and are not afraid to get our hands dirty to solve customer problems," Silje said. "I am proud to work for a company with such a positive and proactive culture."
"Both Tampnet and our network will continue to grow. Tampnet’s Carrier services have developed so many new and unique routes in this time – we are offering a level of excellence that no one in the market can match. On top of this, Tampnet has expanded their services through the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada in this time. The need for high-speed connectivity and high capacity will continue to grow as industries continue to embrace digitization, new industries develop and users demand ‘always on’ connectivity."
The telecommunications industry is constantly evolving, and Tampnet is poised to take advantage of the changes. "I am excited to see how 5G will develop and what opportunities this new technology will bring," Silje said. "I think it has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work." 5G is not the only change on the horizon for Tampnet – the company is also preparing for the future of the Internet of Things (IoT). "Tampnet is already working on projects to enable low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) that are needed for IoT applications," Silje said. "I think the potential for IoT is huge, and I am looking forward to seeing how it develops in the coming years.”
As the telecommunications landscape continues to transform, Tampnet will be there to meet the needs of its customers. With a reputation for excellent customer service, a commitment to reliability and ongoing development, the passionate team at Tampnet is driving a strategy of continued success for the future. Thanks to Silje and her colleagues, businesses all over the world can stay connected and keep communication lines open. As we celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, we would like to thank Silje Rugsveen and all the specialists in the telecommunications industry for their dedication and hard work.
Read more about our Women-In-Tech initiative here
Tampnet's Network Operations Centre
