KCOM, a leading telecom provider in the United Kingdom, was tasked with implementing the One Touch Switch (OTS) regulatory change mandated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom). This initiative, aimed at enabling customers to switch broadband and phone service providers with ease, required significant technical and system integrations across the telecom sector. Given the complexity of the task and the tight timelines, KCOM turned to Planit for support in navigating this industry shift.
Our expertise in API and system integration testing proved invaluable, helping KCOM meet their regulatory commitments by delivering their working OTS solution ahead of industry timelines—an impressive feat that set the company apart in the telecom sector.
KCOM successfully delivered their working OTS solution ahead of industry timelines, setting them apart as a leader in regulatory compliance.
Reusable JSON API payloads were developed, covering the full OTS order lifecycle and facilitating easy adoption of future technical changes.
Compliance with Ofcom’s One Touch Switch regulatory change was achieved, with early integration approval secured.
Time-to-market was improved for future technical changes, with reusable API payloads providing a robust regression pack.
KCOM staff engagement and capability were enhanced through hands-on training, empowering teams to manage UAT and technical support independently.
The implementation of the OTS was challenging due to the need for seamless coordination across a fragmented telecom landscape, where different providers operated on varying systems and standards. KCOM needed to ensure that their systems could integrate smoothly with those of other providers, including Vodafone, Hyperoptic, and Sonalake. The complexity lay not only in aligning multiple providers but also in ensuring that each API interaction was flawless, especially under the pressure of industry-wide regulatory deadlines.
The early API testing phase was critical to achieving this, as it involved establishing, proving, and conducting API connectivity and message exchange between the central messaging hub for One Touch Switch (TOTSCo—The One Touch Switching Company) and other connected communication partners. This phase aimed to test and validate that KCOM’s technical design and build adhered to TOTSCo’s stringent technical specifications.
This two-month phase was a mandatory entry gate for progressing to full integration of KCOM’s front-office systems (Salesforce) and customer-facing web systems with the TOTSCo hub. Without meeting the TOTSCo integration test exit criteria during this phase, the next phase—linking actual front and back-office systems—would not have been permitted. Failure to advance would have jeopardised KCOM’s ability to meet regulatory mandates, potentially resulting in significant reputational and financial consequences.
Essentially, even a small error in API interactions could have caused service disruptions for customers. This made thorough testing essential to ensure seamless service switching. The regulatory framework further heightened the stakes, as any delays or failures in compliance could have serious ramifications for KCOM.
Given the high stakes, KCOM required a partner that could handle the intricacies of multi-party integrations and deliver a robust testing strategy to ensure compliance. They needed an expert who could ensure every aspect of the system was tested for scalability, accuracy, and real-world performance to avoid any glitches during the go-live phase.
KCOM’s decision to partner with Planit was rooted in the need for a team with deep technical knowledge and proven experience in regulatory projects. Our track record of delivering high-quality results in the telecom industry, coupled with their ability to offer hands-on, tailored support, made them the ideal choice. With Planit, KCOM had access to a full suite of services that not only helped them meet compliance deadlines but also empowered their internal teams for future success.
Download the full case study to learn why Planit was chosen and we went over and beyond to smash KCOM’s goals.
Reach out to us today to see if we can also help delight your customers and unlock more value from your systems!
We use cookies to optimise our site and deliver the best experience. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Please read our Cookie Policy for more information or to update your cookie settings.
