Salman Qureshi

Accomplished Senior Program Manager with extensive experience in the ICT industry, honed over 20 years with Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent. Track record of delivering high-value, complex projects exceeding USD 40.0M annually across the Middle East and North America. Proficiency spans project transformation, strategic planning, seamless execution, service delivery, and contract negotiations. Excelled in fostering robust customer relationships and spearheading pioneering initiatives like deploying the first-ever 5G Pilot with Nokia Airscale, 5G-NSA/SA Core Integration, and massive MIMO radio introduction for TELUS Canada. Notable contributions include aiding in Saudi Arabia's inaugural 4G-LTE Network Launch and pioneering 3G system trials and launches for Cingular and AT&T Wireless in the USA. With over 15 years of project management experience, adeptly navigating Agile and traditional methodologies, guiding projects to success with a versatile leadership style. Engaged with executives, stakeholders, and managers in negotiations, consistently delivering solutions within budget and timeline constraints.

• PMP Certified (Project Management Professional)
• AWS Certified Solution Architect-Associate
• Certified LTE NCS- Nokia Certified Solution Associate
• Nokia SDM Certified - Service Delivery Manager (Project Management)
• Nokia Certified SI Project Management – System Integration PM

• Successfully turned around implementation to achieve exceptional P&L; revamped customer relationship management, delivery strategy, implemented effective project controls and helped boost the overall image.
• Successfully deployed Greenfield, Swap and Overlay RAN Networks (5G/4G/3G/2G) in various markets.
• Provided leadership and direction to site deployment project managers, field engineers and SMEs.
• Recruited and developed technical and support staff enhancing execution and operational capabilities.
• Led new technology/nodes integration with Fault Management, Performance Management, Problem Management systems and full process integration with operations and optimization teams.
• Led E2E services delivery of new technologies (RAN, Core), post-integration support, O&M coaching/handover & closeout of all activities.
• Daily Tracking & update of existing & upcoming RAN deployment and NPI Lab program to successfully introduce New HW/SW Solutions and Features testing.
• Delivered 5G NSA and 5G SA trial in lab, production deployment for swap and new sites in n66,n71,n78 bands.
• Successfully demonstrated the first Nokia cloud RAN and 5G SA Radio Slicing Cloud Project for TELUS Lab Trial. Also, supported cloud based Netact 22, DCAP, UTF and Nokia SmartNode CloudOAM and NB-IOT Lab & Field Trials.
• Successfully delivered E2E Nokia FEMTO Smartnode Project for Rogers Wireless.
• Implemented Project Control and Monitoring Mechanism to review and update key stakeholders on project progress and effective issues-resolutions.
• Delivered target financial KPIs, REB/asset reduction, budgeting, revenue collection for entire program.
• Effectively led strategy planning, regular risk reviews for risk identification & mitigation.
• Handled customer relationships to keep them updated on project progress, schedules & change management.
• Managed relationships with 15+ vendors and services suppliers to deliver project milestones of cost, quality and time.
• Successfully delivered on time/quality/budget complex projects: ~1800 swap sites to Nokia RAN including 4G (FDD/TDD) Nokia AirScale, 3G/2G Single-RAN HW from MV systems (Ericsson, Motorola, Huawei and Samsung).
• Achieved successful BSCs Modernization to support Full IP solution via Juniper MX/Nokia-7750 Switches.
• Managed Saudi Arabia's biggest 2G/3G Zain rollout project for 450 greenfield sites, 200 Hajj sites and ~350 Broadband Sites Rollout.
• Accomplished successful launch of High-Profile King Abdullah Economic City Project & HHR (Haramain Railway) and NEOM Projects with 2G/3G and 4G Services.
• Successful implementation of Nokia NetAct/OSS & NPM upgrades to Rel-18 RAN HW and SW Upgrades.
• Successfully led design of UMTS network to provide 1-1 coverage on existing GSM footprint. Also delivered design & Integration of multiple technologies, GSM/GPRS/3G on existing TDMA sites utilizing antenna sharing solution.
• Led site surveys, issuing site RF design datasheets, defining drive test routes/clusters and collecting data for TDMA-850 for benchmarking. Followed by RF sites surveys audits, antenna and tilt (RET/MET) verification to improve network performance.
• Supported network data provisioning to define new Node-BS, and 2G/3G neighbor list definition and other parameters to build complete data fill.
• Implemented antenna changes, neighbor optimization, parameter tuning and hardware issues were fixed which resulted in tremendous quantifiable success to reduce drop call rates, HO failures, pilot pollution.
• Successfully led network planning and optimization to assure peak performance during variable loads as well provide the best possible coverage and capacity solutions.
• Led the deployment of Cingular UMTS-HSDPA overlay networks in Ohio and Utah States with more than 1000 Node-Bs and 5 RNCs.
• Successfully delivered on 1st UMTS Trial for AT&T Wireless in Miami with 250 Node-Bs & for Cingular Wireless in Atlanta with 40 Node-Bs overlay on existing TDMA/GSM/GPRS network.
• Worked with RF Design and Optimization team for 1200 GSM/GPRS-1900 overlay deployment on existing TDMA System in NY/NJ markets.
• Pre-sales activities such as NPI (New Product Introduction) Lab Program Management, new product/feature demonstrations, trials management and RFP responses.
• Provided on and off-site implementation, hands-on training and mentoring. Provided customer feedback to multivendor R&D teams for bug fixes & future enhancements.
• Worked closely with other technical support/product line, solutioning experts in serving the needs of customers in understanding operational and engineering requirements as well as products and solutions mapping.