Global Events

Arcstar Carrier Forum 2011

Since 2000, NTT Communications Corporation has been hosting Arcstar Carrier Forum (ACF) in an effort to improve the operation and delivery quality of its Arcstar Global Network Service. This annual event provides an opportunity for international partner carriers that supply access circuits to come together and report on the results of their efforts, share horizontal deployment case studies and know-how, and discuss concrete measures for improvement.

Background

Network problems

In response to the demanding business continuity plans of its customers, NTT Communications is seeking to reduce the failure rate of international access circuits and ensure more stable end-to-end network connections. ACF was established as a stage for NTT Communications and partner carriers to more swiftly achieve these objectives by sharing aspirations, building trust and strengthening business collaboration.

^* Problems with access circuits in Japan, routers, Arcstar nodes and international cables.

Failure rate reductions among ACF participants

Partner carriers participating in ACF have been improving reliability year after year. By sharing common concerns and solutions at ACF, they have strengthened their quality control efforts, raised the quality of the overall network (including local access circuits) and realized service quality more satisfying to customers.

Circuit quality improvements among carriers participating in ACF

About ACF2011

NTT Communications and 21 partner carriers participated in ACF2011 in November 2011. Under the theme of customer-oriented operation, they held various discussions and defined higher customer satisfaction as their mutual objective.

Arcstar Carrier Forum 2011

ACF2011 Program

Sharing of NTT Communications' vision
Presentations by participants (partner carriers, customers, sponsors, etc.)
Sharing of operational know-how (workflows, tools, etc.)
Sharing and discussion of sample network development improvements and network issue solutions

Presentations by Participants

Vice President Satoru Taira of the Crisis Management Planning Office (Planning Division, Customer Services) gave a presentation on the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on network services. He also summarized the recovery efforts of the combined NTT group, which were uniformly praised by participating carriers. Following the presentation, many gathered around actual cables damaged by the earthquake to learn further details.

Another presentation, by a customer in the financial sector, dealt with the impact of network availability on annual transaction volume. By clearly illustrating the extent to which business suffers when network availability deteriorates, the presentation underscored the need to further improve service quality.

Group Discussions

There were two main discussions at AFC2011 Eone by those involved in network implementation and another by those involved in network operation and maintenance. Participants shared past problems, earnestly debated how to prevent their recurrence, and discussed what steps should be taken to swiftly resolve problems that do recur.

NTT Com Partner Carriers at the Arcstar Carrier Forum 2011

China:: China Telecom Guangdong Corporation
China:: China Telecommunications Corporation
China:: China United Network Communications Corporation Limited
Korea:: KT Corporation
France:: Orange Business Services
India:: Tata Communications Limited
Indonesia:: PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta
Indonesia:: PT Indosat Tbk
Malaysia:: Telekom Malaysia Berhad
Philippines:: Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company
Singapore:: StarHub Ldd
Soudt Africa:: Internet Solutions
Switzerland:: Swisscom Ldd
Taiwan:: Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ldd.
dtailand:: CAT Telecom Public Company Limited
UAE:: Etisalat
UK:: Interoute Communications Limited
USA:: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Vietnam:: Vietnam Data Communication Company
Vietnam:: VNPT Bac Ninh
Vietnam:: VNPT Hanoi

Through ACF, NTT Communications strives to solidify its partnerships with carriers, raise service quality and boost customer satisfaction worldwide.

Manager, Network Infrastructure, Internet Solutions

: Mr. Didit Rachmadi Hartono

Vice President, Corporate Sales II Division, PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta

: Mr. Armand Rahim

Head of Operations, North Asia, Customer Service and Operations, Orange

: Mr. Paul Kirwan

Vice President, Service Management, Tata

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A word from NTT Communications

We are very grateful that ACF2011 could be held in Japan only six months after the major earthquake and with so many partner carriers in attendance. Based on a theme of customer-oriented operation, participants engaged in various discussions and delved deeper into what customers want, as well as how to specifically meet their needs, than at previous ACF events.

NTT Communications presented its operational objectives along with messages from various customers and was delighted to hear from carriers that these presentations were easy to understand. In addition, NTT Communications introduced suggestions from the NTT Group on eBonding, EtherOAM and other mechanisms and technologies that can improve network services. This information should prove useful for carriers in the future.

Once a year, ACF provides a stage for discussing issues that should be tackled and measures that should be implemented. But discussions are just the beginning. NTT Communications aims to work closely with each carrier to achieve genuine improvements and continue meeting customer demands.