Jurgen Van Vlasselaer: “When it comes to building PoPs, I give the full monty”

In We Are Circet we introduce both the new recruits and seasoned professionals in our team. Get to know Jurgen Van Vlasselaer.

Function: Construction Manager 

Employed since: One and a half years (23 years of seniority all together). Worked at INTTOS, which was acquired by Circet

Jurgen, at Circet you are the man for anything PoP. Tell me: what is a PoP anyway?

“PoP is short for Point of Presence. A PoP is a technical location from which private users are connected to a fibre network. You have 2 types of PoPs: an ‘area PoP’ and a ‘central PoP’.

 On average, every 3,000 homes can be connected to one area PoP. In a given city or municipality, you'll have several PoPs connected to each other. Together, they are the heart of a fibre-optic distribution network.”

You build those PoPs. How do you go about it?

“To take a recent example: we built the first PoP for Unifiber on behalf of and in consultation with Automation. As soon as the order is received, we check out the location in consultation with both the end customer and the client to see how we will design the PoP. Naturally, we take into account the requirements of the (end) customer as well as the contextual circumstances. As soon as all these parameters have been mapped out, we start working on detailed budgeting: which materials should we order, who will contribute to this project?”

There is a lot to consider when building a PoP. I manage the whole process from engineering to invoicing.” - Jurgen Van Vlasselaer, Construction Manager 

“I start by preparing a profit and loss account and overview of activities (P&L forecast). I then agree on a schedule with the client, and the work starts. I take care of the daily follow-up and consult the civil engineering partner who carries out the works. I also facilitate biweekly meetings with the client and try to think proactively. I leverage my expertise to put forward possible solutions and ensure that construction runs as smoothly as possible. This also makes sure I can consolidate the long-term partnerships with the client.”

“Finally, quality inspections and subsequent invoicing are also my responsibility. Of course there is much more to it, but I can say that I give the full monty when it comes to building PoPs.”

“It's obvious there should be an evaluation after every project.” - Jurgen Van Vlasselaer, Construction Manager 

Which challenges do you face? 

“The hardest things are the things you can’t control, like work you entrust to third parties. Here's an example: quality controls, such as checking whether ducts are positioned properly. But the site layout or minor contextual circumstances – such as a simple parking ban – can also cause problems. In my job I cannot take anything for granted.”

How do you ensure that Circet as an organisation learns from such projects?

“After every project, I carry out an evaluation. What went well? What could be improved? How can we optimize this process for the next project? There are always areas where we can improve. And streamlining processes is an important focus for Circet.”

Are you getting good support from Circet to do your job?

“Absolutely. I am given a lot of autonomy to do my work, within a clear framework provided by Circet. Circet relies on my experience and expertise; we have built a strong bond based on trust. To achieve this, communication and transparency are crucial, on both sides.”

Would you recommend your job to others?

“Certainly, but you have to be able to handle stress. There is a lot involved in this job: guaranteeing quality to clients, carrying out the work with precision, monitoring and managing projects proactively... If you don't, you will quickly lag behind.”

“In this job you have to be able to handle stress well.”   
Jurgen Van Vlasselaer, Construction Manager  

Finally, what tip do you have for a colleague who just started at Circet?  

“Working in telecoms can be very stressful. Set aside plenty of 'me time' and try to maintain your individuality. From a professional point of view, the key words in this job are preparation and correct proactive engineering for a project. You have to have a plan B for everything. It ensures peace of mind not just for you, but also for the construction site. The more you've prepared, the fewer the surprises!”