PSTN & Broadband Line Audit - Interims - IT, Digital, Media & Marketing in Lincoln

The Council is seeking an experienced IT contractor to undertake a comprehensive audit of all PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and broadband connections across the organisation. The purpose of this project is to identify which telecom and broadband lines are still required, determine ownership, validate supplier information, and recommend services that can be retained or safely disconnected. The audit will help reduce unnecessary costs, improve governance, and optimise the Council's telecommunications estate. This role requires excellent analytical skills, stakeholder engagement, data management, and experience working with telecom infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit Existing Telecom Services

• Identify and catalogue all PSTN and broadband connections.
• Review:
• PSTN lines
• DSL circuits
• FTTC
• FTTP
• Leased lines
• Compare supplier invoices with internal records and available asset databases.
• Carry out site validation where required.

• Collect Detailed Information

• For every telecom line, record:
• Circuit ID / Line reference
• Physical location
• Business purpose
• Associated service or system
• Service owner
• Site contact
• Supplier/provider
• Contract information
• Service costs (where available)

• Validate Business Requirements

• Work directly with service owners and site contacts to determine:
• Whether each line is still required
• Whether services can be consolidated
• Whether lines can be migrated
• Whether services should be disconnected

• Identify:

• Active services
• Redundant lines
• Lines without an identified owner
• Services requiring further review

Deliverables

• Master Audit Register

• A complete Excel (or agreed format) register including:
• All telecom lines
• Captured data
• Status of every service: Keep, Cease, Under Review

• Audit Findings Report

• Total number of lines audited
• Status breakdown
• Risks and issues
• Duplicate services
• Orphaned connections
• Cost-saving opportunities
• Recommendations for service optimisation

• Cessation Schedule

• Produce a prioritised list of services recommended for disconnection, grouped by:
• Supplier
• Site
• Risk level
• Business impact

Audit & Governance Requirements

• Maintain a complete audit trail throughout the project, including:
• Communications with stakeholders
• Decision logs
• Email approvals
• Supporting evidence
• Version-controlled audit documentation

The work must comply with the Council's governance and audit standards, ensuring transparency, traceability, and accountability.

Project Methodology

• Phase 1 - Discovery

• Gather telecom data
• Review existing records
• Reconcile supplier information

• Phase 2 - Validation

• Engage with stakeholders
• Verify service ownership
• Confirm business requirements

• Phase 3 - Reporting

• Finalise audit register
• Produce recommendations
• Present findings
• Identify cost-saving opportunities

Additional Responsibility - Soft Cease Activity

• If project time allows, you'll also:
• Raise soft cease requests with suppliers for redundant services
• Monitor request progress
• Track dependencies and contractual restrictions

All cease requests must receive Council approval before submission and be fully documented.

Reporting & Communication

• Weekly progress updates
• Audit status reports
• Escalation of issues and risks
• Updates on savings opportunities
• Final presentation of findings and recommendations

Responsibilities

• Contractor

• Deliver the telecom audit
• Maintain complete audit records
• Engage with stakeholders
• Produce reports and recommendations
• Ensure high-quality documentation

• Council

• Provide access to available records
• Introduce service owners
• Review and approve cease recommendations

What Success Looks Like

• A complete inventory of telecom lines has been created.
• Every service has been reviewed and classified.
• Ownership has been identified wherever possible.
• Redundant services have been clearly identified.
• Cost-saving opportunities have been evidenced.
• A complete audit trail has been maintained.
• Final recommendations have been delivered to the Council.

Ideal Candidate

• Telecoms or network infrastructure audits
• PSTN and broadband services
• Asset management
• IT infrastructure documentation
• Data analysis and reconciliation
• Excel and reporting
• Stakeholder engagement
• Governance and compliance
• Producing technical reports and audit documentation