Services

BSP offers a comprehensive range of technical and operations due diligence services for strategic and non-strategic buy side and sell side clients. The services range from the evaluation of data centers to the assessment of fiber, coax, copper, fixed wireless and subsea networks in North America, Latin America and Europe. In addition, we can assist State Broadband Offices across America in their technical scoring of grant applications.

Data CentersNetworksSubsea SystemsInternationalGovernment

Data Centers

BSP supports investors and data center owners with buyside and sell side technical due diligence. To conduct a thorough data center assessment, BSP utilizes a two-phase approach. The first phase is the Red Flags Assessment and starts with many questions about these areas: Physical Facility; Power Infrastructure; Cooling / HVAC Infrastructure; Fire Suppression; Cabling Infrastructure & Management, and Data Center Operations. We find many answers in the virtual data room. For additional answers and greater clarity, we interview the technical and operations leaders of the data center.

A Phase 1 Red Flags Assessment report is produced and presented. Any issues of concern are noted. The particularly problematic areas are designated with a red or yellow flag. Remediation steps are recommended. Following Phase 1, Phase 2 is conducted. This is the On-site Validation Phase. This consists of a physical inspection of the data center elements analyzed as part of Phase 1. A Phase 2 Report is produced and presented. Any concerns are noted. The significant issues are marked as a red or yellow flag. Remediation steps are recommended. The duration of each phase is two to four weeks. A sample report can be accessed here.

Randy Kinsey is our Data Center technical leader. He led the design, construction, and operation of the Charter Communications 100,000 square foot engineering facility in Denver, Colorado. This facility includes a dedicated 25,000 square foot data center which was built, maintained, and operated as a production environment. In addition, for several operators, Randy has been the tenant in multiple colocation facilities. To hear Randy’s perspective on data center evaluation, click on the photo for an interview conducted at Metro Connect.

Networks

BSP supports investors and service providers at each stage of the bid process and on private deals – as the buyside or sell side technical advisor. We fully evaluate the quality of operating fiber, coax, copper and fixed wireless networks as well as analyze future upgrade and expansion plans.

To conduct a complete network due diligence, BSP utilizes a two-phase approach. The first phase is the Red Flags Assessment – consisting of a desktop analysis and management interviews conducted remotely. This phase starts with approximately 100 questions about the areas shown in the chart below. We find many answers in the technical documents uploaded to the virtual data room. To get additional answers and greater clarity, we interview the service provider’s technical and operations leaders.

Within two to four weeks, a 50+ page Phase 1 Red Flags Assessment report is produced and presented. Any issues of concern are noted. The particularly problematic areas are designated with a red or yellow flag. Remediation steps are recommended. A sample Phase 1 report can be accessed here.

Following Phase 1, Phase 2 is conducted. This is the On-site Validation Phase. Representative sites of the system are inspected and photographed. This includes:

  • Network Core
  • Inside Plant
  • Outside Plant
    • Cabinet Sites
    • Manholes/Handholes
    • Splice Points
  • Central Offices
  • Circuit Terminations
  • Colocations
  • Customer Installation
  • Network Operations Center
  • Support Facilities/Resources
    • Warehouse
    • Vehicle Maintenance
  • Tools & Test Equipment
  • Construction Machinery

A Phase 2 Report is produced and presented. As with the Phase 1 Report, any concerns are noted. The significant issues are marked as a red or yellow flag. Remediation steps are recommended. The duration of Phase 2 is also typically two to four weeks.

On occasion, clients request a deep assessment of OSS/BSS systems. For this, we turn to an external expert with decades of experience helping service providers overcome OSS/BSS challenges and develop future plans.

Across 80+ engagements, BSP has seen the good, the bad and ugly. Those unfortunate findings are highlighted in Telecom Technical Due Diligence Discoveries.

Subsea Systems

For subsea telecommunications opportunities, we work with a subsea specialist who has been involved in this sector since the 1990s. Having worked worldwide as an operator, supplier, and customer, this expert is experienced in all phases of subsea system design, procurement, deployment, operations and maintenance.

International

BSP has been the technical advisor to private equity firms, infrastructure funds and public pension funds considering opportunities in Canada, Mexico, Brazilthe UKIreland, Denmark and The Netherlands. Also, we have supported leading service providers in Australia and New Zealand.

Government

We are former service provider executives with direct experience in building networks via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). For example, a member of our team used CAF2, RDOF and ACAM funds to construct systems in several states.

We apply that experience together with our knowledge from 80+ due diligence projects, to help State Broadband Offices evaluate the technical capabilities of BEAD subgrant applicants as well as the technical designs, proposed budgets and project readiness.

What level of scrutiny will each State apply? To learn about some of the scoring criteria we would recommend, please click here.