Consolidating EE’s IT applications estate

Both the Orange and T-Mobile brands had been expanded successfully over 20 years in a period of rapid growth for mobile communication services in the UK. These periods of growth included many acquisitions, for example the merger of Freeserve into Wanadoo and subsequent merger into Orange, as well as rapid development of new segments such as Pay-As-You-Go. Rapid growth in both companies naturally led to compromises being made with new systems being launched to support new services or segments with minimal thought for reuse or the complexity being created. The establishment of EE in 2010 added an additional level of complexity to an already complex picture

In 2011, Mosaic Island were invited to support the formation of a delivery programme called Telco50, which was designed to implement and drive forward EE’s IT system consolidation strategy. The programme was vital, given that both companies were subject to prior rapid growth, acquisitions, mergers and previous consolidation. Compromises had been made with systems being launched to support new services, or segments installed with minimal thought for reuse or the complexity being created. It was time for a fresh start.

Project Scope:

EE wanted to implement a programme called Telco50 which was designed to implement and drive forward their IT system consolidation strategy.

44%

reduction in applications estate in five years

50%

reduction of application estate forecast by end of 2015

£40M

Forecast Net Opex reduction in next 4.5 years

COST

efficiency alignment

Our Approach:

  • We defined the target capability model
  • Current state component catalogue rationalistion
  • Strategy definition for each component
  • Delivery vehicle roadmap definition
  • Establishment of programme governance and reporting

Results:

  • Clear application strategy enabling prioritisation and alignment of cost efficiency with business ambition
  • In five years, the application estate has been reduced by 44%
  • Application estate reduction forecast to be 50% by end of 2015
  • Forecast Net Opex reduction of over £40m in the next 4.5 years

Mosaic Island have been instrumental in building the understanding of the existing IT estate, defining strategies for rationalisation, defining programmes and projects as part annual planning and driving forward business as usual decommissioning activity. I would more than recommend other businesses to bring in Mosaic Island where rationalisation is required.

- Chris Barnard, Director of Architecture & Strategy