SRAN Specialist Planning and EMF

Purpose role

The RAN Specialist EMF, Environment & Planning is responsible for ensuring that radio access network (RAN) deployments comply with electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure regulations, environmental standards, and planning guidelines. He will conduct RF planning, EMF simulations, and compliance assessments while supporting site selection and approval. The role balances technical performance with health, safety, and sustainability standards in RAN infrastructure development and optimization.

Key responsibilities, accountabilities and decision ownership

RAN Planning

• Radio Network design and Planning: Develop and optimize radio access network designs (2G/3G/4G) based on coverage, capacity and quality requirement,
• Frequency and Parameter Planning: Manage spectrum utilization, frequence re-use, PCI/PSC planning and neighbor relations,
• Coverage and Capacity Forecasting: Analyze traffic trends, perform dimensioning studies and model network growth
• Site Selection Support: Participate in site surveys, candidate evaluations, and planning approvals with other teams (Acquisition, rollout, ….)

EMF Compliance

• EMF Simulations & Studies: Conduct EMF predictions and simulations to ensure compliance with Vodacom guidelines (International standards ICNIRP, IEEE)
• EMF Risk Mitigation: Define mitigation actions for high-exposure sites (Fencing, signage, power reduction…)
• Prepare EMF reports and documentation for audits
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise with other departments on EMF issues

Environment Management

• Coordinate environmental impact assessment (EIA) for site deployments,
• Provide technical data to Management.
• Ensure site compliance with environmental laws,
• Liaise with environmental consultants and public entity when required through Vodacom Legal team

Tool Management and automation

• Use and manage RF planning tool (Atoll), EMF tool (IXUS) and OSS (Huawei, ZTE)
• Ensure consistency between planned, built and live network configurations
• Reporting: Excel, Power Point, ….
• Promote use of AI/ML or automation for anomaly detection and self-healing
• Utilize analytics tools such crowdsourcing, Sonar, Smart planning, TEMS

Cross-functional coordination

• Interface with Project, transmission and core for integrated site planning
• Validate technical site survey report (TSSR) and approve RF design
• Provide technical support during site audit

Accountabilities

• Ensure RAN designs compliant with EMF limits and environment regulations
• Ensure RF KPI achieved: Coverage, throughput, call drop rate, …)
• Ensure site approvals for technical documents and compliance documentation before site deployment
• Accountable for timely submission of EMF and environment reports to Management
• Cross-functional Coordination
• Work closely with planning, rollout, transmission and core network teams.
• Coordinate actions following customer complaints, VIP issues, or coverage gaps.
• Interface with vendor partners to validate features, trials, or software upgrades

Tools and Automation

• Manage optimization tools
• Promote use of AI/ML or automation for anomaly detection and self-healing
• Oversee database integrity for live and planned configurations.
• Utilize analytics tools such crowdsourcing, Sonar, Smart planning, Attol, TEMS….

Decision ownership

• Ensure technical sites validations of all RAN site designs,
• Guarantee full EMF and environment compliance of existing and new sites,
• Deliver accurate planning documentation for Project team,
• Align planning activities with Business objectives, spectrum and network KPIs.

Core competencies, knowledge and experience

Technical

• Radion Access network planning & Optimization
• EMF compliance
• Environment Impact Assessment
• Spectrum management
• Site Engineering Integration

Analytical & Problem-Solving

• Ability to analyse KPI trends to guide panning decisions
• Assessment of EMF compliance risks before deployment
• Troubleshooting coverage gaps or environment non-conformities
• Excellent skills of Microsoft package mainly excel and power point.

Project & Communication Skills

• Stakeholders’ coordination with regulators and other department
• Preparation of technical reports
• Strong documentation and presentation abilities

Project Management

• Experience managing network improvement projects and trials (5G, SWAP, modernization, …)

Knowledge areas

• Wireless Technologies; GSM, UMTS and LTE including MIMO and Massive MIMO.
• Propagation Models: SPM, Okumura, …
• RF Planning &Simulation Tools: Attol, MapInfo, TEMS, 
• EMF Standards and Guidelines
• Environmental Impact Assessment and Environment Regulations

Experience

• +/- 3 years in a relevant planning & optimization (preferably multi-vendor and multi-technology)
• EMF Compliance: Hands-on experience in EMF modelling, simulation and field measurement
• Environmental management: Working with environmental engineers and agencies for site approval
• Project Execution: Delivering site rollout plans with EMF and Environmental compliance integrated from design to acceptance
• Tool familiarity: Experience with Atoll planning and MapInfo tools and process

Must have technical / professional qualifications:
 

• Bachelor’s degree (BAC+5) in electrical engineering (Telecommunications) or related fields 

Key performance indicators:

• Optimization for Vodafone KPIs: NED, Utilization (KPI110, KPI120 & KPI160 Series)
• Optimization for ARPTC KPIs as per scope agreement
• Site Planning On-Time: % of site plans delivered with project timeline
• % of sites that meet EMF compliance
• % of sites that meet Environment compliance
• Crowdsourcing (Accenture, Facebook, …) metrics 
• Drive test metrics    Direct reports:
• EHOD Radio Planning, Optimization and performance