How FastFiber Built a Future-Proof BSS Digital Platform
With Álvaro Oliveira, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at FastFiber
FastFiber, Portugal’s leading fiber wholesale operator, embarked on a major digital transformation journey to modernize its BSS ecosystem, accelerate innovation, and strengthen its competitive position in the market.
In this interview, Álvaro Oliveira, Chief Technology Officer at FastFiber, shares firsthand insights into the challenges, strategic decisions, and key success factors behind the implementation of a new digital BSS platform, developed in partnership with Readiness IT and powered by Kloudville Telecom 360.
Interview
Álvaro, what were the main technological challenges FastFiber faced before starting this digital transformation project?
Over the past few years, FastFiber has experienced significant growth in both operational scale and service diversity. However, its operation was supported by a BSS system that was no longer aligned with its current and future operational and business needs. A more future-proof solution was required enabling FastFiber to answer to its wholesale Customers faster, accelerate the launch of new offerings, and increase its overall operational efficiency, while also reducing its total cost of ownership (TCO). Most importantly, it was necessary to prepare the company for the years ahead, in a highly competitive and increasing digital market landscape.
What led FastFiber to seek an external partner to support this journey?
The complexity of the technological transition ahead required an independent, and highly specialized perspective. FastFiber was looking for a partner capable of helping in the definition of a robust digital architecture and ensuring that the chosen solution was aligned with its long-term strategy. That’s why FastFiber engaged Readiness IT, whose experience in Technology Advisory and Digital Transformation in the Telecom sector proved essential in supporting and guiding the company in the right direction for its transformation.
This implementation represents a major step forward in FastFiber’s digital evolution.
How did the selection process unfold, and why was Kloudville Telecom 360 BSS Suite chosen as the new platform?
FastFiber conducted a thorough and detailed evaluation of various market solutions. Kloudville Telecom 360 stood out for its deployment time-to-market, modularity, scalability, and ability to support FastFiber’s key wholesale products and services such as GPON, Dark Fiber, and regulated offers. Most importantly, FastFiber could not risk any service disruption, as maintaining a flawless customer experience was paramount. The platform offered smooth integration with existing systems, ensuring as much as possible a seamless transition while preserving service continuity.
Readiness IT also acted as the technology integrator. How did the implementation phase go?
It was a very collaborative process, with all parties working as one Team. Readiness IT acted as the Kloudville integrator, leading every stage of the project – from functional design to integration and testing – while FastFiber’s internal team played an equally critical role, providing deep operational knowledge, domain expertise, and hands-on support throughout. Together, the teams implemented core modules such as Product & Service Catalogue, CRM, Simplified Billing, Order Capture, and Incident Provisioning. The combined expertise of both teams was crucial, ensuring the migration occurred without any service disruption, preserving the flawless experience that FastFiber’s customers expect – a critical factor for a company of its size and responsibility.
Readiness IT’s experience in Technology Advisory and Digital Transformation proved essential in supporting FastFiber’s transformation.
What tangible results has this new platform delivered for FastFiber?
This implementation represents a major step forward in FastFiber’s digital evolution, delivering a reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), markedly improving operational agility, and enabling the company to launch new commercial offerings far more rapidly. FastFiber’s digital architecture is now simpler, more agile, and highly scalable, providing a robust foundation for future growth. Beyond operational gains, FastFiber has achieved technological independence, allowing the company to innovate and expand without reliance on complex vendor ecosystems. The platform also helps to improve customer experience, and time-to-market, positioning FastFiber as a stronger, more competitive leader in Portugal’s fiber connectivity market.
What factors would you highlight as key to the project’s success?
Without any doubt, the high level of professional collaboration and complementarity of both teams, which was always required given the complexity of the challenges we faced. FastFiber brought deep business knowledge and industry experience, while Readiness IT contributed with the technological vision, implementation expertise, and the ability to anticipate challenges. Throughout the project, there was constant transparency, alignment and focus on results. Even in situations where not all was smooth, this collaboration truly illustrated how close cooperation between a company and its partner can generate real and sustainable transformation results.
What is the strategic impact of this transformation for FastFiber’s future?
FastFiber is now better positioned to expand into new markets and business domains, supported by a modern, agile, and scalable digital foundation. This transformation is not only technological but also strategic and cultural. It strengthens FastFiber’s capacity for innovation, accelerates service delivery, and consolidates its leadership in fiber connectivity across Portugal. The company is achieving the results envisioned at the outset of this transformation, which represents a major success.
If you had to summarize the key gains and learnings from this project, what would they be?
The greatest gains for FastFiber have been the autonomy, agility, and operational efficiency the company has achieved. FastFiber has reduced costs, streamlined processes, and built a foundation that prepares the organization for the future. This project has enabled the team to innovate faster, deliver new services more efficiently, and take full control over FastFiber’s technological roadmap. Readiness IT provided reliable support and technological expertise, which made the work significantly easier. This transformation was not just technological, it was a fundamental change in mindset and operating model, and FastFiber is extremely proud of what has been accomplished as a unified team.
Álvaro Oliveira, Chief Technology Officer, FastFiber
Álvaro Oliveira is CTO at FastFiber, leading the company’s technology strategy and digital transformation. With over 30 years of experience in the telecom sector, he has held senior roles at Vodafone, ONI, and Portugal Telecom. Álvaro holds a degree in Telecommunications from Instituto Superior Técnico and has completed executive programs at Católica Lisbon, Imperial College London, and Nova School of Business and Economics.
FastFiber is Portugal’s largest fiber optic wholesale operator, enabling the provision of high-speed internet and advanced connectivity solutions to individuals and businesses. With the country’s most extensive national fiber network, FastFiber is dedicated to seamless digital connectivity, innovation, and delivering superior customer experiences.