Benson Mwithimbu

BENSON MWITI MWITHIMBU Emergency Telecommunications Coordinator | Strategic ICT Crisis Lead | VSAT & Satellite Expert | Pioneered 1st-in-Africa o3b”Change to O3b” Deployment | Scaled Field Connectivity for 200+ Partners | Remote ready PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Strategic Telecommunications Lead with 15+ years of experience building and commanding resilient field networks for critical operations in fragile states. Expert in deploying VSAT, WiMAX, and fiber infrastructure in high-risk environments where conventional systems fail. ● Secured a National Process: Engineered and commanded the comprehensive ICT infrastructure for the 2011 South Sudan independence referendum, ensuring the secure tally and transmission of results across 9 states under extreme operational pressure. ● Pioneered New Technology: Led the ground deployment of the first O3b (MEO) satellite network in Africa, establishing high-bandwidth backbone connectivity for crisis response and large-scale humanitarian operations in remote East African territories. ● Scaled Field Operations: Standardized connectivity for 200+ field partners, managing a multidisciplinary team of 18+ technicians. Orchestrated a proactive monitoring framework that reduced critical incident resolution time by over 50%. CORE COMPETENCIES Field & Satellite Operations (High-Risk Environments) ● VSAT Deployment (C, Ku, Ka-band) & Link Optimization ● O3b MEO Satellite System Rollout & Commissioning ● BGAN & Satellite Telephony for Emergency Comms ● WiMAX & PtP/PtMP Wireless Network Deployment ● RF Signal Analysis, Spectrum Management & Interference Mitigation ● Fiber Optic Network Installation & Testing Network Infrastructure & Security ● Router & Switch Configuration (Mikrotik, Cisco - Meraki, Ubiquiti) ● Strategic Network Design for Multi-Site Operations ● VLAN Segmentation, Routing Protocols (OSPF, Static) & QoS ● Firewall Configuration & Network Access Control ● IP Addressing Schemes & Network Segmentation Operational Leadership & Crisis Response ● Emergency Telecommunications Coordination ● Multi-Stakeholder Field Operations Management ● Technical Team Leadership & Cross-Cultural Mentorship (18+ Engineers) ● Crisis & High-Pressure ICT Project Delivery (e.g., National Referendum) ● Security-Aware Deployment Planning in Fragile States Systems & Performance Management ● Network Monitoring & Incident Response (PRTG, Grafana, SNMP) ● Technical Documentation & Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Development ● Preventive Maintenance & Lifecycle Management of Field Assets ● Bandwidth Management & Performance Optimization for Critical Applications ● Technical Training & Capacity Building for National Staff PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Field Operations & Technical Deployment Lead RCS Communication | Juba, South Sudan (Remote Operations Across 9 States) Nov 2019 – Dec 2025 Directed all technical strategy and field execution for multi-band VSAT and wireless network operations across South Sudan's nine states, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for 200+ humanitarian, government, and enterprise field partners in a conflict-affected region. ● Pioneered Africa's first o3b MEO satellite deployment – Led ground operations for the pioneering medium-earth-orbit network rollout, coordinating site preparation, terminal alignment, and link validation to establish high-availability backhaul for critical response operations. ● Architected scalable connectivity for 200+ field partners – Engineered and deployed 150+ VSAT (C/Ku/Ka-band) and 200+ WiMAX/PTMP networks across 9 states, creating a standardized, resilient communications grid for remote and urban operations in logistically complex environments. ● Engineered mission-critical network infrastructure – Configured and optimized Mikrotik, Cisco-Meraki, and Ubiquiti routing/switching ecosystems with VLAN segmentation, QoS prioritization, and advanced firewall policies, ensuring secure, uninterrupted data flow for real-time telemetry and coordination systems. ● Implemented proactive monitoring reducing critical faults by 50% – Deployed PRTG/Grafana monitoring with SNMP alerting, establishing structured troubleshooting workflows that slashed average field incident resolution from multiple hours to under 120 minutes. ● Led and standardized operations for 18+ field/NOC engineers – Developed installation protocols, signal alignment procedures, and maintenance schedules that reduced repeat faults and misconfigurations, while conducting hands-on training for 25+ technicians on terminal maintenance and optimization. ● Owned customer cases end-to-end, including issue analysis, resolution, documentation, and follow-up, reducing repeat contacts and improving first-contact resolution (FCR). Field ICT & Communications Specialist RCS Communication | Juba, South Sudan 2010 – 2019 Supported critical communications infrastructure during South Sudan's formative period, including the independence referendum and early nation-building phases, ensuring operational continuity for remote field teams. ● Secured ICT infrastructure for the 2011 South Sudan independence referendum – Engineered and managed the vote-tallying center for Western Bahr el Ghazal state, training local ICT officers and ensuring secure transmission of results to Juba HQ during the historic transition to independence. ● Deployed emergency satellite communications for remote operations – Configured and maintained 10+ BGAN and VSAT terminals providing reliable IP/voice connectivity for field teams operating in isolated, high-risk locations with no terrestrial infrastructure. ● Established foundational knowledge management system – Created troubleshooting guides and step-by-step protocols for terminal installation and alignment, reducing recurring errors and field support requests by approximately 30%. ● Maintained operational continuity for 50+ field users – Provided hardware/software support and conducted preventive system checks (ping tests, link monitoring) to ensure uninterrupted operations in remote postings. ● Built local technical capacity – Trained 15+ national technicians on system installation, signal testing, and basic troubleshooting, increasing team self-sufficiency. Senior Network Deployment Engineer E-World Communication & Conquest Engineering | Nairobi, Kenya 2008 – 2011 Built foundational expertise in terrestrial wireless and fiber networks through commercial deployments across Kenya, serving SME and enterprise clients with carrier-grade connectivity solutions. ● Deployed 80+ WiMAX/PTMP wireless links – Installed, aligned, and optimized pointto-multipoint networks using Alvarion, Cambium, and Ubiquiti equipment, performing spectrum analysis and Fresnel zone clearance to ensure stable connectivity for business-critical applications. ● Supervised fiber optic and wireless installations for Kenya Data Networks – Led quality assurance for VL/OFDM and WiMAX deployments, verifying cable terminations, SNR levels, and RF alignment to meet carrier-grade standards before client handover. ● Engineered enterprise network configurations – Implemented VLAN segmentation, routing protocols, and QoS parameters on routers/switches to manage businesscritical traffic and ensure SLA compliance. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE (IF SPACE ALLOWS) Early Career & Project-Based Roles 2006 – 2008 System Development & IT Support roles in Kenya, building foundational skills in database design, system administration, and end-user support. ● NAWASCO (2008): Designed and built a complete billing system database from scratch to manage 10,000+ customer accounts, digitizing manual processes and enabling automated bill generation. ● Homegrown Kenya Ltd (2006): Provided network administration and user support for 200+ employees, managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and routine backup operations. EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS Education ● Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems | Kenya Methodist University | Nairobi, Kenya ● Diploma in Information Technology | Tenri Computer College | Embu, Kenya Technical Certifications & Training Certifications are listed in order of relevance to target roles in Emergency Telecommunications and Critical Field Operations. ● GVF Certified Satellite Communications Professional ○ ● GVF-CERT-SPA (Advanced Satcom Professional) | GVF-CERT-SPB (Basic) GVF Technical Training Series ○ GVF510: Core Skills for VSAT Installers ○ GVF520: Satcom Fundamentals ○ GVF521: Practical Techniques for VSAT Installers ● Mikrotik Certified Network Associate (MTCNA) ● CompTIA Network+ (CertMaster) ● Change Management Certification ● GVF Basic Hands-On Skills Test | HOSTB Open ILT Sessions ● Cybersecurity certification - Continuous and ongoing