18 Specialists. 250 Branches. One Seamless Bank Migration.
In 2022, one of Canada’s largest financial institutions announced its intent to acquire a major international bank’s Canadian operations. But long before the deal was made public, a select team of technical specialists and project engineers had already started laying the groundwork behind the scenes. The task? Quietly migrating over 250 branches to an entirely new infrastructure, while adhering to the highest levels of confidentiality, security, and scale.
From deploying SD-WAN across hundreds of sites to automating hardware assessments with 360° virtual mapping tools, the work was precise, demanding, and completely invisible to the public eye.
In this co-authored article, we spoke with Spark’s technical consultants who were embedded on the ground to understand how they tackled a merger at national scale, without ever being allowed to say they were doing it.
WHY THIS PROJECT MATTERS
The merger was one of the most sensitive and strategically significant projects in Canadian banking history. Regulatory approval was required at the highest levels—right up to the Finance Minister—and until that green light came through, the entire initiative was kept under wraps.
But beneath the surface, major work was already underway:
- 250+ branches across the country needed to be migrated onto RBC’s SD-WAN, wireless, and switching infrastructure
- Contractors couldn’t publicly acknowledge their role until nearly 8 months after work began
- The window for actual cutover was narrow, and every change had to be invisible to clients
- Automation and remote tooling had to reduce errors across thousands of devices and configurations
This wasn’t just a network migration, it was a test of operational excellence, confidentiality, and technical precision at scale.
The Specialized Talent Behind the Tech
At the peak of the project, Spark had 18 specialists deployed across the country—each selected for their ability to deliver under pressure, navigate ambiguity, and execute with speed and discretion. These weren’t generalists. These were technical experts embedded directly into RBC’s core workstreams, including:
- Branch Infrastructure Specialists: Designing and deploying new network layouts across 250+ branches, replacing or upgrading routers, switches, and wireless access points.
- Automation Engineers: Leveraging tools like Python, Ansible, and Cisco DNAC to automate thousands of device configurations and reduce human error at scale.
- SD-WAN Deployment Leads: Experts in Silver Peak technology, validating internet bandwidth, optimizing site performance, and ensuring each location was ready for a secure cutover.
- Procurement & Logistics Coordinators: Managing relationships with vendors like Bell, staging and shipping hardware, and troubleshooting delivery logistics nationwide.
- Documentation Experts: Building the technical backbone for execution—creating high- and low-level design documents, MOPs, and runbooks for seamless handoff and compliance.
“You needed Silver Peak SD-WAN knowledge, Cisco wireless and routing, Python automation, and Matterport navigation—all at once, this was a hybrid of old-school engineering discipline and next-gen tooling.”
Senior Spark Contractor
Even though this was a confidential operation, it ran on deep trust and communication.
Spark’s branch team had just three people (managing 250 sites) and became embedded with RBC leadership and the broader campus team.
Multiple Spark consultants also contributed on the campus and procurement side, ensuring end-to-end visibility from data centre to storefront.
A Phased, Confidential Approach
Phase 1 – Mapping the Unknown
Because physical site access was limited, Spark consultants used a 360° virtual tool called Matterport to remotely walk through each branch. They verified rack space, access points, switch locations, and other critical infrastructure needs—without stepping foot inside.
Daily syncs, strict document control, and targeted information gathering (without disclosing future state designs) helped the team plan upgrades with precision. As one engineer put it:
“Never assume anything. You have to take the time to verify everything yourself.”
Phase 2 – Cutover at Scale
With every site mapped and prepped, the cutover began. Each night, during carefully orchestrated windows, Spark teams executed live migrations with zero customer disruption. This included:
- Device replacement and validation
- Wireless controller integration (Cisco 9800 series)
- Bandwidth testing and configuration handoffs
- Final documentation updates and rollback planning
THE RESULTS
A seamless, invisible migration of more than 250 branches; on time, on spec, and under the radar.
By the time public approvals came through in the fall, the work was already done. Customers never noticed a difference. But the performance behind the scenes was nothing short of world-class.
Because when it really matters, excellence should feel invisible.
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