Technical officers from private and public telecommunications network planning organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to develop planning specifications for the implementation of end-to-end services delivery of access networks and products and make recommendations.

They combine technical network skills with organisational skills to evaluate end-to-end services used by telecommunications service providers and asset owners primarily in the access network.

Technical officers may be responsible for small projects or parts of larger projects, and for the operational and engineering of the telecommunications network in general.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Scope the project

1.1. Prepare for given work according to site specific safety requirements and enterprise occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and procedures

1.2. Determine the types of currently deployed end-to-end service delivery networks by accessing and using network information sources

1.3. Produce a brief on how end-to-end service delivery network elements relate to the larger network and their impact on the work

2. Assess the capacity and capability of a specific end-to-end service delivery project and a building facility project

2.1. Determine the nature, quantity, architecture and condition of existing end-to-end service delivery network elements and attributes that contribute to determining planning specifications

2.2. Assess the capacity and capability limitations of an existing end-to-end service delivery network project by accessing network information sources and conducting site visits

2.3. Assess the capacity and capability limitations of a building facility project that contribute to determining planning specifications

3. Assess the capacity and capability of product and service delivery

3.1. Determine the types of currently deployed products and services by accessing sales and marketing information database

3.2. Produce a brief evaluating the capability and technology of current product and services to meet demands and their relationship to the larger network

3.3. Evaluate the emerging technologies that contribute to determining planning specifications for demands of future products and services

4. Produce planning briefs

4.1. Produce a brief on the planning specifications of an end-to-end service delivery network and a building facility project for planning section to determine current and future network demands

4.2. Produce a brief on products and services planning requirements for sales and marketing to determine provisioning of future demands

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and write briefs in required formats

numeracy skills to compare technical data on various network technologies

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work

research skills to interrogate databases and investigate different equipment requirements

technical skills to select and describe appropriate end-to-end services models

Required knowledge

emerging technologies, trends and products that are available overseas and will be in demand in the Australian market

information required to prepare and review the limits of:

broadband networks

data networks

facilities and environmental issues

fixed access transmission network

media and content

regional and metropolitan network

voice networks

wireless network

overview knowledge of:

basic network design including routing and redundancy

levels of reliability performance standards applicable to specific equipment deployment needs

standards and regulations

specific knowledge on the distribution structure of networks including:

access

backbone

edge

up to date knowledge of current equipment and product types to meet future service obligations

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

access network information databases to determine the types of end-to-end services and products

conduct site evaluation assessment

evaluate the capacity and capability of end-to-end services to meet current and future demands

assess the limitations of current end-to-end services and produce specifications to meet future demands

assess the limitations of current building facility and services and produce specifications to meet future demands

summarise and produce planning briefs to network, sales and marketing planning sections.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

an access network planning area, with access to systems and deployment rules and standards

end-to-end services and products databases

relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate evaluating competing technologies and producing planning specifications

review of reports completed by the candidate for differing project briefs

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of the various access methods of providing an end-to-end service in terms of delivery.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example with:

ICTNPL4108A Plan the deployment of access network architectures.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

End-to-end service deliverynetworks may include:

fixed access network:

copper :

asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) and digital subscriber line (DSL)

coaxial

hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC)

twisted pair

optical:

fibre to the node (FTTN)

fibre to the premises (FTTP)

HFC

internet protocol (IP) broadband data network:

email

local area network (LAN)

multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)

web

wide area network (WAN)

Next Generation Networks:

IP based systems using IPv6 addressing

IP private branch exchange (IP PBX)

IPTV

mobile video

multimedia

voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

regional and metropolitan transport network:

asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)

dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM)

MPLS

synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

wireless access:

Bluetooth

cellular mobile:

3G/4G

code division multiple access (CDMA)

global system for mobiles (GSM)

microwave

pager

radio

satellite

WiFi (802.11)

WiMAX (802.16)

wireless local loop

wide area networks (WLAN).

Network information sources may include:

network management databases for:

capacity assessment data

network performance data

traffic dimensioning data

network management tools.

Network elements may include:

IP based:

gateways

layer 2 and layer 3 switches

routers

optical devices:

amplifiers

multiplexers

routers

splitters

switches

virtual equipment:

networks

PBX

servers

simulations.

Attributes of network elements may include:

accessibility

capability

capacity

compatibility

convergence

deployability

interoperability

longevity

reliability

return on investment

scalability

security.

Limitations of a building facility may include:

air conditioning loads

alarms and security

building monitoring and management system

equipment racking

fire protection

floor capacity

floor loading capability

port capacity

power requirements:

battery supply

emergency power supply

energy loads

mains supply.

Products and services may include:

broadband products:

ADSL

cellular mobile data

FTTP

HFC cable

VDSL

WiFI

WiMAX

wireless data

media and content product:

IPTV

mobile video

pay TV

webhosting

voice products:

public switched telephone network (PSTN)

VoIP

voice over broadband (VoBB).

Emerging technologies may include:

IPTV

IPv6 architectures

mesh networks

mobile video

NGN

WiFi enabled phones

WiMAX enabled phones.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Network planning

This unit contains employability skills.