Technical officers or engineers from private and public organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine technical skills with broader organisational skills to plan the various access network technologies within a telecommunications network.

As a member of a network planning team, their job titles include network planner, project manager and access network planner.

This unit may apply to various technologies and transmission mediums such as fibre to the x (FTTx), hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC), convergent Next Generation Networks (NGN), copper, optical fibre and wireless required to support the deployment of Access Network Infrastructure.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Evaluate the access network requirements and infrastructure capability

1.1. Estimate likely growth in access network use by analysing forecasting market intelligence data on customer demand

1.2. Compare available capacity and capability of current access infrastructure deployment against the researched demand data to identify infrastructure and product shortfalls

1.3. Quantify network requirements for upgrades or network augmentation to increase capacity and capability of existing network

1.4. Determine relevant standards, business and regulatory requirements to be considered in access network planning

1.5. Formulate justification to proceed by analysing the business requirements and benefits to the business

2. Prepare a strategic plan and scoping document

2.1. Determine appropriate technologies, network elements and equipment for access network deployment, including new or alternative solutions to meet business requirements

2.2. Select commercially viable technology compatible with the existing network to deploy with existing and future network

2.3. Prepare a planning document and supporting documentation with recommendations that complies with deployment standards and regulatory requirements

2.4. Provide estimated costs and schedule for a planning solution

3. Produce the project brief

3.1. Evaluate and summarise project scope into the required briefing format with relevant supporting documentation for a project brief that complies with access network deployment rules

3.2. Plan project delivery to suit business requirements and practical limitations

3.3. Produce the access networks specifications with approvals and present to the design section to produce detailed design specifications

Required skills

analytical skills to:

determine the equipment that will be used across the spectrum of access network technologies

outline the product offerings allowable across all competing access network technologies

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

learning skills to keep up to date with technological changes

literacy skills to interpret technical and non-technical documentation and the writing of summary reports in required formats

numeracy skills to interpret data results and evaluate different types of technical data

planning and organisational skills to plan, prioritise and monitor own work and coordinate the planning process in liaison with others

problem solving and contingency management skills to adapt to requirements of particular access networks and modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

research skills to interrogate databases and investigate different network requirements

technical skills to select and compare benefits and limitations of access network technologies

Required knowledge

capability and limitations of the various access network technologies

current equipment to meet future service obligations

detailed knowledge of:

broadband networks

data networks

elements and architecture of the various access networks

elements and architectures of the various access network technologies

facilities and environmental issues

limits of a fixed access transmission network

media and content

regional and metropolitan network

typical access network technologies

voice networks

wireless network

distribution structure of networks, including backbone, access and edge

key technologies that make up the access network

overview knowledge of:

levels of reliability performance standards, applicable to the specific equipment deployment needs

network design including routing and redundancy

standards and regulations

typical problems and challenges that describe the capability and limitations of the various access networks

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:

use data to interpret growth patterns and develop options for access network design which satisfy customer and enterprise financial goals

develop a clearly documented network plan, within specification and including merging technological development and product implementation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

computer assisted design (CAD)

computer networks

data for network planning

network equipment deployment plans

planning models

standards and regulations.

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 undertaking network evaluation and planning

review of reports completed by the candidate for planning the development and growth of the telecommunications network

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of the various aspects of planning for an access telecommunications network.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTNPL5071A Develop planning strategies for core network design

ICTNPL5154A Develop planning strategies for building environment design.

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.

Access network may refer to:

access fibre network

broadband network

copper:

asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL)

digital subscriber line (DSL)

twisted pair

fibre to the premises (FTTP)

hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC)

wireless networks:

wireless fidelity (WiF)i

world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)

wide local area networks (WLAN).

Market intelligence data may refer to:

customer request

development area plans

development triggers

external triggers may include:

government initiatives

local councils

local government planning

property developers

market research

market surveys

planning approvals

planning commission

service delivery

telecommunication databases:

capacity assessment

network performance

traffic dimensioning

zoning.

Capacity may refer to:

ability to augment

available ports

technical limitations of port provision.

Capability may refer to:

ability to deliver desired products

meeting design specifications

meeting technical limitations.

Access infrastructure may refer to:

building facilities and services

equipment:

cable

customer

data networking

network management

optical

switching

test and monitoring

transmission

wireless

power requirements.

Network requirements may refer to:

appropriate equipment

compatibility

interoperability

scalable network

suitable technology

upgradeable network.

Standards, business and regulatory requirements may include:

company specific policy and standards

council requirements

deployment rules

design standards

regulatory body requirements:

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Telecommunications Act.

Business requirements may refer to:

complying with standards and regulations

deployment of infrastructure in a commercially viable way

meeting customer demands on the network.

Technologies may include:

digital subscriber lines:

ADSL

DSL

mobile radio

NGN:

broadband access

data transfer

internet protocol (IP) based systems

IP private branch exchange (IP PBX)

internet protocol TV (IPTV)

mobile data

mobile telephony

multimedia

video

voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

optical transmission systems:

dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems

wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems.

Network elements may include:

current copper network:

copper cable

exchange

lead in cable

lightning protection

loading coils

main distribution frame, cross connect unit

manhole

pair gain system

pits

current fibre network:

exchange

fibre access points

high density/optical fibre distribution frame (HD/OFDF)

joint enclosure

manhole

optical fibre

pits

FTTP network:

broadband passive optical network (BPON)

conduit

distribution/lead in multi-port (DLM/LM)

ethernet broadband remote access server (EBRAS)

exchange

fibre distribution hub (FDH)

gigabit passive optical network (GPON)

headend

high density/optical fibre distribution frame (HD/OFDF)

home optical network terminal

lead-in

manhole

optical distribution network

optical fibre

packet optical line terminal (P-OLT)

pits

video optical line terminal (V-OLT)

wave division multiplexer (WDM)

HFC network:

coaxial cable

exchange

headend

hub

IP edge

line power supply

node

optical fibre

optical receiver

radio frequency (RF) amplifier

tap

video service centre

transmission hub

wireless network:

access points

antennas

dish

exchange

RF amplifiers

radio towers and huts

RF receivers

RF transmitters

satellite

waveguide.

Equipment may include:

digital

IP based

optical:

add/drop multiplexers

amplifiers

filters

receivers

splitters/combiners

switches

transmitters

wireless:

amplifiers

filters

microwave

receivers

RF broadband

satellite

transmitters.

Supporting documentation may include:

area plans

briefing documents

business justifications

demand data

maps.

Estimated costs may refer to:

comparable past project costs

costing models

unit rates.

Project scope may include:

costing

details of requirements to build

justification

materials

resource allocation

timing.

Access network deployment rules may refer to:

separation from other services:

electricity

fire equipment

gas

other telecommunications service providers

water

restricted site access:

financial institutions

government offices

rail corridor

research establishments.

Practical limitations may include:

accessibility of project site

material delivery and installation times

resource availability

resource skill set.

Approvals may include:

compliance

contract delivery

financial delegation

governance

quality assurance.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Network planning

This unit contains employability skills.