Application
Technical cable supervisors apply the skills and knowledge in this unit when planning the installation activities for the deployment of broadband Access Networks using optical technologies. FTTx services can be underground or aerial and may include hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) installations. Optical access networks with FTTx installations provide services in Next Generation Networks (NGN) using emerging technologies. NGN services include internet protocol TV (IPTV), video on demand (VoD), interactive TV, mesh networks and cloud computing. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for FTTx planning tasks | 1.1. Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards for compliance when conducting work 1.2. Scope the work by obtaining project plan from appropriate personnel and arrange for site access to comply with security arrangements 1.3. Notify appropriate personnel of identified safety hazards at the work site 1.4. Obtain tools and safety equipment and material to perform tasks safely and efficiently 1.5. Select and use required protective equipment and make site safe and secure for installation work 1.6. Identify and select plant and machinery for installation work activities |
2. Plan FTTx activities and develop specifications | 2.1. Follow occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements for the given work and identify and avoid other services 2.2. Inspect proposed cable route visually according to cable plan and identify barriers to the cable installation 2.3. Modify cable plan, if required, and notify appropriate personnel 2.4. Prepare installation activities for FTTx provisioning according to project plan 2.5. Prepare installation specifications according to safe work practices and manufacturer's instructions to include optical fibre cable size, distribution area (DA), distribution joint including lead-in multiport serving area (DLMSA), enclosures, location of optical network terminations (ONT), location and type of fibre distribution hub (FDH) and optical splitter provisioning 2.6. Verify cable length from customer access network fibre centre to end user ONT is within 20 km operating limit 2.7. Consult with appropriate personnel to confirm project scope, installation requirements and installation specifications according to project plan |
3. Complete documentation and obtain sign off | 3.1. Complete and present updated planning activities documentation to authorised personnel 3.2. Complete and provide updated specification documentation to vendors for supply of material and resources 3.3. Submit documentation to appropriate person for approval and sign off |
Required Skills
Required skills |
communication skills to: interact with senior project staff and equipment vendors work effectively within group literacy skills to: prepare reports given a specific format read and interpret technical and non-technical documentation numeracy skills to analyse and confirm installation requirements PC skills to carry out word processing and desktop research planning and organisational skills to: make site access and equipment delivery arrangements plan work activities according to project requirements and priorities problem solving skills to account for unexpected variations to requirements task management skills to work logically and systematically with required attention to detail technical skills to: prepare FTTx specifications prepare line drawings relevant to organisation record design specifications in centralised system relevant to organisation |
Required knowledge |
properties of passive optical devices including splitters and couplers FTTx installation equipment including tools and safety equipment FTTx specifications legislative privacy, safety and environmental requirements: specific OHS requirements relating to handling of optical fibre and using laser optical sources other personal safety issues plant and equipment safety to be used in installation plans options for green ICT installations manufacturer's requirements for safe operation of equipment operation of optical transmitters and receivers organisational policy and procedures propagation of light in optical communication systems role of optical transmitters and receivers in optical communication systems concept of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) site engineering typical issues and challenges that occur in preparing activity plans and on site workplace and industry environment |
Evidence Required
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: inspect proposed cable route visually prepare installation activities for FTTx provisioning prepare and document FTTx designs and specifications. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: sites on which FTTx installations may be designed and prepared vendor product information and installation guides relevant regulatory and equipment documentation that impact on installation activities. |
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 carrying out preparation and design for FTTx installation within an optical distribution network review of FTTx designs and specifications completed by the candidate oral and written questioning to assess required knowledge. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTOPN4116A Use advanced optical test equipment. 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. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include: | Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) AS/NZS 3000:2007 AS/NZS 3080:2003 AS/NZS 3084:2003 AS/NZS 3085.1:2004 AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006 AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007 cabling security codes and regulations Environmental Protection Acts OHS road and traffic control legislation and codes technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006. |
Scope the work may include: | cable: route types supports distribution areas (DA) enclosures equipment required: fibre hubs optical splitters project type: large residential medium residential standard residential or small business. |
Appropriate personnel may be: | consultant project engineer project supervisor site supervisor. |
Safety hazards may refer to: | access points that may contain: hazardous light (non-visible laser) radio frequency (RF) emission active lasers with no safety labels active optical fibres contact with remote power feed electrical supply that requires mandatory separation from communications cable exposed fibres unsafe support structures unsafe weather: heavy rains high winds severe heat or cold thunderstorms. |
Tools and safety equipment may include: | personal protective equipment safety equipment test equipment: local area network (LAN) Cat tester network analyser optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) passive optical network (PON) meter tools: fibre cleaning kit fibre splicer labeller screw drivers spanners tagging tool. |
Plant and machinery may include: | back hoes bobcats cable hauling equipment cable lifters diggers elevated work platforms excavators jacks and trolleys tensioning equipment. |
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to: | identifying other services including power and gas personal protective equipment: earmuffs gloves: leather plastic rubber head protection masks protective suits safety boots safety glasses safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of: chemicals materials tools and equipment safety equipment: flashing lights safety barriers warning signs and tapes witches hats special access requirements environmental considerations: clean-up protection stormwater protection waste management. |
Other services may include: | alarms electrical services fire sprinkler systems gas and water mains high voltage (HV) power other service provider networks. |
Installation activities may include: | aerial cable installation cable hauling cable terminations construction work for underground enclosures end-to-end testing of cable system excavation work installation of enclosures installation of FDH installation of optical devices marking out cable route and location of equipment site surveys. |
Optical fibre cable size may include: | 12F 24F 36F 48F 60F 72F. |
Distribution area (DA) may include: | expected type of buildings number of service addresses staging of development types of service required. |
Distribution joint including lead-in multiport serving area (DLMSA) may include: | limit of 1 distribution joint including lead-in multiport (DLM) per pit 4 or 6 way lead-in modules avoid spurs and optimise cable hauling reduce lead-in module tail lengths 11 lead-ins per 12F tube. lead-in cable lengths of 20, 40, 75 or 100 metres. |
Enclosures may include: | cabinet FTTx cabinet HFC housing pit. |
Optical network terminations (ONT) may include: | standard residential or small business = 1 medium residential = 2 - 30 large residential = >30. |
Location and type of fibre distribution hub (FDH) may include: | location: standard residential or small business, external FDH medium residential, external FDH large residential, internal FDH type: type 144 - 100 service addresses type 288 - 220 service addresses type 432 - 340 service addresses. |
Optical splitter may include: | 4 x 32 way 8 x 32 way 12 x 32 way. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Optical networks |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor