Technical officers or engineers from private and public organisations apply the planning skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine technical skills with organisational skills to assess customer requirements and allocate a transmission medium to provide access to the customer.

They may be responsible for small projects or parts of larger projects and primarily perform planning functions to provide service to a customer.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Collect data to evaluate capability of transmission path

1.1. Determine service details from service request

1.2. Use transmission medium plans to locate customer position relative to the access network provisioning

1.3. Evaluate existingtransmission mediums in close proximity to assess their capability to deliver service to customer

1.4. Specify equipment to be used on the service from service request

1.5. Specify line interface type that is to be used according to enterprise guidelines

2. Allocate transmission medium for service

2.1. Select appropriate transmission medium to deliver service to customer's premises

2.2. Record information about transmission medium between customer's premises and exchange or network terminal point

2.3. Verify service delivery point interface at exchange or network terminal point is compatible with required system

2.4. Conduct appropriate allocation process to assign new services and send completed allocation information to appropriate field staff to verify physical allocation before providing service

3. Maintain transmission medium records

3.1. Advise relevant personnel of impending bearer shortages to facilitate future planning allocation

3.2. Update plans and databases to record all details

Required skills

analytical skills to interpret information affecting dimensioning decisions

communication skills to liaise with:

customers to ensure requirements are known and can be met within timeframes

technical staff, subject matter experts and manufacturers

literacy skills to:

interpret technical specifications and related documentation

notate and record information

numeracy skills to make calculations to determine capacity requirements

PC skills for interacting with software systems for allocation and re-routing of channel capacity

planning and organisational skills to:

ensure correct allocation of actual and virtual resources

make site access and equipment delivery/allocation arrangements

technical skills to implement changes to transmission systems:

channel allocation

reconfiguring

virtual private network (VPN)

Required knowledge

common customer telecommunications applications and related equipment

Core Networks using emerging and converging technologies

current legislation relating to installation of telecommunications equipment and connection to carrier services

customer access options and their technical support systems

multiplexing principles and transmission hierarchies

network and transmission equipment

network topologies, interfaces and interconnect solutions

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:

assess transmission needs for a transmission path according to service request

select suitable equipment to provide new services

interact with internal and external personnel, keeping a customer focus and consideration of customer needs

deal with problems and provide solutions

assess future needs.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

sites where transmission paths can be allocated

computer networking facility

relevant regulatory and equipment documentation

use of equipment currently used in industry.

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 assessing transmission needs and conducting allocation process

review of plans and databases completed by the candidate providing details of new transmission path

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of assigning transmission paths.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTCBL3069A Install network cable equipment

ICTCBL3103A Maintain cable network

ICTCBL4002A Prepare design drawings and specification for a cable installation.

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.

Service details may relate to:

data allocation based on common digital hierarchy increments:

asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)

custom throughput requirements

E1

Synchronous transport module level x(STM-X)

multiple voices channels (ISDN)

need ascertained from application:

other data sources

private automatic branch exchange (PABX)

video

single voice channel.

Existing transmission mediums may be determined from:

databases

local knowledge and include allocation within existing multiplex schemes:

associated physical media

ATM

plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) (E1) transmission system

synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

maps.

Equipment may include:

access equipment:

fibre termination equipment

microwave

modems

satellite

line termination units

multiplex equipment

network infrastructure including ports on multiplex equipment

transmission equipment.

Transmission medium may include:

frequency allocation on radio transmission

global system for mobile (GSM)communications

hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC)

microwave

satellite

system channel on optical fibre

twisted pair

VPN on a multi protocol label switching (MPLS) link.

Service delivery point interface may include:

ATM adapter

cross connect port

digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM)

exchange line interface unit

fibre termination point

main distribution frame (MDF).

Allocation process may relate to:

automated allocation for a group service

manual or computer based procedures for allocating new transmission channel capacity

service.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.