Application
Technical officers from private and public organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to perform the role of a network planner. They combine technical design and planning skills with organisational, economic and regulation skills to plan the access network for an estate or green field site. Technical officers may be responsible for small projects or parts of larger projects, and for the operations and engineering of the enterprise and telecommunications network in general. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Gather data on network usage for planning activity | 1.1. Determine the type of access network by accessing and using network information sources 1.2. Collect planning data using network information sources to determine network trends 1.3. Evaluate new and emerging technologies to determine availability and compatibility with existing network equipment 1.4. Access relevant legislation and associated regulatory and operational codes |
2. Evaluate need for network growth | 2.1. Evaluate capacity of the existing network to absorb planned growth 2.2. Identify need and likely timing of necessary network increments 2.3. Assess new or alternate technologies to rectify network shortfall 2.4. Identify barriers relating to planned network extensions that impact on planning the network realisation 2.5. Assess the impact of not meeting network shortfall needs and the long term ramifications on the business |
3. Develop solution and network plan to address network shortfall | 3.1. Review overall planning parameters prior to commencement of the planning process to produce forecasts for specific network area and cost-benefit analysis 3.2. Establish the optimum solution to address network shortfall with justification for the proposal 3.3. Determine project details and ascertain preliminary costing and resource requirements 3.4. Determine the availability of required technology or technology features within the specified timeframe 3.5. Produce a specific network plan with solution and recommendations for anticipated projects for approval according to enterprise procedures |
Required Skills
Required skills |
analytical skills to identify details relating to the project from the approved network plan communication skills to discuss project brief with the customer learning skills to: develop and study planning options, considering present and future needs identify barriers to plan realisation literacy skills to write project briefs numerical skills to: analyse site survey data cost estimates and operating budgets according to enterprise policy undertake cost-benefit studies to inform the decision making process planning skills to review current and new technology, facilities and features when developing options problem solving skills to: address and analyse specific customer requirements assess current Access Network conditions research skills to: analyse impact on planning processes obtain and study information relating to new technology or technology features obtain geographical information study relevant legislation and associated operational codes technical skills to apply the three phases of project management to the project brief |
Required knowledge |
awareness of relevant legislation detailed knowledge of: cost estimates and operating budgets according to enterprise policy telecommunications industry in Australia theory of project management and associated databases and project management software programs overview knowledge of: economic and political influences upon public and commercial enterprises financial authorities and delegations influence of the local and international economic conditions on the telecommunications industry typical challenges and limits facing technology today and the consideration of future needs specific knowledge of collating and writing project briefs, reports and project charters |
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: implement planning processes including associated monitoring and control mechanisms develop solutions to address Access Network shortfalls that satisfy customer and enterprise needs merge technological development and product implementation into network development plans produce forecasts for a specific network including cost-benefit analysis. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: a network planning area, systems and deployment rules and standards relevant databases, licensing requirements and other site related procedures. |
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 an assessment of an access network review of documented network development plan, within specification and within specified timeframes completed by the candidate for differing project briefs review of solutions developed by the candidate that address network shortfalls oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning the access network. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: ICTNPL4108A Plan the deployment of access network architectures ICTNPL4109A Evaluate the capability of access networks. 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. | |
Access network may refer to: | copper: coaxial hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) twisted pair broadband: wireless fidelity (WiFi) world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) digital services: asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) digital subscriber line (DSL) internet protocol (IP) network: computer IP private branck exchange (IP PBX) Internet protocol TV (IPTV) Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) optical: fibre to the x (FTTx) fibre to the premises (FTTP) fibre to the node (FTTN) HFC point-to-point network point-to-multipoint network wireless networks: cellular microwave radio satellite. |
Network information sources may include: | network management databases for: capacity assessment data network performance data traffic dimensioning data network management tools. |
Planning data may relate to: | current and proposed network growth demographic growth traffic quantity and flow. |
Network trends may include: | current network capacity demographic trends forecasts service demand forecasts traffic demand projected network capacity. |
New and emerging technologies may include: | digital subscriber lines: ADSL DSL IP broadband converging technologies: IPTV VoIP WiFI WiMAX optical transmission systems: dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems mobile radio. |
Relevant legislation may include: | Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards TS 14 Australian standards applying to radiation hazards heritage legislation industrial awards and conditions International Standards ISO 9000 9001 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendations National Parks Act OHS Privacy Act State/Territory and Federal Environment Acts Telecommunications Act and relevant codes. |
Existing network may include: | boundaries between: access and inter-exchange networks Access Network technology and exchange switching and transmission systems. |
Barriers relating to planned network extensions may include: | building availability environmental considerations financial constraints government policy heritage legislation restrictions land acquisition problems material availability planning approvals technology availability. |
Planning parameters may relate to: | network criteria: cover sites, buildings and structures network change network growth network reduction organisational policies, procedures and guidelines planning priorities driven by: customer demand legislative requirements marketing initiatives network conditions revenue projections planning processes: documented within enterprise process manuals enterprise specific. |
Resource requirements may refer to: | external to the enterprise internal to the enterprise. |
Network plan may include: | activities finance labour material. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Network planning |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor