Field officers, technicians or technical supervisors from carriers, contractors or other service providers apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to manage network traffic and make recommendations for capacity planning.

This unit applies to switching and transmission networks from a carrier or service provider.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Evaluate network capacity and traffic problems

1.1. Interrogate network alarms to identify any areas of route and circuit unavailability

1.2. Assess planned and unplanned outages to determine network unavailability and verify restoration times

1.3. Interrogate system to identify traffic status using network management system

1.4. Analyse system alert to identify real and potential traffic problems

1.5. Analyse customer complaints and traffic measurement data to identify network problems

1.6. Activate and deactivate semi permanent controls active in the network on a regular basis to simulate irregular traffic

2. Develop strategies to overcome network traffic problems

2.1. Conduct traffic measurements across all identified routes

2.2. Analyse results including historical data to make assessment of traffic volume requirements

2.3. Determine specific thresholds, loading and grading levels to alter traffic flows

2.4. Liaise with personnel to determine amendments to plan based on funding parameters and budgeted levels

2.5. Develop strategies based on traffic analyses and patterns to control traffic and prevent congestion or other traffic problems

2.6. Develop strategies for recovery where traffic congestion occurs

2.7. Develop contingency plans to allow for problems during network changes

3. Apply short and long term solutions

3.1. Implement software changes according to planned strategy

3.2. Develop short term ad hoc solutions where temporary solution only is required

3.3. Implement action plan to ensure that reversal action can be initiated in the case of temporary solution

3.4. Implement contingency plan where required

3.5. Undertake monitoring of changes and take measurements to assess the outcome of variations

3.6. Prepare a report based on analysis of measurements for appropriate personnel with recommendations for further changes or actions

3.7. Review and monitor strategies regularly and initiate corrective action where required

4. Detect and take action on potential traffic congestion

4.1. Measure and analyse traffic loads to assess potential congestion problems and determine possible impact

4.2. Control traffic flow to prevent processor overloads

4.3. Evaluate potential traffic increases for impact on the network and develop contingencies to control traffic flow if required

5. Provide traffic indicators for capacity planning

5.1. Predict future potential traffic trends and requirements using data on current and historical traffic patterns

5.2. Identify potential network traffic problems and make recommendations to network planners

5.3. Complete reports with recommendations and forward to enterprise planners and account managers

Required skills

analytical skills to interpret statistical data to determine trends

communication skills to liaise with customers and technical staff to ensure requirements are known and can be met within timeframes

literacy skills to read and interpret technical specifications and related documentation and prepare reports and planning documentation

numeracy skills to make statistical calculations on traffic predictions

planning and organisational skills to develop activity plans and strategies for traffic management

problem solving skills to overcome network traffic problems

research skills to identify traffic trends and network capacity

technical skills to perform statistical measurements

Required knowledge

customer policies and service level agreements

planning principles

traffic blocking, congestion and dimensioning principles

traffic engineering

traffic patterns

transmission type and signals that may be encountered

typical network topologies, switching, routing and transmission techniques

various network management systems suitable for conducting traffic evaluations

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 a contingency plan

apply short and long term solutions to traffic problems

conduct traffic measurements

develop contingencies to control traffic flow

identify potential network traffic problems and make recommendations

provide information for capacity planning.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

a network and equipment for traffic monitoring and management

equipment and systems manuals, specifications and enterprise policy.

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 traffic monitoring and management

review of report completed by the candidate containing analysis of traffic flow and recommendations for potential problems

oral or 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:

ICTNPL6046A Undertake network performance analysis.

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.

Network may include:

equipment associated with:

code division multiple access (CDMA)

emerging technologies

Ethernet

global system for mobiles (GSM)

multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)

synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)

transmission control protocol (TCP)/internet protocol (IP)

Next Generation Networks (NGN):

broadband access

data transfer

IP based systems

IP private branch exchange (PBX)

internet protocol TV (IPTV)

mobile data

mobile telephony

multimedia

video

voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

radio:

fixed

mobile

satellite

switching

transmission.

Data may include:

bit error rate (BER)

call completion rates

circuit occupancy rate

current measurements

customer queuing times

customer satisfaction level

data throughput levels

dropout rates

erlang

historical results

jitter

packet loss

propagation delay

route availability

route blocking

route congestion

signal to noise ratio.

Traffic measurements may use:

communication system analysers

digital analysers

microwave link analyser

network management tool

optical fibre power meters

optical time domain multiplexing (OTDR)

protocol analyser

radio frequency (RF) microwave test sets

RF sweep tester

spectrum analysers

traffic flow meter.

Personnel may include:

customer care and support centres

customer provisioning

equipment vendors

finance department

network management

network operations

network planning

other network providers

sales or account management

senior management

traffic engineering

traffic management.

Monitoring may include:

live tests via alarms

network management systems

real-time performance indicators

surveys

temporarily connected test equipment

trend data.

Trafficloads may refer to:

active sessions

call attempts

call holding time

call volumes

circuit occupancy

data throughput in bits

frames

packet volumes.

Unit sector

Telecommunications

Telecommunications networks engineering

This unit contains employability skills.