Modification History
Not Applicable
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan the activities of a major upgrade of optical systems from specifications provided by the planning and design section. Major upgrades in enterprise networks or telecommunications service provider's networks involve cut over activities to integrate additional work into existing network. The exponential growth of internet protocol (IP) traffic is driving IP optical integration, in particular the convergence of IP and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks in Next Generation Networks (NGN), necessitating regular system upgrades. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
Field officers, technicians or technical supervisors from carriers, contractors or other service providers whose work involves upgrading optical systems and equipment in enterprise networks and service providers' core and access networks apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They are involved in maintenance, upgrades and cut overs of emerging technologies in IP based telecommunications networks. Relevant jobs roles include a supervisor in charge of installation and maintenance teams responsible for the new installations and upgrades of telecommunications networks. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Gather information to prepare upgrade activity plan |
1.1. Obtain relevant legislation , codes , regulations and standards for compliance when conducting work 1.2. Obtain design specifications from the planning and design section to determine the scope and nature of the upgrade 1.3. Analyse the design specification and design plan and determine the accuracy of the design plan to site installation and requirements with customer 1.4. Determine the network equipment types and obtain installation details from manufacturer 1.5. Prepare an equipment and component list and source vendors for procurement |
2. Prepare upgrade activity plans |
2.1. Prepare a detailed installation plan of the upgrade for the installer 2.2. Prepare a detailed installation procedure to carry out the upgrade to minimise impact to the customer 2.3. Prepare pre-installation optical tests on existing equipment to determine benchmarks and performance levels prior to the upgrade 2.4. Prepare post-installation optical tests on upgrade to ensure upgraded system is achieving the desired results 2.5. Prepare monitoring schedule to progressively assess the progress of the upgrade 2.6. Prepare contingency plan for backing out if upgrade is not progressing according to schedule and disruptions to customer are excessive 2.7. Prepare cut over procedures |
3. Complete documentation |
3.1. Update and produce documentation for submission 3.2. Submit planning activity document to planning and design section for approval |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
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Required knowledge |
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
Evidence of the ability to:
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Context of and specific resources for assessment |
Assessment must ensure:
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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:
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Guidance information for assessment |
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
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
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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Relevant legislation , codes , regulations and standards may include: |
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Nature of upgrade work may include: |
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Upgrade may include: |
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Customer may be: |
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Network equipment may include: |
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Installation plan may include: |
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Installation procedures may include: |
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Optical tests may include: |
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Progress of upgrade may include: |
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Contingency plan may: |
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Documentation may include: |
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Telecommunications |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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Competency field
Competency field |
Optical networks |