Target audience:

This course is designed for those field operatives joining the telecommunications sector who will be installing and maintaining broadband and telephony access networks.
This course supports the delivery of the following knowledge elements of the Telecoms field operative apprenticeship standard: K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, K8.

 

Course prerequisites:

This course does not assume any prior knowledge of telecommunications. Study of Physics or Combined Sciences at secondary (high) school level would be an advantage.

 

Course objectives:
By the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe the benefits, capabilities, and applications of digital communications with reference to the various methods of providing broadband connections.
• describe the possible impact of loss of a service for customers and service providers with reference to service level agreements and regulator stipulated compensation schemes.
• explain the relationship between, and the significance of, the terms “bits”, “bit rate” and “bandwidth”.
• describe the role of government and national regulator in the provision of universal coverage of broadband services.
• describe how the access network has evolved to provide broadband services as well as telephony and how all telephony services will ultimately be provided over broadband connections.
• describe and compare the roles, capabilities, routing and connection of the various types of cable used in the access network and in customer premises.
• describe and compare the benefits and installation costs of providing copper, optical fibre and hybrid fibre/copper connections.
• describe the role of the various passive and active elements in the access network that provide copper, fibre, and hybrid fibre based broadband and telephony services.
• describe the role of the various devices and cabling in home and business premises necessary for access to the various types of broadband service.
• identify the hazards that may be faced by telecoms field operatives in their working environment.
• describe the importance of being aware of, and adhering to, appropriate safe working practices with reference to risk assessments and method statements.
• explain the role of the health and safety at work Act and various regulations and approved codes of practice in detailing safe working practice.
• explain that the safety at street works and road works code of practice details how to protect operatives, pedestrians, and motorists.

 

Number of modules: 5 
Approximate study time: 7 hours 

Download and view the course specification in Adobe PDF format

 

Delivery platform requirements:
To access the course, a computer running a browser such as Google Chrome, Safari etc is required. The computer should have Internet access. A screen resolution of at least 1024x768 is necessary.