Target audience:

This course is designed for technicians and engineers involved in the design, commissioning and maintenance of copper and optical fibre based access networks.

 

Course prerequisites:

An appreciation of the basic principles of transmitting signals over copper wires and optical fibre. It is recommended that the PTT course PAC: "Transmission fundamentals" is studied before attempting this course.

 

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

• describe the basic infrastructure and capabilities of existing ADSL and VDSL based access networks that depend on copper wire connections. 
• describe the role of the components of a passive optical network. 
• compare the characteristics and capabilities of GPON and EPON systems.
• describe the role of a dynamic spectrum management (DSM) system with reference to the levels of DSM.
• describe how vectoring can improve the performance of a VDSL2 system if certain criteria are met.
• describe the principles of operation, capabilities and applications of G.fast broadband connections over copper wires.
• explain how a broadband connection can be upgraded from VDSL to G.fast with minimum disruption to access to online services.
• describe the capabilities of next generation cable TV systems with reference to DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1.
• describe the capabilities and the role of the components of an XG-PON system.
• describe how a TWDM-PON can provide higher data transfer rates to more customers than even XG-PON.
• give examples of applications of TWDM-PON with particular reference to providing fronthaul and backhaul connections in an LTE mobile radio access network.
• explain that GPON, XG-PON and TWDM-PONs can share the same physical infrastructure.
• describe the possibilities for future developments in fixed line access networks.

 

Number of modules: 4 
Approximate study time: 4 hours 

Download and view the course specification in Adobe PDF format

 

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

Tablet study:
This course is designed for study on a tablet through the learntelecoms App which is available for Apple® iPad® and for Android™.
Minimum requirements:
learntelecoms App for Android: 7in tablet or larger with ARMv7 processor running Android 2.3 or higher.
learntelecoms App for iPad running iOS 6.1 or higher.