Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 9:45 PM AWST
22/07/2026 9:45 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Plan and configure dense wavelength division multiplexing systems
Plan and configure dense wavelength division multiplexing systems
Unit of competency
National Code
ICTOPN5118A
ICTOPN5118A
State Code
D3372
D3372
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/01/2011
Field of Education
031307 - Communications Technologies
Original Release Date
06/01/2011
Nominal Hours
55
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to prepare the activity plans and specifications required by field technical staff to deploy a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical network suitable for a metropolitan area network (MAN) or long haul applications.It involves provisioning DWDM fibre and power cabling work, provisioning of splicing cabinets and patch panels, and providing specification details for installation and construction teams.DWDMs use optical multiplexing techniques to increase the carrying capacity of a fibre network by transmitting multiple optical wavelengths each carrying high speed data stream over a single fibre. DWDM systems offer up to 128 wavelengths, with each wavelength carrying up to 100 Gbps.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.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for DWDM planning activities
- 1.1. Obtain relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards for compliance when conducting work
- 1.2. Scope the work by obtaining project plan from appropriate personnel and arrange for site access to comply with security arrangements
- 1.3. Notify appropriate personnel of identified safety hazards at the work site
2. Plan DWDM installation activities and develop specifications
- 2.1. Follow occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental requirements for the given work and identify and avoid other services
- 2.2. Identify tools, safety equipment, plant and machinery for installation work activities
- 2.3. Conduct physical inspections of proposed DWDM sites and verify that backbone dark fibre is accessible and available according to cabling plan
- 2.4. Verify proposed backbone and customer fibre cable routes to the splicing cabinet and fibre patch panel and identify barriers to the cable installation
- 2.5. Verify proposed power cabling route from distribution board and circuit breakers and identify barriers to the cable installation
- 2.6. Modify cable plan if required and notify appropriate personnel
- 2.7. Prepare fibre installation specifications and power cable and grounding specifications according to cabling plan and safe work practices and manufacturer's instructions
- 2.8. Verify proposed location of associated hardware racks, cabinets and ironwork and confirm access to enterprise local area network (LAN)
3. Prepare DWDM shelf configuration and specifications according to customer requirements
- 3.1. Prepare a configuration document including configuration plans and specifications for the installation team
- 3.2. Specify location of DWDM shelves or racks and the shelf interconnection fibre cabling layout according to cabling plan
- 3.3. Specify the individual DWDM units and circuit card types required to suit customer requirements
4. Plan preliminary optical tests
- 4.1. Verify backbone fibres at patch panel and conduct bidirectional optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) test and record measurement results and OTDR images
- 4.2. Conduct bidirectional optical loss test set (OLTS) measurement of insertion loss on backbone fibres from patch panel to patch panel at adjacent sites and record measurement results
5. Complete documentation and obtain sign off
- 5.1. Provide results of optical measurements to design team
- 5.2. Complete and provide updated specification documentation to installation team
- 5.3. Submit documentation to appropriate person for approval and sign off
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.
Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) Volume 1
AS/NZS 3000:2007
AS/NZS 3080:2003
AS/NZS 3084:2003
AS/NZS 3085.1:2004
AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006
AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007
cabling security codes and regulations
Environmental Protection Acts
OHS
road and traffic control legislation and codes
technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006.
Scope the work may include:
cable route
cable supports
cable types
distribution areas (DA)
enclosures
equipment required
fibre hubs
optical splitters
project type:
large residential
medium residential
small business
standard residential.
Appropriate personnel may be:
consultant
planning engineer
project engineer
project supervisor
site supervisor.
Safety hazards may refer to:
access points that may contain:
hazardous light (non-visible laser)
radio frequency (RF) emission
active lasers without safety labels
active optical fibres
contact with remote power feed
electrical supply that requires mandatory separation from communications cable
exposed fibres
unsafe support structures
unsafe weather:
heavy rains
high winds
severe heat or cold
thunderstorms.
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to:
identifying other services, including power and gas
personal protective equipment
earmuffs
gloves
head protection
masks
protective suits
safety boots
safety glasses
safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of:
chemicals
materials
tools and equipment
safety equipment:
flashing lights
safety barriers
warning signs and tapes
witches hats
special access requirements
environmental considerations:
clean-up protection
stormwater protection
waste management.
Other services may include:
alarms
electrical services
fire sprinkler systems
gas and water mains
high voltage (HV) power
other service provider networks.
Tools, safety equipment may include:
personal protective equipment
test equipment:
local area network (LAN) Cat tester
network analyser
OTDR
passive optical network (PON) meter
tools:
fibre cleaning kit
fibre splicer
labeller
screw drivers
spanners
tagging tool.
Plant and machinery may include:
back hoes
bobcats
cable hauling equipment
cable lifters
diggers
elevated work platforms (EWP)
excavators
jacks and trolleys
tensioning equipment.
Fibre installation specifications may include:
connector types
fibre management system
identification label
patch cord type
splicing cabinet location.
Power cable and grounding specifications may include:
cable colour code
cable termination lug type
cable wire gauge
identification label
overhead route
under floor cable route.
Associated hardware may include:
cabinets
equipment racks:
19 inch
23 inch
535 mm
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) compliant
fibre distribution troughing
ironwork
LAN hubs and routers
rectifier cabinet.
Configuration document may include:
circuit card locations
contents of each shelf
filler card locations.
Optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) test may include:
bidirectional 'footprint' test:
at 1310 nm
at 1550 nm
at 1625 nm
fibre loss
splice losses and their locations.
Optical loss test set (OLTS) measurement may include fibre insertion loss from:
A to B at:
1310 nm
1550 nm
1625 nm
B to A at:
1310 nm
1550 nm
1625 nm.
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.
Relevant legislation, codes, regulations and standards may include:
Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes
AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) Volume 1
AS/NZS 3000:2007
AS/NZS 3080:2003
AS/NZS 3084:2003
AS/NZS 3085.1:2004
AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006
AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005
AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007
cabling security codes and regulations
Environmental Protection Acts
OHS
road and traffic control legislation and codes
technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006.
Scope the work may include:
cable route
cable supports
cable types
distribution areas (DA)
enclosures
equipment required
fibre hubs
optical splitters
project type:
large residential
medium residential
small business
standard residential.
Appropriate personnel may be:
consultant
planning engineer
project engineer
project supervisor
site supervisor.
Safety hazards may refer to:
access points that may contain:
hazardous light (non-visible laser)
radio frequency (RF) emission
active lasers without safety labels
active optical fibres
contact with remote power feed
electrical supply that requires mandatory separation from communications cable
exposed fibres
unsafe support structures
unsafe weather:
heavy rains
high winds
severe heat or cold
thunderstorms.
OHS and environmental requirements may relate to:
identifying other services, including power and gas
personal protective equipment
earmuffs
gloves
head protection
masks
protective suits
safety boots
safety glasses
safe working practices, such as the safe use and handling of:
chemicals
materials
tools and equipment
safety equipment:
flashing lights
safety barriers
warning signs and tapes
witches hats
special access requirements
environmental considerations:
clean-up protection
stormwater protection
waste management.
Other services may include:
alarms
electrical services
fire sprinkler systems
gas and water mains
high voltage (HV) power
other service provider networks.
Tools, safety equipment may include:
personal protective equipment
test equipment:
local area network (LAN) Cat tester
network analyser
OTDR
passive optical network (PON) meter
tools:
fibre cleaning kit
fibre splicer
labeller
screw drivers
spanners
tagging tool.
Plant and machinery may include:
back hoes
bobcats
cable hauling equipment
cable lifters
diggers
elevated work platforms (EWP)
excavators
jacks and trolleys
tensioning equipment.
Fibre installation specifications may include:
connector types
fibre management system
identification label
patch cord type
splicing cabinet location.
Power cable and grounding specifications may include:
cable colour code
cable termination lug type
cable wire gauge
identification label
overhead route
under floor cable route.
Associated hardware may include:
cabinets
equipment racks:
19 inch
23 inch
535 mm
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) compliant
fibre distribution troughing
ironwork
LAN hubs and routers
rectifier cabinet.
Configuration document may include:
circuit card locations
contents of each shelf
filler card locations.
Optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) test may include:
bidirectional 'footprint' test:
at 1310 nm
at 1550 nm
at 1625 nm
fibre loss
splice losses and their locations.
Optical loss test set (OLTS) measurement may include fibre insertion loss from:
A to B at:
1310 nm
1550 nm
1625 nm
B to A at:
1310 nm
1550 nm
1625 nm.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
plan DWDM installation activities
develop installation specifications
prepare DWDM shelf configuration and specifications
plan preliminary optical tests.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
sites on which testing, installation and configuring of a DWDM system may be conducted
use of test equipment currently used in industry
manufacturer's technical documentation
relevant regulations and specifications.
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 DWDM planning tasks
review of data gathered, reports and project plans prepared by the candidate
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning and configuring of DWDM systems.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
ICTOPN5121A Test and commission a dense wavelength division multiplexing transmission system.
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 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:
plan DWDM installation activities
develop installation specifications
prepare DWDM shelf configuration and specifications
plan preliminary optical tests.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
sites on which testing, installation and configuring of a DWDM system may be conducted
use of test equipment currently used in industry
manufacturer's technical documentation
relevant regulations and specifications.
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 DWDM planning tasks
review of data gathered, reports and project plans prepared by the candidate
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of planning and configuring of DWDM systems.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
ICTOPN5121A Test and commission a dense wavelength division multiplexing transmission system.
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.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWE24 | ICTOPN501 | Plan and configure dense wavelength division multiplexing systems | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| W812 | ICT50110 | Diploma of Optical Networks | Qualification |
| W813 | ICT50210 | Diploma of Telecommunications Network Engineering | Qualification |