Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Interfaces may include:
A
Abis
Iu
Iur
Iub
Iu-CS (circuit switch)
Iu-PS (packet switch)
S1
Latest generation may include:
3G
high speed packet access (HSPA)
Emerging cellular technologies may include:
2 x 2 multiple input-multiple output (MIMO)
4 x 4 MIMO
4G
long term evolution (LTE)
SF-frequency division multiple access (FDMA)
Increase system capacity may include:
cellular re-use
orthogonal frequency division multiple access - multiple input-multiple output (OFDM - MIMO)
OFDMA
overlay
underlay.
Frequency allocation may include:
patterns:
7/21
4/12
3/9
1/1.
Carrier to interference radiation may include:
carrier interference:
carrier to adjacent (C/A)
carrier to interference (C/I)
carrier to reflection (C/R).
Subsystem functions may include:
cellular elements:
AUC
base station controller (BSC)
base transceiver station (BTS)
eNode B
node B
home location register (HLR)
HSS
mobile station (MS)
mobile services switching centre (MSC)
SAE
transcoder
visitor location register (VLR)
burst timing and content
logical channels
multiplexing
radio path
signal protocols.
Sub-systems components may include:
alarm gathering unit
charging unit
clocking unit
common channel signalling unit
gateway gprs support node (GGSN)
HSS
MME
operation and maintenance unit
SAE gateway
serving GPRS support node (SGSN)
statistical unit.
Interface to other network sub-systems may include:
application parts:
Base Station System Application Part (BSSAP)
integrated services user parts (ISUP)
managed application provider (MAP)
SYGTRAN.

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 a frequency allocation for a cellular network
analyse techniques to increase system capacity for a fixed spectrum bandwidth
develop a plan for integration of emerging cellular technologies
analyse the interfaces between a mobile network and customers
research and report the interfacing of major subsystems to other network subsystems
produce an analytical report on cellular mobile convergence with a plan for cellular mobile system integration to existing networks.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:

sites on which cellular network analysis, research and simulation may be conducted
use of test equipment currently used in industry
manufacturer’s and enterprise technical documentation.
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:

evaluation of reports prepared by the candidate
review of test documentation and reports completed by the candidate
oral questioning or written questioning to assess required.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICTPMG8143B Manage a telecommunications project.

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.