Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers

Nature of work

Telecommunications installation and repair workers install, test, maintain and repair telephones, telephone switching equipment and telecommunications equipment including fibre optics, microwave, radio and satellite. They work for telephone and other telecommunications transmission services companies.

Job duties

Telephone installers and repairers:

• Install, arrange, remove and maintain telephone equipment, wiring and related hardware.
• Test installed telephone systems to find transmission faults.
• Repair or replace broken telephones, wire and related equipment.

Switch network installers and repairers:

• Install electromechanical, analog and digital trunking systems, circuits and equipment in telecommunications central offices and switching centres.
• Inspect and test trunking systems, circuits and equipment.
• Examine test results and adjust, change or repair switching system, network, related equipment and software.

Telecommunications service testers:

• Run computerized testing systems to carry out service tests on customer lines and equipment.
• Determine the nature, cause and location of service trouble.
• Dispatch correct repair workers.
• Complete test reports and maintain test and service records.
• May help repair personnel to test lines, circuits and systems, isolate and clear cable faults and verify records.

Telecommunications equipment technicians:

• Install, remove and maintain telecommunications equipment and related systems like telex and fax machines, teletypewriters, mobile radios, cellular telephones, pagers and other telecommunications equipment.
• Configure operating systems and install software for access to the Internet.
• Inspect and test operation of telecommunications equipment.
• Identify and find equipment faults, and change, replace or repair telecommunications equipment.

Sample job titles

• apprentice communication technician - switching
• cellular telephone technician
• exchange tester - telecommunications
• mobile radio installer
• private branch exchange (PBX) installer
• switch network installer and repairer
• telecommunications equipment technician
• telephone communicationt technician
• telephone installer
• telephone line and station installer

Skills

This work requires a good mechanical and electrical aptitude. You should have a strong background in mathematics and the sciences. Accuracy and a keen eye for detail are important. Good eyesight, colour vision, and hand-eye coordination are necessary.

Job requirements

• High school is required.
• Telephone and switch network installers and repairers need to finish an apprenticeship program ranging from three to four years or a combination of over three years work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry related courses.
• Telecommunications equipment technicians usually need a college electrical and electronics program and several months of on-the-job training or completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship training program.
• Voluntary trade certification for communication technicians is available in Nova Scotia.
• Experience as an installer and repairer (telephone and switch network) is usually required for service testers.

Other considerations

Movement to supervisory positions is possible with experience. Changes in telecommunications and multi-media technology and the ways in which they are delivered to customers may affect the type of work performed and job prospects in these jobs. Changes in technology, like high-speed Internet and digital phone services, require that workers in this group continuously upgrade their skills.

Regulations

There are no additional resources for this occupation.