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Role Profile

The ICT occupation delivers efficient operation and control of the IT and/or Telecommunications infrastructure (comprising physical or virtual hardware, software, network services and data storage) either on-premises or to end-users provisioned as cloud services. The big picture is to help deliver and support the information systems needs of an organisation.

The ICT helps organisations to prepare for new or changed services. They can operate throughout the change process helping with the maintenance of regulatory, legal, and professional standards in the delivery of systems. They are involved in building and managing systems and components in virtualised and cloud computing environments. A key part of their role is monitoring the performance of systems and services in relation to their contribution to business performance, system security and sustainability.

An ICT provides support to internal and/or external customers, by using tools or systems to problem solve and trouble-shoot routine and non-routine problems. This occupation also supports clients/customers to run their systems efficiently. They achieve this through monitoring and maintaining systems and/or platforms to maximise productivity and provide a positive user experience.

Digital Communications Technician

A Digital Communications Technician may be desk or field-based resolving faults and issues with communications systems. For example, working in a defence organisation operates as an Online Network Technician they would be at the heart of every mission solving complex issues, enabling the secure exchange of mission critical and often Top-Secret information. It would be their responsibility to administer and provide specialist communications and IT equipment including classified information and cryptographic material to guarantee Operational Capability is delivered to the Command.

Digital Communications Technician Knowledge & Skills Taught:

As with all of our level 3 & 4 apprenticeships, you are not required to have any pre-requisite grades or skills. The purposes is to upskill the individual to the point of industry level competency within the given time period, whilst working within the field. Apprenticeships are a fusion of learning theory and applied experience, to produce applicable competency within a given field.

Competency

• Interpret and prioritise internal or external customer's requirements in line with organisation's policy
• Apply the appropriate tools and techniques to undertake fault finding and rectification
• Apply Continuous Professional Development to support necessary business output and technical developments
• Operate safely and securely across platforms and responsibilities maintaining the security of personal data of internal and external stakeholders
• Communicate with all levels of stakeholders, keeping them informed of progress and managing escalation where appropriate
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, customers, and other relevant stakeholders
• Manage and prioritise the allocated workload effectively making best use of time and resources
• Complete documentation relevant to the task and escalate where appropriate
• Install or undertake basic software upgrades, either physically or remotely
• Establish and diagnose the extent of the IT support task, in line with the organisation's policies and SLA's
• Provide remote/F2F support to resolve customer requirements
• Maintain a safe working environment for own personal safety and others in line with Health & Safety appropriate to the task
• Use a range of Cabling or Connectors equipment in line with technical requirements

Knowledge

• Approaches to back up and storage solutions
• Basic elements of technical documentation and its interpretation
• Principles of root cause problem solving using fault diagnostics for troubleshooting
• Principles of basic network addressing for example binary
• basic awareness of the principles of cloud and cloud-based services
• Fundamental principles of virtual networks and components
• Principles of cultural awareness and how diversity impacts on delivery of support tasks
• Methods of communication including level of technical terminology to use to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Different types of maintenance and preventative measures to reduce the incidence of faults
• Key principles of Security including the role of People, Product and Process in secure systems for example access and encryption requirements
• Fundamentals of physical networks and components
• Approaches to documenting tasks, findings, actions taken and outcome for example, use of task tracking and ticketing systems
• Basic awareness of legislation in relation to disposal of waste materials for example Waste Electronic and Electrical regulations (WEEE)
• Basic elements of network communication architectures for example, hardware, software, protocols and connection mediums.
• Awareness of the purpose of firewalls
• Different types of connectivity and cabling for example physical and remote
• Awareness of network protocols
• The purpose of digital communications technologies for example, hardware, virtual and cellular technologies

Mindset

• Works professionally, taking initiative as appropriate and acting with an ethical approach.
• Communicates technical and non-technical information in a variety of situations to support effective working with internal or external stakeholders
• Demonstrates a productive and organised approach to their work
• Self-motivated, for example takes responsibility to complete the job.

Typical Job Roles:

For Digital Applications Technicians:

•     Telecommunications Technician.
•     Communications Technician.
•     1st & 2nd line support Telecoms Technician.

Apprenticeship Pathways:

These are the courses roadmaps. It is a portion of the work which will follow through the entirity of the apprenticeship course. With on the job experience, and off-the-job learning rounding out in the rest of the training.

Information Communications Technician - Digital Comms - CompTIA

Digital Communications Technician Courses:

All relevant courses within your selected pathway, for yourself or your employee, can be found below.

Introduction to Networking & Cloud

Analogue & Digital Signals / Signal Impairments

The GKA Way

Transmission Fundamentals / Modulation & Multiplexing

Data Communication Principles / Telephony & Data Services

Telecoms Networks / Media Encoding

Legislation, Regulation & Ethics

ITIL4 Foundation

Choose 1 of:

• Principles, Characteristics and Applications of Data Communications
• Principles and Operation of Telephone Networks
• Principles and Operation of Mobile Communications Systems

The EPA Way

Resources

Technical Competencies