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Apprenticeship training course

CNFE - Cellular network field engineer (level 4)

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Information about CNFE - Cellular network field engineer (level 4)

Develop, maintain and optimise the UK’s cellular network and its infrastructure.

Knowledge, skills and behaviours
View knowledge, skills and behaviours

Knowledge

  • Awareness of Health and safety legislations, regulations and safe working practices, network operator and tower estate owners design and construction rules and guidelines, relevance to the occupation and the operative's responsibilities. Including Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Manual handling. Working at height regulations. Working in confined spaces. Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers
  • Tower climbing techniques
  • Safety control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • International commission non-Ionising radiation protection (ICNIRP): frequency ranges
  • Principles of Transverse Electromagnetic Wave (TEM) propagation: Hyugen’s theorem
  • Principles of electromagnetic field
  • Fibre transmission and modes
  • Lifting and lowering techniques, slings, knots and attachments, for rooftop, greenfield and street works
  • Site standards, survey requirements and site set up for any specific activity: Site inductions, toolbox talks, dynamic risk assessments (DRA), scope of work, Risk Assessments & Method Statements (RAMS), identification of hazards, lines of reporting and required control measures
  • Site inspection requirements: validity, duration, standard industry practice, Working at Height (WAH), Electrical, Civil and Environment – awareness of how to access, Barber portal, relevant sources and Person in charge of Works (PICW)
  • Statutory requirements for maintaining electrical equipment: distribution boards, power support units, battery supplies, mains supplies, Remote radio boxes (RRB's) Break out boxes (BOB)
  • Statutory requirements for maintaining environmental equipment: detecting or removal of asbestos, site pollution, bird nesting, Weil disease.
  • Statutory requirements for maintaining civil equipment: avoiding danger from undergrounds services, permission to dig, cat scanning, excavations, tower roots, cabinet plinths group repairs
  • Statutory requirements for maintaining working at height equipment: Site specific structures, antenna systems, feeders, Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Remote Radio Head (RRH), Mast head amplifiers (MHA's), Directional Radio Link (DRL) and associated fixings, frequency bands
  • Communication techniques and methods when communicating with people in different roles
  • Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions using paper based and digital methods
  • Roles and Responsibilities of site personnel 
  • Personal responsibilities and obligations in protecting safety of self, colleagues and the public whilst undertaking work
  • Process and procedures for the planning, of electrical systems Including Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), Low Voltage (LV), Protective Extra Low Voltage (PELV)
  • Process and procedures for the set up and installation of electrical systems Including Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), Low Voltage (LV), Protective Extra Low Voltage (PELV)
  • Process and procedures for the inspection and testing of electrical systems Including Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), Low Voltage (LV), Protective Extra Low Voltage (PELV)
  • Full and partial isolation processes of electrical circuits including Electrotechnical systems and electrical systems and equipment
  • Tools, equipment, components used in role
  • Power supplies: Uninterruptible power supply (UPS), Generators, Standby and Primary Sources
  • Principles of sustainability: Energy efficiency and reuse of materials, recycling, principles of control and management of emissions and waste, efficient use of resources
  • Principles of sustainable development and their impact on the occupation: net-zero carbon emissions, low carbon processes, environmental policies and legislations, and the climate change act
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity and its principles in the workplace including routes for reporting unethical behaviour
  • Industry recognised standards as defined within current British standards including wiring regulations and Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
  • Maintenance techniques for cell site apparatus
  • Fault finding and repair techniques for cell site apparatus
  • Decommission techniques for cell site apparatus
  • Principles of electrical design: design load, sizing and safe route of cabling, overcurrent, undercurrent, circuit protection, earthing and lightning protection, equipotential bonding
  • Tower rescue and casualty management techniques
  • Leadership and management techniques: planning, work scheduling, delegation techniques
  • Wellbeing: mental and physical health considerations and how to access support
  • Cellular Network and transmission design and topology
  • Radio access, network structure and interactions
  • Commission and integration testing processes on Base Station Sub-System (BSS)
  • Construction phase plan (CPP)
  • Information required for handover pack
  • Client specifications for frequency limits pass and fail parameters
  • Process and procedures for the planning and testing, of Radio frequency (RF) complying with regulations International Commission on Non-Ironizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
  • Radio Frequency (RF) testing equipment: Open, short and load
  • Telecom connectors:7/16 N_type 43..10

Skills

  • Compile and verify a construction phase plan (CPP)
  • Conduct, produce and write a risk assessment and method statement at site level
  • Recognise, record and monitor risks, escalating to relevant personnel
  • Comply with health and safety regulations
  • Identify and use personal protective equipment (PPE) 
  • Comply with electrical regulations
  • Delegate and assign tasks according to scope of works and specific skillset and Health and safety
  • Conduct site surveys to meet client’s installation criteria
  • Review and compile information to produce handover pack
  • Select, implement and evaluate control measures
  • Install electrical systems
  • Inspect and test electrical systems
  • Isolate electrical circuits
  • Maintain cell site apparatus
  • Find faults and repair cell site apparatus
  • Decommission cell site apparatus
  • Commission and conduct integration testing on Base Station Sub-System (BSS)
  • Select and use work restraint, work positioning, and fall arrest equipment
  • Climb site towers
  • Use lifting and lowering techniques using slings, knots and attachments
  • Select and use tools and equipment when working at ground level and at height
  • Conduct tower rescue and casualty management
  • Apply sustainable principles and low carbon processes to implement site environmental solutions and disposal of waste
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion principles
  • Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using sector specific terminology through written or verbal means
  • Interpret design drawings
  • Use Radio Frequency (RF) monitor
  • Conduct site inspections

Behaviours

  • Take Responsibility for own actions and for the actions of those under their supervision or direction with respect to safety
  • Demonstrate commitment to workplace health, safety
  • Take responsibility for and promote sustainable working practices
  • Committed to continued professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance competence in own area of practice
  • Encourage a diverse and inclusive culture
  • Recognise limitations, seek input from others and escalate issues when required
Apprenticeship category (sector)
Construction and the built environment
Qualification level
4
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course duration
36 months
Maximum funding
£27,000
Maximum government funding for
apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
Job titles include
  • Cellular network field engineer
  • Field engineer
  • Field supervisor
  • Lead field engineer
  • Senior field engineer

View more information about CNFE - Cellular network field engineer (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.