Telecommunications

Currently the telecoms industry reports that:
• office data traffic is growing at 35 per cent every year
• nearly 60 per cent of the cabling work being carried out is replacement and upgrades (this figure is likely to be maintained with the recent standardisation of Category 6 cabling)
• the UK's shortage of engineers is expected to be over 325,000 by the end of 2003
• the annual turnover of the UK telecommunications market is now worth £45 billion.

In this brief look at telecoms, it is only the connection between the machines at both ends of the system that will be considered. However, readers should be familiar with the term 'Information and Communication Technology (ICT)' as it becomes used more frequently.

Convergence in the telecoms industry means that voice and data communications, which used to be two separate areas, are now coming together and using the same communications channels. The key to telecoms is 'bandwidth' - the amount of information that can be carried by a particular method of transmission like a cable or a radio wave. Modern developments involve enlarging the capacity of the links, increasing global coverage, joining end-users together, and providing more facilities over more networks.

Mobile telecoms
To most people, mobile telecoms nowadays mean the mobile phone. The latest commercial phones provide e-mail and Internet access, as well as fax, secure voice and many other facilities. Links between mobile phone and base station are by radio. Other infrastructure links use microwaves, and their dishes can be seen on many masts and buildings, bringing networks together.

Satellites may also be used in both mobile and static telecoms networks. Digital TV users will know of both cable and satellite services. The military uses mobile satellite radio equipment, including INMARSAT. As much as 90 per cent of all voice and data communications will be over mobile networks within ten years. Much of this will be provided by third-generation (3G) technology with the first launch of such commercial services by Hutchison expected to take place before the end of 2002.

Fixed telecoms
Fixed telecoms may include all the infrastructure necessary to run a Local or Wide Area Network - and links between the two. They may provide business services, telephones, television and much more besides, and may be used to transmit voice, fax, data, graphics or any combination of these.

The most common carriers of fixed telecoms are cables. These are made from both copper and fibre-optics, with the older, copper, being cheaper and more common, although the situation is likely to be different in a few years as fibre-optics are used increasingly. They are used to carry staggering amounts of information over incredible distances, including the 11,700 kilometres of cable under the Atlantic.

Networks
Typically, a number of different commercial organisations will both provide and share telecoms network facilities. Signals pass through switches and links owned by many companies and rented by the service provider. Their routing is up to the owner of the links and a mobile phone call will be amongst other phone and fax users.

Messages need protocols to ensure that they get to the right places. They may need to be compressed and then decompressed, and they may be split into tiny fragments, with each one being sent separately and the whole being reconstituted.

Telecommunications in the Services
Each Service has its 'expert' telecoms staff in the specialist communications and electronics branches, although there may be other people serving who have considerable expertise. Some will have relevant degrees, while others will have different qualifications.

Some people will also have specialised in telecoms and/or electronics as part of their career pattern. They are still likely to have a number of very transferable and marketable skills, but they may need to be targeted in a particular area.

Service people without the necessary technical background can still enter the industry, but probably at a lower level. Their personal qualities are valued, as are the core skills they may bring, including map-reading, first aid, and even an ability to work at heights.

Telecommunications on leaving the Services
Service leavers need to discover which area of telecoms is right for them and for which they can reasonably expect to have the necessary qualifications and the background to enter. The Career Transition Partnership offers resettlement training courses in this area at Aldershot and also through its network of suppliers.

Individuals should talk with people working in the industry to try to establish a reasonable starting point based on their previous skills and experience. They should then look for the courses and training that suits them. The key is to start early and take resettlement training so it can be enhanced by self-study, academic qualifications and an industry placement.

Qualifications
Industry recruiters face three main problem areas:
• lack of qualifications
• lack of experience
• shortage of essential skills.

Attributes also regarded as being of key importance to employers and possessed by Service leavers are:
o problem-solving
o oral communications
o team skills.

People can gain qualifications through their employment and personal development while they are serving. This will primarily be about the theory necessary to use equipment, its actual use, and how to pass on that knowledge to others. The academic background and the principles of certain equipment use will be highly relevant.

People should build up academic qualifications, while those whose career path does not include such courses should look at day release, evening classes, open learning and the Internet for opportunities to learn before they leave.

NVQs based on industry standards developed by e-skills UK - the national training organisation - are available, but these are generally not well known by employers. Some major vendors, such as Cisco, have produced their own qualifications, while other bodies, like BICSI, are marketing a suite of exams in the telecoms area. When developing a career in telecommunications, it is worth remembering that BTEC (Edexcel) has established a six-level framework of qualifications that could lead to a BSc honours degree.

There are many short courses available that are targeted at anyone from expert to novice, and often cover specialist areas for experts who want to study a particular area in depth. They also provide a basic qualification for someone entering the industry at a comparatively low level.

Employment in telecoms
Getting employment involves:
• qualifications
• experience
• networking
• work placements
• the right CV
• going for the right job.

Once in a company the employment possibilities are enormous in this changing industry. Permanent employment is often regarded as three to five years, and people commonly change employer every two years or so. In-house training meets specific company objectives; individuals use employers to enhance their own personal development, and good people can achieve rapid promotion.

The Fibreoptic Industry Association's SkillsMatch programme allows people holding the relevant qualifications to record their achievements on its website database. Employers can undertake checks online, and people who are seeking employment can advertise their availability for work.

Salary expectations
The following is only a rough guide - pay varies from one company and contract to another.
• Junior engineer £13,000 to £18,000
• Installation engineer £15,000 to £25,000
• Team leader £18,000 to £22,000
• Project manager £22,000 to £40,000
• Planning engineer up to £40,000
• Technical trainer £28,000 to £50,000
• Network engineer up to £50,000
• Consultant £30,000 to £60,000
Overtime, shift work and benefits can increase these salaries.

Sources of information
Telecommunications Industry Association, Douglas House, 32-34 Simpson Road, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK1 1BA Tel: 01908 645000 Fax: 01908 632263 Website: www.tia.org.uk

e-skills UK, 1 Castle Lane, London SW1E 6DR Tel: 020 7963 8920 Fax: 020 7592 9138 Website: www.e-skills.com

Communications Management Association, Ranmore House, The Crescent, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DY Tel: 01372 361234 Fax: 01372 810810 Website: www.thecma.com

Fibreoptic Industry Association Ltd, The Manor House, Buntingford, Herts SG9 9AB Tel: 01763 273039 Fax: 01763 273255 Website: www.fibreoptic.org.uk

Confederation of Aerial Industries Ltd, Fulton House Business Centre, Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Middlesex HA9 0TF Tel: 020 8902 8998 Fax: 020 8903 8719 Website: www.cai.org.uk

Society of Cable and Telecommunication Engineers, Fulton House Business Centre, Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Middlesex HA9 0TF Tel: 020 8902 8998 Fax: 020 8903 8719 Website: www.scte.org.uk

This article has focused on employment opportunities specific to the telecommunications industry. However, there are a number of other functions in organisations that specialise in telecommunications. These include maintenance and rigging, driving and distribution, administrative and financial, sales and marketing, and training.