The training is aimed at the following IT professionals  

• Project managers for fiber optic network projects 

• Designers of fiber optic communications networks 

• Managers, owners and users of fiber optic communications networks 

• Contractors and techs who install, operate and maintain fiber broadband networks.  

• Regulatory officers in the fiber industry  

This course is an advanced course; therefore, it requires a fundamental industrial knowledge on fiber optic implementation.  

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:  

• Produce a Project Management document plan for fiber deployment (Gantt Chart) 

• Identify and manage stakeholders for a success deployment 

• Calculate optical link loss budget (calculating total link loss) 

• Identify, choose and procure Optical Fiber system components  

• Schedule deployment of optical fiber activities on various route types 

• Produce the acceptance criteria of an optical fiber deployment for contractors  

• Produce a maintenance documentation for fiber systems 

The course (2 weeks duration) study method involves the following:   

• Course Materials: The relevant course material (Presentations) and pre-recorded video is made available on the ITU Academy learning portal at the beginning of the course to facilitate self-study. Each week is based on 2 hours of lectures-presentations per week.  

• Online Discussion Forums: discussion forums are organized weekly at the ITU Academy based on discussions topics and case studies. Students are highly encouraged to participate and interact with instructors and other students (e.g., forum participation, Moodle messenger, etc.).  

• Chat Sessions: weekly live chat sessions via Zoom platform (2pm CEST) with the students to facilitate questions about the material covered for the week and the assignments.  The dates for the live chat session(s) will be communicated to participants on the first day of the course. 

• Quizzes: One mandatory online quiz (i.e., multiple choice questions) at the end of each week.  

• Assignment. A downloadable Word document Template is provided for submission case study research assignment, which will be graded by the course instructor. 

The participants will be evaluated according to their substantive posts on the discussion forum, active participation in the online chat sessions, and other course activities, reflecting both the quantity and quality of time spent on the course. Two quizzes at the end of the two weeks (i.e., week 1 and week 2), and one Individual Assignment to be submitted and graded. Templates outlining the format for the assignment submission will be provided via the ITU Academy platform. Each quiz will be multiple choices questions suitable for evaluation of course participants through the ITU Academy platform. The maximum grade for the course will be 100 points. The evaluation details and criteria for earning certificates are as follows. 

A total score of 70% and above is required to obtain the ITU course completion certificate, through the following evaluation parameters: 

Two quizzes (20% per quiz) 40% 

Individual Assignment 40% 

Two Chat Sessions 10% 

Two Discussion Forums 10% 

Week 1/ Module 1

What are optical fibers?

• History of optical fibers (History of development of glass as light carrying medium)
• Principles of information
• Optical fiber principles
• Fiber amplifiers (Erbium technology) Passive Fiber components
• Fiber fabrication, cabling, accessories and limiting factors on optical fibers
• Types of optical fibers (SM and MM)

Week 1/ Module 2

End-to-End Optical Network Infrastructure

• Architecture & Infrastructure
• Optic Drivers
• EDFAs, Optical Switches WDM and DWDM Equipment
• Network Architectures

Week 1/ Module 3

Optical Fiber Network Planning & Design: Concept /Design

• Optical fiber system requirement
• Essential elements of a fiber link
• System definitions
• Optical link loss budget (Calculating total link loss)
• Optical Fiber system components (Transmitter, multiplexer, fiber link, de-multiplexer,
• receiver, amplifier)
• Network types
• Survey of routes
• Compare different installation options
• Layout of an optical fiber cable network (Equipment, ODF, Cable, Splices)
• Optical fiber cable design and manufacturing
• Optical fiber cable types
• Optical fiber cable specifications and cable type testing

Week 1/ Module 4

Fiber Optic Project Management

• What is fiber Project Management?
• Defining fiber Project constraints
• Roles of a Project Manager
• Overview of fiber Project documentation
• Combining Project areas
• Producing the Project plan
• Planning the execution
• Mastering change control

Scope Management

• Defining the scope and system requirement for fiber deployment
• Producing the fiber scope of works
• Verification of scope
• Preventing scope creep with effective change control

Week 2/ Module 5

Deployment of Optical Fiber in the Network

• Deployment of optical fiber cables on shared routes (e.g Railways and Power routes)
• Aerial installations of optical fiber cables
• Underground installations of optical fiber cables
• Direct burial of optical fiber cables
• Key applications of different optical fiber cable types

Week 2/ Module 6

Fiber Risk Management /Link Test

• Defining risk
• Risk Identification
• Quantifying risk
• Developing risk responses
• Devising risk response controls

Human Resource Management

• Workforce management
• Stakeholder management
• Team development

Week 2/ Module 7

Time Management

• Defining the tasks
• Task estimation
• Scheduling tasks
• Resource Allocation

Cost Management

• Resource planning
• Cost Estimating
• Cost budgeting
• Cost control
• Use of budgeting tools

Week 2/ Module 8

Fiber Communications Management

• Developing communication strategies
• Conflict resolution
• Stakeholder analysis
• Communications planning
• Effective information distribution

Fiber Project Closure Management

• Developing communication strategies
• Conflict resolution
• Stakeholder analysis
• Communications planning
• Effective information distribution