My job: Boundless capacity in fibre optics

Warren Gunton says no day is the same. Photo / Graeme Sedal

Name: Warren Gunton
Age: 45
Role: Fibre optic jointer at Northpower.
Working hours: 7.30am to 4pm, occasional evening and weekend work as well as alternating monthly 24/7 standby.
Average salary: $50,000-$60,000

What do you do as a fibre optic jointer?

We install and connect fibre cables from the network centre to customer buildings and install equipment racks, termination boxes and jointing closures into buildings and jointing chambers located in the footpaths and roads. This can include putting connections into commercial premises and running new high-speed networks down streets. Depending on customer needs, we might have to run the fibre cable through two or three joints to get the connection from the exchange to the customer's communications room. It is my job to make sure the fibre link works and will continue to operate for years to come.

We also have to make sure that everything keeps running in a commercial building so, for example, if a firewall goes down we get called in. Sometimes the firewall needs replacing or a piece of equipment is failing at the customer end; other times someone has simply turned the power off. You have to work through issues such as who was in the area last to work out what has happened. We need to get the link back up and running as soon as possible.

What is jointing?

Jointing is done by using a splicing machine that looks a bit like a Nintendo. The machine welds the fibres together and then we install the fibre strand into a closure.

What are fibre optic cables used for?

They are used for high-speed broadband, and transporting large amounts of data for businesses, telcos and internet companies. Because fibre has almost limitless capacity, it can transport huge amounts of data and other services.

Your history?

I've been in the telecommunications field since I was 16, long before fibre-optic technology existed. I was initially keen on precision engineering but had trouble getting a job in that area and then I saw a communications technician vacancy advertised with the Post Office.

I got the job and never looked back. The Post Office was taken over by Telecom, then my division was contracted out to ConnecTel and then to Downers.

What sort of training or experience is helpful with this job?

There is no formal qualification for a fibre jointer. You get practical training on the job and get sent on courses in telecommunications, network architecture, switching and testing.

What skills or qualities do you need?

You need to be able to organise yourself and be self motivated. You need a practical mind so you can work through problems. You have to be physically capable of running cables into ceilings, under floors and into basements. You need knowledge of electricity; we have regular refresher courses on power and safety.

Best part of the job?

I like being on the road and planning my own work day.

I couldn't be in an office all day. Every building is different, every customer is different.

I enjoy working with the really big systems, such as Sky Tower.

The tower data centre, which crosses two floors and has great views, is the interconnection point between most internet providers in New Zealand. The cable trays extend around the building and are custom-built so they are easy to access.

Most challenging part?

The hours can be challenging because we can't always work during the days on some of the high-capacity data circuits for international customers, and so we have to work between New Zealand and overseas time schedules.

Any interesting jobs?

Being involved with the maintenance and outage of international communication cables for Southern Cross and Tasman 2. These are under-sea fibre cables linking New Zealand to the outside world and Pacific Rim. I had to attend training in Australia because it was different to cable I was used to working with; it was submarine cable carrying New Zealand's internet and telephone services.

Advice?

Are you interested in the practical side of telecommunications, and being active and problem solving? Fibre optics is a growth industry.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I enjoy my work and I'm not tempted at this stage to move indoors. But there is the option of project management or becoming a field supervisor looking after fibre jointers or helping with the design of a network.