Telecommunications Cable Technician

A telecommunications cable technician installs, maintains, and repairs copper and fibre optic cables, ducts, and associated infrastructure for voice, data, and broadband services across fixed-line networks. They work in the field and in exchanges, performing both above-ground and underground cable work, testing installations for compliance with Australian Standards and NBN specifications, and diagnosing faults in active services. The role requires understanding of cabling systems, network topology, and electrical safety regulations to ensure service delivery to residential and commercial customers.

Install copper and fibre optic cables in ducts, conduits, and overhead routes using appropriate tension and slack management techniques. Terminate and splice cables using fusion splicers, mechanical splicing methods, and termination tools, ensuring polarity and loss standards are met. Test installed cabling systems using optical time domain reflectometers (OTDR), multimeters, and continuity testers to verify signal strength and fault location. Prepare cable routes by clearing ducts, installing or replacing conduit, and placing marker tape and signage in accordance with Safe Work Australia guidelines. Diagnose service faults by interpreting network diagrams, tracing cable routes, and identifying breaks, corrosion, or water ingress in copper or fibre lines. Repair or replace damaged cable sections, connectors, and joint enclosures in both underground and aerial installations. Comply with cable placement standards set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and National Broadband Network (NBN) design specifications. Document cable routes, splice locations, and test results in field logs and network management systems for asset tracking and future maintenance.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need a Certificate III or IV in telecommunications, which takes time and money upfront. The work is physically demanding: you're digging, climbing poles, working in trenches and tight spaces in all weather. Pay tends to plateau; it's not a path to six figures. Automation is slowly replacing routine cable work, though fault diagnosis and splicing still need skilled hands.

NBN Co and major telcos concentrate work in capital cities and expanding regional areas during network rollout. Realistically, most permanent positions are in metro areas, though contract work follows NBN construction schedules across regional Australia. Remote work is not typical for field-based cable work.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3424, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Customer Needs Assessment
• Digital Literacy
• Process Documentation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Stakeholder Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026