US network operations (NOC)
Monitor the network and work alarms down to the fault — the NOC workflow.
Overview
The NOC watches every layer: access (ONTs, OLTs), aggregation, metro, core, optical transport, internet edge, data centres and power. Network management systems raise alarms when thresholds are crossed — ONTs offline, optical levels low, interfaces down, high temperature. When several customers on the same PON drop at once, the cause is shared: a fiber cut, damaged feeder or distribution cable, a failed splitter, an OLT port or card, or power. The NOC compares the affected customers using inventory, narrows it to a section, checks the OLT, and dispatches OSP with the location. After the fix, optical levels and ONTs are checked and the incident is closed.
Jobs this covers
us_pon_alarm — certificate: US central office & NOC (recommended)
The equipment — what everything does
Network management system
Watches device status, interfaces, optics, temperature and power and raises alarms.
In game: OPS Hub → Operations centre and Alerts.
Network inventory & GIS
Records every fiber, splice, splitter, port and customer so faults can be traced.
In game: OPS Hub → Internet, poles & faults.
OLT
Shows which ONTs on each PON port are up or down.
In game: In the central office.
Tools & PPE
Engineer laptop & console cable
Configures routers, NVRs and servers, runs speed tests and opens OPS Hub.
Optical light meter / OTDR
Measures how much light arrives down a fibre, and where along it a break or bad splice is.
Hi-vis vest & hard hat PPE
Makes you visible to traffic and protects your head from falling objects and low beams.
Safety glasses PPE
Protect your eyes from fibre shards, drilling dust and laser light.
Standalone servers: tools are in your van (OPS Work → My van & tools). Items servers: collect them — and the job’s parts — at an OPS depot.
Step by step
Note the PON, the OLT port and how many ONTs dropped.
Find the shared path — same FDH, same feeder, same splitter.
Port and card status, optics, power at the CO.
Send OSP to the section with the location and distance.
ONTs back online, optical levels good — close the incident.
Health & safety
Fatigue on long incidents
Risk: Mistakes during long outages.
Control: Hand over properly between shifts and keep notes.
Work in the CO
Risk: Live equipment and DC power.
Control: Follow CO safety: ESD, insulated tools, no work without a change.
In game you confirm these in a risk assessment before starting. Skipping them on risky work can cause a fall or a shock — and it’s logged as a safety incident.
When it’s not done correctly
Treating a PON outage as single houses
Many techs dispatched to homes while the real fault stays.
Closing before ONTs are confirmed
Customers still down with no open incident.