SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Describe data communications 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
14947  Describe data communications 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Information Systems and Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences Information Technology and Computer Sciences 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular-Fundamental  Level 3  NQF Level 03 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is intended:
  • to provide fundamental knowledge of the areas covered
  • for those working in, or entering the workplace in the area of Data Communication & Networking
  • as additional knowledge for those wanting to understand the areas covered.

    People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Describe past, present and emerging developments in data communication.
  • Describe synchronous and asynchronous data communication.
    The performance of all elements is to a standard that allows for further learning in this area. 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Open.The credit value of this unit is based on a person having prior knowledge and skills to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental mathematics (at least NQF level 1).
  • Demonstrate PC competency skills (End-User Computing unit Standards, at least up to NQF level 3.)? Demonstrate competence to resolve technical computer problems (DC301/ 302). 

  • Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe past, present and emerging developments in data communication. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Signal characteristics, Components, Standards, Protocols, Media. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The description explains the origin of current data communications with an outline of past developments. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Signal characteristics, Components, Standards, Protocols, Media.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The description provides a taxonomy for current systems. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Signal characteristics, Components, Standards, Protocols, Media.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The description identifies and projects trends from emerging developments in data communications. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Signal characteristics, Components, Standards, Protocols, Media.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Describe synchronous and asynchronous data communications. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Physical interface, Modes of operation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The description outlines the characteristics of each form of data communication. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Physical interface, Modes of operation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The description explains the features of data communication equipment with respect to synchronous and asynchronous data communication. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Includes, but is not limited to: Physical interface, Modes of operation.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The relevant Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programs of education and training assessed against unit standards.

    Moderation Process: Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    1. Performance of all elements is to be carried out in accordance with organisation standards and procedures, unless otherwise stated. Organisation standards and procedures may cover: quality assurance, documentation, security, communication, health and safety, and personal behaviour

    2. Performance of all elements complies with the laws of South Africa, especially with regard to copyright, privacy, health and safety, and consumer rights.

    3. All activities must comply with any policies, procedures and requirements of the organisations involved, the ethical codes of relevant professional bodies and any relevant legislative and/ or regulatory requirements.

    4. Performance of all elements should be performed with a solid understanding of the use of development tools needed in the areas applicable to the unit standard. Examples of such tools are, but is not limited to CASE tools, programming language editors with syntax checking, program source version control systems systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Organise and manage him/her self and his/her activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise, and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to his/her full personal development and the social and economic development of the society at large by being aware of the importance of: reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively, exploring education and career opportunities and developing entrepreneurial opportunities. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Supplementary information: None.

    Sub-Sub-Field (Domain):Data Communications and Networking. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Fundamental  20907   National Certificate: Customer Management  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2008-02-19  Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement 
    Fundamental  20903   National Certificate: Marketing Communications  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2008-02-19  Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement 
    Fundamental  20899   National Certificate: Marketing Management  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2008-02-19  Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement 
    Fundamental  20894   National Certificate: Marketing Research  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2008-02-19  Was SERVICES until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  61591   National Certificate: Information Technology: End User Computing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  78964   Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  MICTS 
    Elective  24293   National Certificate: Information Technology: Technical Support  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2010-01-23  Was MICTS until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Academy at Vaal Triangle (AVT 
    2. Academy Training Group 
    3. Acorser Corporate & Business Consulting t/a Acorser Academy 
    4. Action for Blind and Disabled 
    5. Action4 
    6. Affirmations Training 
    7. Africa Learn (Pty) Ltd 
    8. Afrika Tikkun NCC 
    9. All Nation Group Five Trading and Projects 
    10. Amadi Institute of Management And Technology (Pty) Ltd 
    11. Amilak Training Center 
    12. Angie Technologies 
    13. Answer The Call Skills and Entrepreneurship 
    14. ASMO INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AN 
    15. Aspirations Communication Training CC 
    16. Assured Vocational Skill Institute 
    17. ATTI (Advanced Technonogy Training Institute) 
    18. ATTI IT SOLUTIONS (Bloemfontei 
    19. ATTI Nelspruit Pty Ltd 
    20. Atvance Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    21. Balefile Trading and Services 
    22. Basadipele Skills Development and Training 
    23. BEE Clinic Pty Ltd 
    24. Bells Technical College 
    25. Birnam Business College (Pty) 
    26. Bokamoso Skills and Economic Development Centre 
    27. Brainwave Projects 1430 cc 
    28. BTC Campus (Pty) Ltd 
    29. Business Optimization Training Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    30. Careers IT 
    31. CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING 
    32. CHILI PEPPER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS 
    33. Claas Illustration 
    34. Clean Heat Academy 
    35. College Africa Group (Pty) Ltd 
    36. Columbus Consulting Pty Ltd 
    37. Common Vision Young Specialist Trading cc 
    38. COMPUSTEPS COLLEGE (PTY) LTD 
    39. CSL Accountants 
    40. CTU Training Solutions 
    41. CYBAX SYSTEMS 
    42. CYBER-CITY IT SOLUTIONS 
    43. DC Academy (PTY)LTD 
    44. Decade Pulse (Pty) Ltd 
    45. Dee's Training (Pty) Ltd 
    46. Delight Computer Training 
    47. Eagle Computer Training 
    48. Eagle High IT Training 
    49. EAST LONDON MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE 
    50. Eastern Cape Academy of Technology 
    51. ED-U Options Academy 
    52. Ekasi IT Solutions Centre 
    53. Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre Pty Ltd 
    54. Elangeni Training Institute 
    55. Elchees Software Solutions 
    56. Emalahleni Institute of Techno 
    57. Enter on Stilts 
    58. Epitome Villa (Pty)Ltd 
    59. Eshybrand Pty Ltd 
    60. EYETHU NATIONAL COMPUTER COLLEGE PTY LTD 
    61. Finweb Business Consultancy 
    62. Foster-Melliar (Pty) Ltd 
    63. Fourways Private College 
    64. Futurekids SA (Fochville) 
    65. Genii Institute PTY LTD 
    66. Gert Sibande FET College 
    67. Gigimo Tourism Academy 
    68. Global Institute for Capacity 
    69. Greater Tzaneen Community Foundation 
    70. Growth Management Consulting cc 
    71. Gurandbuilt Management Development 
    72. HAVOHEJ CONSULTANCY 
    73. Hazyview Computer College 
    74. Hectic Productions cc 
    75. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    76. Hlanganani ICT (Pty) Ltd 
    77. Home of Compassion/Grace Ministries 
    78. HUAWEI Technologies Africa (PTY) LTD 
    79. iCollege College 
    80. Ikusasa Technology Solutions 
    81. Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project NPC 
    82. iLearn Corporate Services PTY LTD 
    83. Imbizo Training and Development Consultants Cc 
    84. Information Technology Resource Centre 
    85. Inqubeko Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    86. Institute of Training and Education for Capacity Building 
    87. IT Academy 
    88. IT-HI-Q Training (PTY) Ltd 
    89. Iyam Training Services 
    90. Jeppe College of Commerce and 
    91. K Boneng Consulting Services P 
    92. K Centre Business Enterprise (PTY) LTD 
    93. Keep The Dream 285 
    94. Keybase Training Solutions Cc 
    95. King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College 
    96. KN Training Specialist 
    97. KT Mobile Services 
    98. Kundani Trading 
    99. L and P Computer Academy Pty Ltd 
    100. Leseding Computer Systems 
    101. LETAGO DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING 
    102. LIMPOPO COMPUTER COLLEGE BK 
    103. LINDAMAHLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (PTY) LTD 
    104. Loomee Group 
    105. LYFE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES (PTY) LTD 
    106. Makhophila Training 
    107. Malope It Solutions (Pty) Ltd 
    108. Masakhane Training and Consult 
    109. Mash Computer Training 
    110. MBOWA COLLEGE PTY LTD 
    111. Metanoia Ratings PTY LTD 
    112. MMELA VILLAGE TECHNOLOGIES (PT 
    113. MND Training and Projects 
    114. Mogapi Education Group (Pty) Ltd 
    115. Moripe Business Training and C 
    116. MORTERBOARD TRAINING SOLUTIONS 
    117. Motlhamme Executive Management 
    118. Moving Ahead Development Agenc 
    119. MP Avuxeni Computer Academy 
    120. Mpande Technologies cc 
    121. Mthonyama Technologies cc 
    122. Mufuka Business and Technical 
    123. Musengavhadzimu Media 
    124. Nape Angwato Trading 
    125. Natfin Holdings Pty Ltd 
    126. NBC Technologies 
    127. NCC - Vereeniging 
    128. NCM Computer and Business Academy 
    129. Ndulita Solutions 
    130. New Era Computer Training Centre (Hidobyte CC) 
    131. New Link Computer Skills 
    132. Nolwazi Stem Education for The 
    133. Ntamunde Investment 
    134. Ntandokazi Holdings Pty Ltd 
    135. NW Avuxeni Computer Academy 
    136. Nyankwavi Inverstment 
    137. Nyathela Business College 
    138. Nyelati Trading Enterprise 
    139. Olrich Home of Technology 
    140. On the Ball College Pty ltd 
    141. OPELONG BUSINESS INSTITUTE (PT 
    142. Paramixed Pty Ltd 
    143. Parkton College of Catering & Tourism Studies 
    144. Peo Entle HIV Wellness Management and Youth Skills Development NPO 
    145. Pioneer Business Consulting 
    146. Polokwane Technology Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    147. Pretoria Technical College 
    148. Priha Projects Pty Ltd 
    149. Progressive School of Business 
    150. Prophesy Training College (Pty) Ltd 
    151. PRX SCHOOL TEST 
    152. QUARPHIX (PTY) LTD 
    153. Ramotec Business College 
    154. Rand Training College 
    155. Redefine Human Capital (PTY) L 
    156. Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology Pty Ltd 
    157. Rostec Technical FET College (Pty) Ltd 
    158. Sabile Human Resources Consult 
    159. SANDM IT TRAINING (PTY) LTD 
    160. SED Computer Academy 
    161. Sesk Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD 
    162. Silulo Ulutho Technologies 
    163. Sisekelo Sustainability Institute 
    164. SIYAFUNDA COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE NPC 
    165. Skills Unlimited 
    166. SOUTH AFRICAN CORPORATE TRAINING ASSOCIATION (PTY) LTD 
    167. Spears Business and Life Couch Consulting (Pty) Ltd 
    168. Spina Consultancy 
    169. SPLS Consultants (Pty) Ltd 
    170. SUCCESS BUILDERS INTERNATIONAL CC 
    171. Success Christian Training Cen 
    172. Succinct Investments (Pty) Ltd 
    173. SUPREME ICT CONSULTANTS 
    174. Synergistic Covenant Network NPO 
    175. Tech-Com Solutions cc 
    176. Techtisa (pty) Ltd 
    177. Terrawood 
    178. Terry Computer Services cc 
    179. Thalita Koume Directions (Pty) Ltd 
    180. The Finishing College (Pty) Lt 
    181. THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CORPORA 
    182. Think Tank T2 (Pty) Ltd 
    183. Titan Trade Technologies 
    184. Tlou Foundation College 
    185. TORQUE TECHNICAL COMPUTER TRAINING PTY LTD 
    186. Tshwane College of Commerce an 
    187. Tsima Consulting Development S 
    188. TSP COLLEGE 
    189. TURFLOOP TRAINING SERVICES CC 
    190. Ubuhlanti Sances Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    191. Ukwazi Academy and Corporate S 
    192. Umbrella Training and Development 
    193. Umbusi Consulting Services 
    194. UTHINGO BRITE SERVICES 
    195. Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd 
    196. Visionary Skill Academy 
    197. VSS College (Pty) LTD 
    198. Vukani Solutions 
    199. VUTHLARI MARKETING CONSULTING 
    200. Waterberg TVET College 
    201. Wellinkwise Pty Ltd 
    202. Whitestone College 
    203. WORK SKILLS RESOURCES CC 
    204. Working Solution International 
    205. Xylo Trading 12 (Pty) Ltd 
    206. YITRO INNOVATIONS 
    207. Yonet Training Academy 
    208. Youth Media Movement 
    209. ZA WIT (PTY) LTD 
    210. Zealot Business College 
    211. Zikode Development Trust 
    212. ZIPHELELE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AC 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.