How to become A Tower Climber

• Wireless Service Technician
• Cell Site Technician
• Cell Site Engineer
• Cellular Equipment Installer
• Aerial Technician
• Field Technician

What do Tower Climbers do?

A Tower Climber would typically need to:

• Undertake comprehensive installations, inspections and preventive maintenance on cell towers, self-supporting towers and other tower transmitting systems
• Have the ability to read work orders that describe equipment failures and discuss the scope of the issues with equipment operators
• Visit sites to design, install and maintain efficient computer networks, connections and cabling; check power levels
• Use schematic drawings and other written specifications to identify bottlenecks and troubleshoot system failures to secure the network’s long-term efficacy
• Complete integrity tests on data network installations; inspect LAN (Local Area Network) infrastructure and fix minor or major problems/bugs
• Test and configure software; maintain and repair hardware and peripheral devices
• Use a hand-held cable and antenna analyser to conduct multiple PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast) and line sweep tests on sites
• Upgrade and troubleshoot lighting systems; change transmission lines, antennas, radios and weatherproofing
• Perform installation and maintenance of data wiring, jumpers and connectors
• Organise and schedule upgrades and maintenance in a collaborative manner; evaluate network performance and find ways of improvement
• Ensure backup equipment such as generators and batteries are fit to be used in an emergency
• Engage in regular data backups to protect confidential information; be able to make service calls and decommission a tower, if necessary
• Assume responsibility for routine and preventative maintenance of the radio tower and buildings and grounds of the site
• Drive around the coverage area to test the wireless system with a mobile phone
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate new sites into the system, make required modifications to the system or troubleshoot issues
• Offer technical direction along with exhaustive advice and instructions  to colleagues on computer and network usage
• Document issues and their remedies for further use; share concerns with the technical team; guarantee a safe and efficient working environment
• Analyse the telecommunication market and determine tools and equipment required to fulfil clients’ needs
• Carry out regular maintenance work on the personal communication devices used by corporate clients

Tower Climbers can either work with the actual computer equipment inside a building at each cell site location or complete any work or routine checking of the radio tower outdoors in all kinds of weather. 

Some companies give their Tower Climbers access to portable offices - cellular phones and laptop computers - from where they can tap into the computer at any of the cell sites. Such employees work in a wireless, mobile environment from where they interact with clients and senior colleagues.

Tower Climbers in charge of several cell sites spend their workweek visiting the different sites and may need to drive a substantial distance. They are often called away from home to scale and repair.

Generally, you will work alone and independently. However, collaboration with colleagues is necessary at times. 

The workweek comprises 35 to 40 hours with early starts or late finishes. However, the management of cell sites is a 24/7 business that requires long and sometimes unsociable work hours, with Tower Climbers needing to work shifts and be on call over weekends and on holidays to tackle emergencies. Part-time work or career breaks may be viable options in some organisations.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Tower Climbers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. 

Tower Climbers are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Wireless Providers
• Public & Private Telecommunication Companies 

Professional associations and organisations, such as The National Association of Tower Erectors, are crucial for Tower Climbers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Genuine lack of fear of heights
• High likelihood of falling from a great height, electrical hazards and inclement weather
• Injuries caused by falling objects, structural collapses and equipment failures are pretty common
• Long and unsociable work hours with a significant time spent away from family and friends
• Physical fitness and stamina are a must to endure long periods of standing, climbing, crouching and carrying heavy equipment and tools as dictated by one’s duties

Quite a few Tower Climbers can lay claim to prior work experience as a welder, tower hand or tower technician. Employers also prefer candidates with pre-entry experience in a construction or engineering environment.

Vacation or sandwich placements with major construction and engineering firms are viable options to gain industry experience, especially if the applicant’s degree is not directly relevant to the job. Students may be able to meet and talk to representatives from such organisations at on-campus events.

Furthermore, a work experience placement will better your understanding of the industry, the skills required and your readiness for the work. 

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow experts working as Tower Climbers to prove your commitment to prospective employers. Your high school or local public library may have a number of books on electronic and electronic theory.

In addition, hobby shops and speciality science stores carry electronic kits and experiments which will help you acquire some hands-on experience on how electronic circuits work.

Your academic department may also be able to provide you with valuable contacts in the industry that may come in handy when looking for lucrative employment.

Tower Climbers have high school diplomas although employers increasingly prefer candidates with an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or computer technology. You will need to have adequate knowledge of technical concepts such as communications technology and cable splicing.

Focus on maths, computer sciences and physical education in high school.

Certification demonstrates a Tower Climber’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training and passing an examination. 

Certification in network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation and programmability from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market, increase your chances of advancement and allow you to become an independent consultant.

Standard-compliant rescue, safety, and drone training courses will only add to your professional worth. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Since a significant portion of the job involves travelling between different cell sites, a Tower Climber must have a valid driver’s licence and an impeccable driving record.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. 

Some companies offer a structured path to their Tower Climbers with roles such as Switch Technician or Switch Engineer to move into eventually. Others may allow for promotion to troubleshooting roles where the candidate specialises in specific equipment and helps other technicians deal with unique problems. 

Other avenues of advancement might be to move into system performance, service management or business administration. Tower Climbers with an entrepreneurial bent may start their own business that provides technical service and support.

Tower Climbers who begin their career on a two-year-long graduate training scheme may be able to manage their own projects or become Assistant Site Engineers after completion of the training.

Experience and expertise will bring forth opportunities to work abroad with larger organisations. 

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology, adequate work experience, desirable certifications, willingness to relocate and the ability to climb towers will have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Tower Climber build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

If you work for a specific brand, you must know the specific industry wiring methods for equipment. Your training will usually begin with an induction period and continue with a judicious mix of on-the-job training and relevant short courses.

You need to stay updated on the use of the latest equipment and so constantly learn about LAN/WAN networks, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and network technologies through further informal on-the-job training and formal continuing education courses. Your employer may also sponsor further education which would help you enhance your  work experience and develop contacts in the industry.

The Qualities of a Productive Tower Climber

Along with the guts, physique and stamina to climb seemingly inaccessible towers aside, Tower Climbers must possess other more mundane but equally valuable qualities to excel at their chosen profession.

Tower Climbers, as a breed, must be reliable and dependable since they are responsible for all the costly and important equipment at the cell sites. In addition, they must be willing to learn and adapt to change in tune with the constantly evolving technology.

The ability to work independently comes with discipline, a sense of responsibility and self-motivation to make their own schedules and set their own priorities so as to be able to meet project deadlines in a tense work environment.

Safety First, Safety Always

All Tower Climbers must know and practice the essential principles of health and safety. Use of harnesses, climbing gear, anchors and hooks along with the constant practice of safety drills such as monitoring the weather to ensure the absence of storms and lightning will mitigate job-related injuries and illnesses.

How Do Towers Help With Wireless Communication?

Each cell site consists of a radio tower and computerised equipment. Its antenna picks up the radio waves transmitted from a wireless call placed within its geographic territory. The antenna then transmits the radio waves through cables to computerised equipment located in an adjacent building. The equipment reads the radio waves, turns them into a computerised code and sends the data to a switching centre where the call is transferred to another wireless phone or a traditional landline phone.

The Current Scenario

With companies increasingly outsourcing their technical support because it is cost-effective and allows them to focus on their core business activities, demand for freelance Tower Climbers will continue to increase. Contracting companies are making the most of their ability to hire and train aspiring freelancers in this field.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Tower Climbers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

A full-time Tower Climber, on the other hand, has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Between erecting and dismantling towers, Tower Climbers put on lights, change the bulbs, paint the towers and even scrape the rust.

Tower Climbers are highly competent individuals with great passion for technology and an enduring mission to create and sustain a reliable wireless network. No wonder then, that the profession very much in demand in the current digital era. 

Extensive training and adherence to rigid guidelines is the only way to achieve fatality-free telecommunication installation and maintenance records.