Connected by cable

High-speed internet access is the leading demand for commercial buildings in most developing countries, a recent survey conducted by the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA) states. However, contemporary offices require cabling infrastructures that are capable of doing much more: they're expected to supporta variety of intelligentinformation needs including data, voice, video,security and buildingmanagement systems.

While information is critical to the productivity of a building's occupants, as well as the performance of the building itself, especially when used for commercial purposes, the quality of its flow is equally vital. This flow of information relies on its main conduit — a cabling system thatensures smooth information flow throughout the entire network.

Cables have long stopped being ‘coloured wires' and emerged as structured systems that support a variety of IT, communication and information needs. A technically sound cabling infrastructure is vital for the success of every building, especially ones used for commercial purposes. The most efficient are structured high-performance systems that are designed to meet both current and future physical needs.

As the UAE's real estate sector continues to upgrade across all parameters, investing in sound and structured cabling systems is increasingly becominga priority.

How does a cabling system work?
Cable planning forms the backbone of local or wide area networks and reliable communications systems that integrate data, voice, video and imaging processes that can work together. Structured cabling systems have also become a common platform for other applications including security cameras, access control, teleconferencing and fire alarms. This convergence makes cabling the most important component of the network and demands serious investment in a highly reliable, flexible and scalable system.

The ideal structured cabling system has a set of transmission products that are applied with engineering design rules and allows users to apply voice,data and signals at maximised rates.

Apart from meeting basic requirements, modern cables carry wires for mains power, lighting and electrical services such as building controls, fire and security systems. This infrastructure is divided into manageable blocks to create a high-performance network that serves as the lifeline of a building.

What are some of its unique benefits?
The advantages of cabling systems are manifold. For example, unexpected problems are less likely to bring down an entire network because specific problems are easier to isolate, while any corrections or upgrades can easilybe done with minimal disturbance to the rest ofthe network.

Contemporary cabling systems are flexible enough to accommodate software and hardware from various vendors, which equals to greater efficiency in installation, testing and management. A structured cabling system can also support future applications with little or no upgrades to thesystem itself.

In the case of converged buildings, structured cabling provides consistency across the entire network, which allows for simplified maintenance, reduced staff and maximised reliability.

In addition, structured cabling also improves overall reliability and performance by eliminating potential risks and uncertainties of piece-part solutions.

It therefore provides greater returns on investment, because lifecycle costs can be calculatedand predicted more easily and quickly.

Can cable systems adapt to future requirements?
In order to be considered an ‘intelligent building', a structure must have a productive, cost-effective and optimised environment with a meaningful inter-relationship between infrastructure, systems, services and management. At the heart of thesesuper buildings lies itscabling core.

Since the structured cabling system becomes the basic platform for all network equipment, the best time to invest in it is during the planning phase. Architects, designers and developers are equally responsible for ensuring that it will provide performance, flexibility and reliability for years to come.

Developers can easily weigh advantages against high costs: a well-planned cabling structure offers uniformity, flexibility, scalability, longevity, as well as easy and low-cost upgrades or changes.

Are cable systems easyto maintain?
Matching the demand for increased speeds, extra facilities and greater network capacity, structured cabling networks are increasingly commonplace. Although it provides new and often lucrative opportunities for contractors and developers, it is essential for installations be able to meet all future requirements just as well as it does easilyperceived ones.

Critical choices must be made in terms of both systems design and products used. While a cable management system can be selected for its aesthetic appearance or its easy installation, with the rapid developments in IT, it is essential to ensure that the system can facilitate network expansions and system upgrades.

Given the fact that cabling infrastructure currently accounts for 15 to 20 per cent of the total cost of a building, the challenge lies in installing a cost-effective and efficient cabling infrastructurethat easily allows future physical growth and technological upgrades.

Whatever the actualinvestment, a structured cable infrastructure must be viewed as an assetwith a long, useful andintelligent life.