The Benefits of a NetX Structured Cabling System – Part Two

Structured cabling systems can be optimized to make ongoing changes to configuration planned today and respond to future technologies. Some example recommendations that should be made during construction planning are:
• Placing telecommunications IDFs in central locations in the office space to enable clean cable management.
• Telecommunications rooms: MDFs, IDFs and ER should be designed with a 20% to 30% expansion capacity to accommodate future equipment additions.
• Planning for future equipment acquisition and business growth in facilities during renovation facilitates efficient future cable installation.
• Ensure that a high-performance cabling infrastructure system is selected – capable of supporting a variety of communications needs, including voice, data, video, electronic security, and building control. At a minimum, Category 5e cable should be installed. Category 6e and fiber optic cables provide the best ROI because they provide the ability to meet both current and future network communication performance requirements.
• When selecting a structured cabling system it is beneficial to get a performance certification that will cover the network’s actual delivery rather than simply the installation of specific products. Such a certification on a cabling infrastructure guarantees that a system installed today will perform at or above industry standards. It also ensures that new applications defined for the installation will work.
• The communications system should be designed by a competent authority; an authority who has extensive experience in cabling infrastructure. Equipment needs to be located in such a way as to facilitate cost effective cable management as well as the efficient future expansion. It also shortens cable runs, which translates into cost savings up front.

An effective cabling system design coupled with an industry standard installation from Tier 1 IP increases your ROI, minimizes changes, and reduces your IT administrators’ need to spend time testing, troubleshooting, or replacing the cabling system. During the commercial construction planning stages of a new data center, office building, or tenant improvement project, it is crucial to spend time anticipating future needs and allow for expansion and technology upgrades in a copper or fiber optic cabling infrastructure.

This will result in a structured cabling infrastructure that remain productive for many years, reducing unplanned expenses over time, and providing the building occupants with access to high-performance, cutting-edge telecommunications solutions. A structured cabling systems that will maintain its ability to deliver quick and reliable voice and data communications will contribute to low cost and competitive advantage.