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36
With technology now permeating
almost every aspect of business life,
workers are naturally using it to work
more efficiently. The proliferation of
wireless devices has brought an end to
the concept of ‘dead time’ and freed
many workers from the need to be
permanently based in the office.
A recent Nexans survey of more
than 1,000 IT professionals and network
managers indicates that within three
to five years more than 40% of the UK
workforce will be using wireless devices
(tablets, smartphones, notebooks and
laptops) in the office. This represents a
significant proportion of a company’s
personnel who, when using a mobile
device, will require and expect the same
quality of access and connection they
have grown accustomed to in the office.
With a trend towards high speed
Ethernet communications, greater use
of mobile applications and a steady
uptake in cloud computing, it is vital that
network managers carefully consider the
suitability of their network architecture
for new ways of working, including
greater mobility, as well as future
bandwidth and Power over Ethernet
(PoE+) requirements. As always, this
needs to be done quickly, efficiently and
cost-effectively.
The network of the future
The future is not wireless: the future is
flexible and the conventional network
structure is changing to meet the
demands of flexible working. Instead
of installing as many cables and ports
as possible, businesses should make
sure that the network infrastructure
is deployed in the right places, whilst
remaining both flexible and manageable.
The best way of achieving this is to
deploy a honeycomb-like grid structure
(see diagram) that provides optimum
coverage and greater flexibility.
Optimum Coverage
. Introducing
a large number of wireless and wired
access points requires a significant
amount of high-bandwidth cabling.
Instead, by introducing a number of
distributed consolidation points (groups
of outlets), cables can easily be run to
fixed outlets, to which all devices – PCs,
IP cameras or Wireless Access Points –
can be connected. A honeycomb-like
grid structure across the office is the
most efficient way to provide optimum
coverage for wireless working.
Easy expandability.
Cabling is a ten
to fifteen year investment and installing
additional cabling is not cost-effective for
any company. Every time new wireless
access points are added network managers
will need to measure and plan again using
wireless planning tools to determine the
exact place of a wireless access point.
Consolidation points in a honeycomb
structure will only need a relatively short
patch cord to connect to the new wireless
access point, thereby saving network
managers’ time and money.
Future-proofing your network
When developing an infrastructure
it is important to consider on-going
developments in technology. For
example, new generationWifi is expected
to have uplink ports running 10GBase-T,
so use fixed high speed 10G-ready
connections from the comms room
to the consolidation points. Also allow
for extensive use of powering devices
using data cabling (POE+) and monitor
and manage devices to track who is
Network Design
The future is flexible
Oene-Wim Stallinga explains how network
design is evolving to meet the needs of
mobile working within offices.
connected to the network (where and
when) in real time, with automated
infrastructure management (AIM).
AIM solutions use hardware and
software to manage the physical
infrastructure and integrate data from
the network layers to provide information
about active devices connected to the
cabling. Unlike traditional network tools,
they can locate a device anywhere within
the building. All events are recorded in
real-time and stored in the database, with
a time and date stamp thereby adhering
to audit trail requirements for system
changes. Current status reports can be
created showing system configuration
and asset management information.
In today’s testing economic climate
it has never been more important to
show that UK business is willing to be
modern, flexible and able to operate
wherever and whenever. Technology has
given us the tools to accomplish this,
whilst potentially improving the work-life
balance of millions of people. Network
design must adapt to accommodate
changes in the way we work.
Oene-Wim Stallinga is Marketing
Director of Nexans Cabling Solutions.
Part of cables and cabling specialist
Nexans UK, Nexans Cabling Solutions
supplies cables and network solutions for
all types of building, from small homes
to office buildings and big industrial
complexes. It has been nominated as
a finalist in the Cabling Supplier of the
Year category at the Network Computing
Awards 2013. The winners will be
announced in March.
www.nexans.co.uk
...users can
create and
modify secure
identities and
digital keys...
Oene-Wim Stallinga,
Marketing Director,
Nexans Cabling
Solutions
Within five years,
more than 40% of
workers will be using
wireless devices in
the office.
Honeycomb grids optimise coverage and
offer easy expansion.