/vnd/media/agency_attachments/bGjnvN2ncYDdhj74yP9p.png)
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alt="A forest of cables leads only to confusions and down-times." align="right" hspace="4"
vspace="4">Most of our readers do not need an introduction as
to what our company is and what business it is into. But what needs to be related is our
reason for the investment on a robust network in our own new building, Cyber House in
Gurgaon, where in today we have consolidated all the divisions in Delhi under one
roof–earlier we had offices scattered in various parts of Delhi. Primarily, being an
IT-dissemination and technology savvy company, Cyber Media went in for a network that
could handle the diverse needs of different divisions and operations. The objective behind
a sturdy network was to facilitate smooth handling of heterogeneous traffic and bestow
guaranteed performance as well. The need was a network that is reliable, fast, and, most
importantly, future-proof. As a result of this, though Cyber Media for the moment may not
need Gigabit transmission speeds to the desktop, it decided to invest in Gigabit
technology. The reason is cabling is not an investment which can be renewed frequently.
| Costs: Structured Cabling V/s Traditional Cabling |
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alt="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/vnd/media/post_attachments/992d43f0c4ec23af80ee44cbd4e7e8de8c5914acf8cc310fb57563555694efce.gif (3012 bytes)" align="right" hspace="4" vspace="4">
size="2">It is very difficult to make a one-on-one comparison of structured cablingagainst traditional cabling. While the initial investment for structured cabling does cost much more as compared to traditional cabling, it is very important to look at the long-term benefits of structured cabling. While A second point to note is that any additions, moves, or Structured cabling, as already stressed is technology Shankarnarayan D, |
The above case is representative of the collecive psyche
that has been delineating the investment decisions behind structured cabling adoption in
the country. Primarily, the focus of those adopting structured cabling has been to opt for
systems that would give a long-term investment protection and are scalable, working well
with today’s networks and cope up with tomorrow’s as well. Interestingly, though
this is the most predominant underlying factor in consideration for the solutions, one
would have believed that all those going for investment in cabling are doing the same and
should do the same. No. Though structured cabling in India has started since 1992-93, it
has taken off only now. And the companies that are going in for structured cabling are
typically those companies that are networking savvy and are using IT for their business.
In other words, it is still the IT, which is governing the solutions and standards. The
sectors that predominate are the banking and finance industry, the manufacturing industry,
the petroleum industry, education, software parks and companies, and large corporate
groups. These definitely think that cabling is the longest life cycle component of the
entire network. But others like those with 50-150 nodes in the network, more often, see it
as just connectivity. Also the views vary as to why the government sector is going in for
cabling sets as priority. Some in the industry feel, mostly the decisions are more as a
network connectivity option, rather than as a future-proof consideration.
Why Such Hoopla About Structured Cabling?
Many who have been working in a networked environment keep hearing that the network is down
because of some or the other reason. Various researches indicate that in as many as seven
cases out of 10, the network is down on account of inferior cabling systems. And much of
this downtime can be eliminated installing standards-complaint structured cabling systems.
Another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration is that the structured
cabling system, though it outlives most other networking components, represents just five
percent of the total network investment.
V/s System Trends
62.5/125
Besides, the structured cable is the only one that needs to
be installed to contend with the needs of telephone and datacommunications now and in the
future. It is a system that provides a very "structured" approach to the entire
cabling system–a single-mixed media network that handles all information traffic like
voice, data, video, and even big complex building management systems. The concept revolves
around the integration of multiple blocks (where the performance characteristics of each
of these blocks have been defined) to produce a unified whole. In brief, it could be
described as a system that comprises a set of transmission products, applied with
engineering design rules that allow the user to apply voice, data, and signals in a manner
that maximizes data rates.
Why "structured cabling" and what are its
features that make it so popular as compared to the traditional methods of cabling? Says
Shankarnarayan D, Networking Solutions (Bangalore) Pvt Ltd, "The answer to this
dwells in the history behind the origin of structured cabling. As organizations grew,
expanded, and moved, it was frequently found that the entire investment on the cabling
infrastructure at their earlier locations was rendered infractuous. The concept of
structured cabling was derived to overcome this waste. Structured cabling divides the
entire infrastructure into manageable blocks and then attempts to integrate these blocks
to produce the high-performance networks that we have now come to rely on. To the user,
this means investment protection."
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align="right" border="0" hspace="4" vspace="4">"In
addition to investment protection, structured cabling also provides unparalleled
administrative and management capabilities. All cables originating from the different work
locations are terminated on a passive centralized cross-connect in the network room.
Simple labeling and colouring mechanisms provide for easy and quick identification of work
outlets. Hence, it provides for a single point for all administrative and management
requirements," adds Shankarnarayan.
Another underlying factor is management of change. It must
be realized that system architectures keep changing as the system evolves. And the cabling
architecture should be able to change with minimal inconvenience. The provision of a
central administrative panel provides the flexibility to make additions, moves, and
changes. The changes can be facilitated with simple switch over of patch cords. Apart from
this, structured cabling is also technology independent.
Another primary advantage of structured cabling is fault
isolation. By dividing the entire infrastructure into simple manageable blocks, it is easy
to test and isolate the specific points of fault and correct them with minimal disturbance
to the network. A structured approach in cabling helps reduce maintenance costs too.
Who Is Looking for What?
"Typically, solutions that are being widely chosen are fibre for the backbone and
high-performance Category 5 for the desktop," says Gul Gidwani, head of the BICC
Brand Rex operations in India. KK Shetty, industry manager, AMP India, is also of the same
view. Says he, "Fibre is catching up at the backbone level and high-end users like
software development houses would prefer Draft Category 6 cabling. Fibre cable of 50/125
micron as well as 62.5/125 micron are getting accepted mainly as result of the distance
limitations on Gigabit Ethernet."
It has been observed that structured cabling provides scope
for every one to adopt. It is not targeted at any particular organization or specific type
of organization. "It stretches itself to accommodate from small, through medium, to
large organizations," opines Shankarnarayan, "but is normally recommended for
organizations that have in excess of a 100 nodes," adds he. Currently, in the
country, those who have been going in for structured cabling solutions are the Export
Oriented Units (EOUs) and MNCs. These include the software houses, manufacturing units,
oil companies, banks and financial institutions, research laboratories, educational
institutions. While there has been a tepid response to structured cabling from the small
and medium Indian companies, government organizations and large Indian corporates have
shown a very encouraging response towards this concept.
Many vendors and integrators alike consider that the prime
reason for the lukewarm attitude by the Indian banks and financial institutions, small and
medium industries, and services industry is lack of adequate knowledge of the benefits and
advantages of structured cabling. In the case of the MNCs and the EOUs the approach is
more proactive because of their global touch base. This has given them the opportunity to
understand and evaluate this concept. Assents V Ranganathan, managing director, Building
Network Automation, "Product awareness is not very high and people who make decision
are not well-versed with the technical aspects, while also sometimes these aspects get
over blown." One reason he attributes to the higher adoption of structured cabling in
manufacturing and in software companies is the implementation of enterprise solutions by
the manufacturing segment, while the capital investment in number of nodes is very high in
the software units.
V/s System Trend
color="#FFFFFF">Systems
Another factor that has not gone well is that cost of
installation is not being considered as the cost of ownership in the installation stage
itself. The Indian corporates have looked upon it as an added burden to their pocket as
compared to the MNCs and the EOUs that have treated this as long-term benefit and returns.
Many a times what has been overlooked is the fact that structured cabling is
technology-independent solution. Today Category 5 cable can carry data at the rate of 10
Mbps, 100 Mbps, and even up to 1,000 Mbps over the same pipe. So almost all installations
inside buildings, which are on Category 5 cable will be able to communicate on the same
pipe at 1,000 Mbps.
"Today testing, certification, and warranty are the
most important factors that are under consideration," says Satish R Irde, general
manager, TVS Net. However, many in the country feel that there is a lack of certified
engineers. Many vendors like AMP, Lucent, and TVS Net are offering training but these are
certifications by the respective vendors. Many like Prakash Bhavnani, director, Deltafull
Enterprises Pvt Ltd, believe that there is a need for training on installations that is
free and independent. He says people have been talking about Lucent or other company
standards, but not of industry standards. And the need of the hour is to have an industry
here.
Another prime point that most of the people need to
understand is that though one may buy the best of active components like hubs, switches,
routers, workstations, and software, the performance of these depends on the underlying
cabling infrastructure.
Who Is Creating the Pull?
"The pull is being created by the vendors, while for most of the systems Integrators
(SIs) and installers, it is installation of system that goes by the industry
standards," says C Dilip Kumar, divisional head, Informatics, Crompton Greaves Ltd.
It is true in the sense that it has been the vendors who have been promoting hard their
solutions on the edge of better technology and warranty certifications. Structured cabling
has long been in the market for any specialized products to be of a particular vendor to
be suitable for any particular customer. "All primary vendors sell the essential
components of structured cabling, subject to some exceptions," tells Shankaranarayan.
And many of the other integrators too express the same opinion. Today there is very little
difference between the technical capabilities of the vendors. And this is emerging in such
a way that the cabling is being done by the interior decorators and even electricians at
the building level of premises itself.
| Evaluation Parameters |
| Most of the vendors today have the basic structured cabling components. However, there are a few other factors that are needed to be considered in evaluating these players.
|
Most popular brands in the Indian market today are Lucent
Systimax and AMP Netconnect. These two brands together command close to 65 percent share
in terms of volumes. Others in the fray include BICC Brand Rex, IBM, Krone, Mod-Tap, Nordx
IBDN, and Panduit. While in value terms Lucent holds the largest market share, AMP is in
second spot. In recent times, there has been an increase in the number of entrants into
the structured cabling market. The latest entry is TVS Net, with R&M freenet range of
solutions. Though most of the vendors are in the high-end segment, there has been
significant effort to encash on the 50 to 150 node segment. It has been noted that many
have the focus to establish themselves as complete solution providers in the industry, but
often do not have the vast product range required for large networks.
Among the factors that are exclusive to certain vendors
include, Lucent’s WaveLAN and the MTRJ connector from AMP and to a limited extent,
the OptiJack from Panduit, expertise of BICC in FOC like LSZH, loose tube, and different
armour type to suit direct burial requirements, and Krone’s LSA Plus.
WaveLAN uses wireless to connect two remotely locations
that cannot be connected by cable and promises wireless speeds comparable with
today’s shared Ethernet; MTRJ connectors from AMP have found wide acceptance. Major
active vendors of switches and hubs have accepted this connector; Krone’s LSA
technique which achieves the connection of wires without soldering, wire stripping, or
screws. Even TVS Nets R&M freenet range has a similar technique.
Today, in the Indian market, it is the Unshielded Twisted
Pair (UTP), which has predominance and Category 5 cabling the norm. But it will have to be
seen whether the vendors and installers can motivate for the proposed Category 6 norm as
pricing is one of the key factors in the buying decision of the customer. And what will
create further pull is the pent-up demand from vertical segments and newer regions of
growth. Today the manufacturing sector is the largest segment mainly because of ERP
implementations, but the financial sector, education, and the government sector may invest
more as an infrastructure for the future. With the telecom sector opening up, and the
government treating this as a priority area the market for structured cabling may grow
there.
The regions too are expected to push through the demand
significantly, especially now that the several states are coming up with their IT
policies. While West has been the traditional market, now South and even to some extent
the North looks to be the hot beds of investment.
With the Indian market for workstations likely to grow up,
and the economy showing positive trend, the adoption rate of structure cabling is likely
to go up and competition is going be even more fierce. Both copper and fibre technologies
are expected to grow further and the cabling market is expected to grow by about 20
percent per annum in volume terms according to estimates. While the UTP use is expected to
grow considerably in the data sector, the FTP and STP deployment will be moderate, and the
voice sector too would see more deployment.