ALKHOBAR, 8 March 2005 — High-speed Internet connectivity, smart homes, smart buildings and IP-based technologies are just a few of the drivers behind the uptake in structured connectivity solutions. Structured cabling systems are a big part of the network infrastructure needed to carry all the bits and bytes that “smart” building solutions depend upon. Currently there is a trend to consolidate structured cabling systems and have fiber combine with wireless to deliver a wide range of modern services into homes and offices.
SYSTIMAX Solutions is the global leader in structured connectivity solutions. The SYSTIMAX product portfolio includes some of the industry’s highest performing connectivity solutions for voice, data, video and building management applications in both wired and wireless enterprise networks. According to independent research, SYSTIMAX SCS is the most widely used cabling system in the world with over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of SYSTIMAX cable being installed every day in more than 120 countries.
SYSTIMAX Solutions can trace its technological leadership back to Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone and the first twisted pair technology in 1876, the foundation of AT&T in 1885 and Bell Laboratories in 1907. SYSTIMAX Solutions was introduced as AT&T Premises Distribution Systems (PDS) in 1983. In the late 1980s the SYSTIMAX brand was created and established as a leader in the cabling and connectivity industries in the midst of consecutive spin-offs from AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Avaya.
A little more than a year ago CommScope, the world’s largest manufacturer of broadband coaxial cable and supplier of high-performance fiber-optic and twisted pair cables, acquired the SYSTIMAX business from Avaya. At that time CommScope promised to invest in and grow SYSTIMAX Solutions globally. In Saudi Arabia that has led to an expanded presence and increased market activity.
“The transition from Avaya to CommScope has meant that we’ve now opened up a new 150 sq. mt. office in Riyadh that is dedicated to SYSTIMAX Solutions. Our three member in-Kingdom team has set up state-of-the-art equipment there plus a demonstration center. We are going to use this as a firm base to bounce off to bring the end-user community in to actually see the presence of SYSTIMAX Solutions in the Kingdom,” said Dominic Morris, Saudi Arabia country manager, SYSTIMAX Solutions.
He added, “That is not to say we haven’t been in the Kingdom. We’ve been here for 15 years with a permanent presence. In Saudi Arabia we are still the only major vendor in this field who is investing and continuing to develop a permanent presence into the end-user community, the consultants and the contractors in order to assist them in designing and getting new structured connectivity solutions in place.”
In 2004, SYSTIMAX did a considerable amount of work with the Saudi government and large enterprises.
“Last year one of the big areas of growth for us in consolidated structured cabling systems and structured connectivity solutions was in education,” said Morris. “We’ve had an excellent year working with King Saud University, King Abdul Aziz University and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. They were all great customers. We’ve also done some big jobs with SABIC and also with many government agencies.”
For the future, Morris expects that a major growth area will be in the consolidation of building automation systems. He stated that many building owners want to consolidate both voice and data cabling systems, plus bring in modern building management systems that control such aspects as heating and security, and run everything over the same consolidated cabling system.
“The Saudi economy is booming and that naturally leads to large infrastructure investments,” Morris stated. “From the already massive amount of investment from the education sector, we expect an uptake in structured connectivity solutions from the health sector as dozens of hospitals are currently planned across the Kingdom. We are also seeing the move of structured connectivity solutions into large residential buildings. We have a program for architects, consultants and engineers through which we try to educate these professionals on the latest developments in the field. When consolidated structured cabling systems are put into buildings then the building owners can generate more than just rents from those structures. IP-based technologies can deliver applications such as VoIP telephony, data/Internet services and video streaming within the home as well as consolidating other IP-based services such as CCTV, Security access, HVAC, lighting control, etc., onto a single structured cabling system.”
Sounds like the stuff of dreams, but SYSTIMAX Solutions are already developing such dream residences in the region. Sahm Technologies, the technology arm of EMAAR Properties, has created “smart homes” at the coastline towers of the Dubai Marina project. Based on fiber-optic infrastructure from SYSTIMAX Solutions, residents in these homes are enabled with super high-speed connectivity features, supporting a broad set of technology-driven services that are some of the most advanced in the region today.
“We are pleased to say that the work put into installing the infrastructure at the Dubai Marina has been a worthwhile investment. Tenants are using existing technologies in new and exciting ways, while significantly changing their traditional home environments,” said Richard Jasnau of Sahm Technologies. “The network infrastructure supports technologies that bring advanced multimedia and high-speed Internet connectivity to streamline numerous day-to-day tasks at the mere touch of a button. Networked homes are truly enriching homeowner’s lives.”
The new infrastructure connects all the buildings in the project using one common platform while supporting advanced and integrated service applications such as online banking, online grocery shopping and online medical consultation services. The network, uses copper and fiber cabling infrastructure based on SYSTIMAX Solutions technology which acts as the core communications backbone for Sahm’s smarter home services.
The infrastructure, designed and implemented by SYSTIMAX Solutions’ business partner US Telecommunication, controls about 33,000 network points across the six Dubai Marina towers, and is based on the SYSTIMAX PowerSUM Solution. The solution provides the high connectivity bandwidth that supports intensive applications such as video streaming and allows Dubai Marina on-ground support engineers to access, centrally control and receive alerts on any malfunctions within the network.
Built over a world class Internet Protocol (IP) based infrastructure, each home is connected via a fiber-optic cable with every circuit having an individual IP address. This functionality allows Dubai Marina tenants to remotely access different automated appliances and services, such as their airconditioning systems, wherever they have access to the Internet. Residents can also benefit from high-tech enhancements in the areas of voice, data and TV along with future features such as choosing a movie or program from an online database or through the satellite feed provided by Sahm Technologies.
The Dubai Marina project is one of several largescale EMAAR properties for which US Telecommunications is providing advanced networking infrastructures from SYSTIMAX Solutions to bring tenants advanced connectivity services. Design and installation is already underway at other major real estate ventures such as the Emirates Greens, Emirates Hills, The Meadows, The Springs and Arabian Ranches.
“High-speed connectivity is becoming the ‘fourth utility’ in the construction industry, alongside water, electricity and climate control systems,” said Morris. “Last year SYSTIMAX invited everyone in the Saudi construction and IT industry to see how our structured connectivity solutions could extend horizons. This year we’ve gone beyond even that. We welcome you to see the future of structured connectivity solutions at our 2005 conference series, which is all about Breaking Boundaries.”
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