Traditionally copper cable has always been used to connect buildings. However, copper is becoming increasingly expensive to source and implement. The good news for multi-site premises such as those in the hotel, sport and leisure industry is that recent technological developments now mean that widely available fibre is now a viable infrastructure option.
As well as being a more cost effective initial installation purchase, fibre also significantly cuts running expenses. For example, IVC Media recently calculated that a 1000 bedroom hotel using a fibre backbone network would use up to twenty times less power than the same resort using traditional copper cable.
These significant cost savings are achieved through a gigabit passive optical network or GPON, which is a point-to-multipoint, fibre to the end-point network architecture. Passive optical splitters eliminate outside plant and field power requirements, so very little power is required for the installed network. As well as saving costs, using less power can also have positive environmental benefits, which is a concern for many businesses in this industry today.
Fibre is also much faster. A GPON can deliver high bandwidth speeds to multiple end users at the same time. The latest advances in fibre technology have now made it possible for IVC Media to develop a full GPON network of bespoke design comprising of, IPTV, interactive digital signage, video-on-demand, automated billing, Wi-Fi access, CCTV, voice evacuation, fire and security.
A faster network with more bandwidth can manage more applications ready for the multi gigabit world of the future, as well as further, important, potential revenue generating applications. Because of the GPON’s gigabit capacity and next-generation service-aware technology, multiple service streams from multiple service providers can be managed easily, providing the operator the ability to create profit-generating applications and customized service offerings to the hotel guest for example. This might include: a network to offer advanced triple play services like HD TV, internet and phone services over the same platform, using a single fibre connection.
The fact is that fibre is not new. It has been used in the telephony industry for many years. However, only recent advances in technology and associated cost reductions now mean fibre’s many benefits can be used to optimal effect.
Up until now, traditional technical multi-site infrastructures always required separate connectivity. However, very few components could interlink and less could use the same piece of copper wire. Now, many of the internal infrastructure components like: CCTV, door entry and fire alarms for example, are available with network connections that allow them to be controlled and viewed on a common fibre network.
A further advantage of the GPON is that day-to-day management and maintenance is straight forward for non-technical staff, through a simple graphical user interface. If the leisure complex is part of a group, it is also possible to monitor the global chain centrally, which can reduce personnel costs dramatically.
These days all businesses in the hotel, leisure and sport industry must deliver the highest level of leading edge services for customers and yet at the same time strive to reduce running costs and their environmental impact. A GPON network can make significant contribution to these objectives and also offer the potential to create new and innovative revenue streams at the same time. Right now, fibre really is worth making a fuss about.
For further information please see www.ivcmedia.co.uk
