Cabling

Immediately recognise every cable, server and component

Not a single server cable will require manual tracing during installation, network refreshes and troubleshooting when identified with reliable Brady labels for error-free data centre intervention. Quickly recognise the right hardware for fast and error-free data centre interventions. Rely on Brady’s industrial grade labels that remain legible, and stay attached to any cable, disk, panel, rack, router, switch and server. Discover Brady's dedicated data centre identification solutions and get the free data centre identification guide! Solve identification challenges Fast reconnects at all times: quickly connect cables to the right ports with reliable labels that stay attached and remain legible. Total control: print any label in the data centre or at any location when you need it. Fast support and quality service: get a globally available product with dedicated local service and technical support. Data centre identification guide book Digitisation accelerates across many industries, and data centre capacity is keeping pace. Increasing needs for security, speed and capacity result in expansion, modernisation, relocation, higher server and router port densities and variable panels. All of this will require flexible identification solutions that support highly efficient data centre professionals to deliver their best work fast. The specialised guide offers a high-level overview of the identification solutions Brady offers to data centre customers.

CityFibre partners with Deepomatic for Visual Automation Technology

CityFibre has partnered with Deepomatic to deploy its Visual Automation Technology across CityFibre’s national network by the end of 2022.   The industry-leading image recognition and AI technology supports CityFibre’s engineers by automating field-based quality-assurance capabilities at scale. This will help ensure CityFibre’s build, maintenance and installation work continues to meet the highest quality standards as it accelerates to serve 8 million homes by 2025.   For CityFibre’s service provider partners, the completed deployment of this technology from Fibre Exchange to secondary node, will bring further assurance that when a broadband service is ordered, the end-to-end network is verified as fully operational. The result will be a fast and friction-free end-customer install experience while further improving CityFibre’s industry-leading ‘Right First Time’ service installation rates. CityFibre’s engineers use the app-based interface to upload images of network build, upgrade or maintenance-related work prior to closing a job. The images are then analysed in real time to either validate the work as complete or highlight issues that need addressing before leaving the site. The visual record and any associated notes are then stored to provide a searchable history of build information and maintenance activities that can be accessed on-demand by CityFibre’s network management and quality assurance teams. Deepomatic’s technology is the only Visual Automation solution specifically designed for the telecommunication industry. By implementing it throughout its end-to-end build operations, CityFibre will achieve the deepest integration of the technology across any UK network. Beyond this, CityFibre is evaluating the potential for its use during the final installation of services to customer premises. An initial pilot enabled CityFibre to implement the platform, test its live use and gather the feedback needed to deploy in the most efficient way. Nationwide rollout is now underway, with the technology already used across CityFibre’s Midland and Southern regions.   David Tomalin, Group Chief Technology Officer at CityFibre, says: “Deepomatic’s Visual Automation Technology is a key part of the Better By Design approach to deliver a world class network and service experience for our partners and their customers. It is helping us ensure quality standards are consistently met, reducing human error while empowering our people, and minimising repeat engineer visits. As well as delivering operational efficiencies and customer benefits from day one, it will enrich our network asset and records management over time, support predictive analysis work and inform our future network upgrade decisions.”  Augustin Marty, CEO at Deepomatic, comments: "CityFibre is currently at the forefront of providing the new generation of Full Fibre infrastructure for the UK. We are delighted to support their visionary team in scaling quality and reliability to new heights. Thanks to visual automation, CityFibre will roll out fibre technology in a much faster way, grasping all the insights it needs to deliver an operationally premium network.”

Prysmian launches Flexibox range of innovative enclosures

Prysmian Group has launched the innovative Flexibox range of compact and flexible enclosures for internal and external Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) and Fibre-to-the-Antenna (FTTA) applications. For FTTH applications, Flexibox is available for the termination of fibre in various combinations including: splice only, pre-terminated fibre, and splice and patch versions. Each configuration is designed to enable the unit's fast deployment through easy customer installation and connection. In the case of a multiple dwelling unit, Flexibox is suitable for use as a basement box. It can accept an external cable for splicing to the individual drop cables, which can be done as a point-to-point solution or through the use of splitters. For FTTA applications, Flexibox is available in a variety of configurations including fibre only, power, and hybrid fibre/power to enable the termination of hybrid cables faster and more cost effectively. The fibre/power hybrid box has been designed to enable the termination of Prysmian's FTTA hybrid fibre and 48V DC power cables to ensure the efficient delivery of power and fibre to remote radio heads. The single termination process reduces installation time and cost, making it ideal for the deployment and densification of antennas needed for 5th Generation mobile network. In addition, the Flexibox can be used as a power or fibre primary distribution point to enable up to 10 drops to antennas for connection with fibre and power utilising off-the-shelf DIN rail-mounted products. Depending on application, Flexibox is available with external IP ratings for ex-ternal wall/pole-mounting. Nathan Paddick, Prysmian Group UK Telecom Connectivity Design Manager, explains the versatility of the new enclosure, he says: "Flexibox has been designed with multiple network architectures and practices in mind to offer off-the-shelf customization and flexibility with a standardised installation practise, all from the same product". Flexibox is available directly from Prysmian or through distributors in the UK.

Certified Outside Plant Technician program

The five-day Certified Outside Plant Technician (COPT) program launched by CNet is a comprehensive program perfect for those with 2-3 years’ experience working in the network infrastructure sector who wish to extend their knowledge, practical hands-on skills, qualifications and certifications into deployment of fibre optic connectivity in the external environment. Learners can take their existing network cabling knowledge and skills to the next level by gaining valuable insight into external fibre network distribution strategies, infrastructure components and installation methods. Passive Optical Networking (PON) features heavily as the primary delivery technology for fibre broadband to the home. Methods used for distribution will also feature, exploring the benefits and rationale behind the choice to distribute services underground or overhead. The COPT is a combined program split into 30% theory and 70% practical learning. Focused practical hands-on sessions including the implementation of in-line splicing, high fibre-count distribution, Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU) cabinet installation and customer connection drops. Blow fibre practices also feature in the COPT program. Successful completion of the Certified Outside Plant Technician (COPT) program provides the learner with an internationally and industry recognised Level 4 BTEC Award, official COPT certification, use of a post nominal title and a digital badge. A digital badge can easily be shared via social media and downloaded to verify knowledge, skills and certifications gained, it therefore adds valuable credibility to individuals’ professional profiles.  The COPT program forms part of the globally renowned Digital Infrastructure Education Framework which maps technical education programs, official certifications and internationally recognised qualifications to knowledge and career progression routes throughout the industry, providing designations that have become key skills reference points that allow those holding them to clearly demonstrate their ability and experience. Andrew Stevens, CEO at CNet Training, adds, “The Certified Outside Plant Technician (COPT) has been designed and launched as a result of our customer demand. Big data is only getting bigger, with the dramatic increase in smart technology devices, smart homes, smart building and cities, it’s putting a significant demand for wider network accessibility. Improvements in wireless technology and the increased deployment of wireless access points along with the rollout of small-cell technology (5G) aims to meet the growing demand for access. Underpinning all of this, as well as the UK government strategy for a ‘full fibre broadband’ access, is the need for significant growth in the national fibre optic network structure. The COPT provides the learner with the skills and increased technical knowledge to take their existing network cabling skills to the next level by gaining valuable insight and wider understanding of fibre network complexity and external fibre network distribution strategies, infrastructure components and installations methods.” 

CNet Training launches the first government funded apprenticeship for network cable installation

CNet has announced the launch the first government apprenticeship within the network cable infrastructure sector across England and Wales. The company says it has fully planned and prepared the content of the CNCI Apprenticeship which provides both the apprentice and employer with a full itinerary of activities to follow and implement. It introduces the concept of an ‘apprenticeship in a box’, designed to take care of the time-consuming planning often associated with apprenticeships and on-going professional development.  The CNCI apprenticeship has been put together as the result of a close collaboration between major companies from the network cabling sector. It recognises network cable installation as a role and provides industry approved certification which standardises technical education for network cable installers. The apprenticeship is available to all across England and Wales, with the apprentice benefitting from on and off-the-job training and activities such as mentoring, shadowing, internal training and specialist external education programs. Apprentices must pass a practical assessment and professional discussion to successfully complete the CNCI apprenticeship, which ensures that the learner is fully competent and ready to work independently within the industry.  On successful completion of the apprenticeship, learners will be able to confidently install, test and certify copper and fibre optic cable installation across a variety of environments, working to the correct standards and best practices. Learners will also be taught how to install with confidence and competency smart building technology including wireless access devices, CCTV cameras, door access controls and biometric security systems. Andrew Stevens, CNet Training’s CEO, says, “The network cable infrastructure sector is beset with significant skills shortages. The Certified Network Cable Installer Apprenticeship has been long awaited and is a significant event within the sector. The CNet team has worked incredibly hard to get this off the ground and approved. It’s a massive step forward in the sector and I hope by offering this ‘Apprenticeship in a Box’ concept it will motivate companies looking for new junior recruits to train as everything is ready for the learners to just get going and start learning straight away. The Apprenticeship will inspire a generation and encourage them into the sector by offering a career opportunity following school education. A benefit of the Apprenticeship is that it will ensure that all learners are trained, educated and certified properly from day one and therefore gives them a great starting point to a great career in the sector.”

How to increase data centre uptime?

Whether or not a service level agreement can be upheld may depend on how efficient data centre troubleshooting is. Carefully checking each cable takes too much time, and carelessly unplugging the wrong cable can take webshops, apps or transactional sites offline. Brady Corporation says it offers reliable labels that are designed to reliably identify any data centre cable, server, component and rack to take the guesswork out of troubleshooting. Efficient troubleshooting Trying to determine which cable to unplug and replace or reconnect can be a daunting task in data centres. It is like finding a specific needle in a haystack: a challenge that is time devouring and nerve racking, especially when high level applications are down and agreed service levels are threatened. Imagine if someone were to unplug the wrong cable, and more servers went down – a mistake has the potential to wreak havoc. To avoid all this, Brady says its reliable identification solutions enable data centre technicians to quickly retrieve the cable they need. Label it once The company boasts that its reliable labels, with adhesives for curved and flat surfaces, stay attached to every cable and component. As a result, Brady says identification will be in place when fast troubleshooting is necessary to avoid downtime. Label sizes and shapes are available to easily identify any rack, server, component, STP, UTP and COAX cables, and the company also offers a flag shaped label designed for minimum fibre optic cable contact with maximum available space for identification data. Easy to design and print Brady’s workstation app platform promises to offer an array of label design capabilities that cover almost every data centre identification need. Cable, component and rack labels, and even facility signs and identification can be designed in a few steps. Designs can easily be sent to a Brady label printer for on-site printing, so the new label can be applied immediately.