Insights

Introduction 

When considering a cabling solution for your office, you may have come across the terms “data network cabling installation” and “structured cabling system installation.” While both involve cables and networks, these two services are distinct in scope and purpose, and it is essential that you know the differences. That way, you can choose a cabling service that will best suit your needs, whether you are scaling your office or overhauling for a digital upgrade. InfoBahn Communications, Inc. provides you with a guide to help you distinguish and select the technical solutions right for you.

What’s the Difference Between Data Network Cabling and Structured Cabling? 

Choosing between data network cabling and structured cabling installation involves learning their general differences, such as the design and scope of each solution.

• Design. Data network cabling does not follow a standard design due to its point-to-point nature. Structured cabling, on the other hand, follows industry standards for better scalability and management.
• Scope. Because of its point-to-point setup, data network cabling is applicable to basic or small networks. Meanwhile, the unified and scalable design of a structured cabling system makes it suitable for an entire building or facility’s network.

Key Differences That Matter in Public Sector Setups 

The government office you work in, with its staff and the public it serves, will function better with a network connected by a structured cabling system. The initial setup, from assessment of the site to deployment, may take time, but once completed, it will be more reliable, faster, and more scalable than a point-to-point approach. Below are the qualities that make a structured cabling system a long-term investment that can more efficiently serve your existing and future network needs:

Infrastructure Scalability 

Data cabling services include creating a structured plan for your network that accommodates not only your present needs, but also what lies ahead. In a nutshell, this type of approach allows you to expand or downsize your network infrastructure, which you will likely do in the future. A scalable system will allow you to easily integrate new devices and technologies, as well as remove or change them if need be, with minimal disruption to the existing network. This capability enables you to plan your steps more efficiently should you need to expand or consolidate your operations.

System Reliability and Redundancy  

Digital office operations and delivery of services can succeed if you have a reliable network, and you can only achieve that if you have a structured cabling system in place. After all, this type of approach provides better performance as it minimizes interferences and ensures that data transmission is smooth and fast. This kind of system also allows for multiple channels to work, enabling redundancy and keeping the network partly functional should there be issues or downtimes. You don’t want your office branch to experience a full shutdown, lest it cause problems for both your staff and constituents.

Ease of Maintenance and Troubleshooting  

A good network wiring installation enables simple maintenance and troubleshooting, thanks to its organized layout. If your office is busy, you would want upkeep, fixes, and tests to be as quick and efficient as possible to reduce disruptions should an issue arise. It’s also important to have regular maintenance to ensure optimal network performance. With a structured cabling system installed by professionals, you need not burden your internal technicians with the maintenance, as you can simply call the vendor for tech support.

Compliance With Standards  

Structured cabling system professionals adhere to standards, such as ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801, following the guidelines to ensure that the design, installation, and management of cabling systems are of high quality. These standards also help make the cabling infrastructure reliable, scalable, and able to support various applications and technologies. Less structured cabling may not fully follow these standards, which may pose a problem when your office needs to scale or upgrade its network later on.

Total Cost of Ownership  

You will need to pay a higher price upfront to set up a structured cabling system since you will be shouldering the labor and material costs of the installation. Additional charges, such as technical support, can also add to the budget allocation. Fortunately, the return on investment is promising, as a proper cabling infrastructure will cost you less in downtime and maintenance costs. Trustworthy contractors will see to it that your cabling system remains functional for a long time, and any necessary upgrades will not require expensive recabling and overhaul. 

Which Setup Is Right for Government Agencies?

The Philippine government continues to upgrade its systems through network enhancements to serve the public better, and it will not be surprising that you follow suit. Mass upgrades, hence, are more efficient if you entrust professionals who are actually knowledgeable of setting up these networks. 

Cabling is an essential element to set up reliable and robust networks that will be useful for both your staff and the people who use your services. While a less structured cabling system will save you on professional costs, scaling it later will result in more complex maintenance and recabling, defeating the purpose of saving up in the first place. Structured cabling, meanwhile, has higher upfront costs, but is actually more practical for a busy office or facility as it will ensure less downtime, easier upgrades, and simpler maintenance.

Since public services are bound to get bigger in scope, opting for a structured cabling system for your agency’s network is more practical and future-proof.

Why Government Offices Trust InfoBahn

InfoBahn Communications, Inc. provides structured cabling solutions to government agencies nationwide. We have decades of experience handling projects that cater to public service, and we fully understand how important our solutions are in maintaining reliable systems that can deliver services to the people and build public trust. If your agency is in the process of upgrading your system, reach out to us now so we can help you succeed.

Conclusion

Between structured and point-to-point data network cabling installation, government offices that plan to enhance their systems will benefit more from the former. Structured cabling systems offer benefits that far outweigh the less structured wiring approach, including scalability, reliability, standardization, ease of maintenance, and return on investment. With services broadening in scope and digitalization boosting how the population accesses them, your office should benefit more from a structured cabling system early on, even before you scale.

To discuss how your existing systems can improve now and in the future, contact the InfoBahn team today.