Insights

Introduction

 

Public offices in the Philippines are increasingly upgrading their IT systems and transitioning into digitalization to streamline operations. And with the technology’s benefits, your department is likely following suit. However, true efficiency through these modern solutions is achieved only if workplaces and facilities have a proper cabling infrastructure in place. Without such, scaling or changing your IT infrastructure may become tedious and unorganized. An extension cord sticking out like a sore thumb on the floor of a pristine office is one small yet telltale sign of a nonexistent or haphazard cabling system. Understandably, you would not want that. 

 

So, you need to plan your cable placements accordingly, and you need help from experts who provide structured cabling system installation services to do that. Professionals specializing in this service, like our team from InfoBahn Communications, Inc., can help plan and deploy a system that accommodates both your existing and future needs. The question is, how much will this service cost you? Read on to learn more about this service and the factors you should consider to ensure that you get the most out of your budget.

 

  

What Is a Structured Cabling System?

 

A structured cabling system is an organized approach to building an office’s network infrastructure. In a public office, systems that require cabling include telephone networks, computer networks, and building management systems. This setup involves several components, such as entrance facilities, an equipment room, cabling types, and telecommunications rooms, which are linked together to enable connectivity in a building. The rooms mentioned house network cabling components such as connection points, patch panels, racks, connectors, and power supplies, and from where cables emanate to deliver data, voice, and video to different endpoints of your facility.

 

 

The Installation Process: What to Expect

 

Hiring a structured cabling system installation company is like hiring an architecture firm in that both vendors plan, design, and build the project, as well as provide guidance on how to maintain its components post-completion. Structured cabling, of course, deals with cables, connectors, patch panels, and all other components necessary to set up a well-connected network. Below are the steps cabling companies follow to install a reliable system:

 

Site Survey and Planning

 

Your hired cabling experts will perform an ocular inspection of your office or facility. They will evaluate the physical environment, how users go about their tasks, and the existing infrastructure, then use the information to create a draft cabling plan. At this stage, the vendor will also ask you questions about any plans for expansion, scaling down, or upgrades in the office, so they can consider them when finalizing the design. 

 

Design and Blueprinting

The next step installers take is to integrate all the collected information into the structured cabling system design. Essentially, your vendor will be creating a blueprint that they will refer to for installing network components. This step also involves choosing the cable type and hardware to use, and ensuring they lead to the appropriate server, workstation, and other hardware.

 

Cable Routing and Layout

 

This step involves the execution of the blueprint. Note that before routing cables through your office’s floors, ceilings, and walls, your vendor will need to pull out existing cables that aren’t needed in the network. After which, they will lay down the cables while ensuring all components are compatible with each other and terminating cables properly for optimal connection with devices. 

 

Testing and Certification

 

Deployment does not immediately follow after your vendor lays and terminates cables. Instead, the installers will need to test cable integrity and performance first, ensuring that each component of the system is functional. This testing stage tends to be exhaustive as it involves evaluating signal quality and cable continuity and ensuring that the entire system meets industry standards. Certification, also called documentation, is also part of this step — your vendor will keep a detailed record of cable routes, terminations, and specifications for later reference.

 

Post-installation Maintenance

 

Your hired cabling system team is usually obligated to perform post-installation services, ensuring that your cable infrastructure is at par with industry standards and can accommodate your unique network requirements. Expect the vendor to schedule regular inspections to test your system and commit to on-call support should issues arise. 

 

 

Importance of Working With a Professional Cabling Provider

 

Setting up a cabling system for your busy office is better done by professionals. They will make planning, installation, and maintenance of your structured cabling system efficient and complete, while you can focus on your actual tasks. Moreover, their help extends beyond the cabling setup — a reliable system contributes to reducing downtime, preventing data loss, and ensuring scalability in the future. They will also offer support should issues arise, assuring you of operational continuity and fewer disruptions.

 

 

Cost Factors to Consider for Structured Cabling

 

Ideally, you would want your vendor to be as transparent as possible when it comes to pricing their installation services. However, learning about the wiring cost factors yourself will better equip you to determine whether the quote you’re given is reasonable or overvalued. Below are the following factors to look out for: 

 

Size and Layout of the Facility

 

Generally, the larger and more complicated the structure of the building, the higher the installation cost will be. Huge, multi-story facilities that house hundreds of hardware and communication devices will, of course, require more cables in different sizes and types. Also, note that the allowable cable length for network efficiency is limited to around 90 meters (300 feet), and your vendor will have to consider this limitation during routing and layout. 

 

The physical layout of the facility will also affect the blueprint and cables allowable — obstacles like load-bearing walls and restricted areas can limit layout options, resulting in a roundabout solution to keep the network efficient.

 

Type of Cables and Materials Used

 

The price of cables will also determine the cost of the installation. Do you require copper cables like Cat5e and Cat6, or do you need more fiber optic cables? What if you need all types? 

 

The right cable type will depend on your network needs and the physical environment: Cat6 cables support higher data transfer speeds in short distances, while fiber optic cables can accommodate higher bandwidth at longer ranges. Also, temperature, humidity, and other physical aspects of your building will degrade certain cable types faster than others. Your vendor will choose the type that works best in your facility for longer, varying the material cost.

 

Number of Data Points/Outlets

 

The more endpoints your facility uses, such as computers, phones, printers, speakers, LED monitors, and routers, the more cables you need to terminate to ensure optimal connectivity for each point. This relates directly to the size of your facility and the number of end-users utilizing these points.

 

Integration With Existing Systems

 

Does your existing system allow integration of the updated structured cabling plan, or are you using a legacy system that will require an overhaul? Vendors will charge a price dependent on the complexity of integration, that is, based on the compatibility and scalability of your office’s existing cable system. The fees will be higher if they need to install an entire infrastructure from scratch.

 

Labor, Testing, and Certification Fees

 

Installation, testing, and documentation are paid services separate from the cost of materials for your structured cabling system. These inclusions usually come in fixed fees, but do check your agreement with your vendor to ensure you are paying industry-standard rates. That said, the minimum wage fee in your location and the complexity of testing and troubleshooting may result in varying costs.

 

Required Compliance

 

Compliance with regulations and specifications in network cabling systems will also affect the overall installation cost. A government facility that needs higher bandwidth and faster data transmission may require specific cable types and material grades that are pricier and higher in quality than those of other smaller facilities, thereby increasing the fees you need to pay the vendors. Some third-party companies may also charge higher due to their more updated certifications. The thing is, you would want to hire the more advanced and reputable installer to ensure that you can keep up with current practices and network requirements.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Ultimately, you can’t pinpoint an exact cost when it comes to installation fees for a structured cabling system, the same way you can’t accurately predict the price for other professional services like electrical or HVAC installation. Still, learning about the factors that affect the overall cabling cost can equip you with confidence to evaluate quotes, ask smart questions, and negotiate terms. Provided, of course, that you are dealing with a reliable and transparent solutions provider.

 

Ready to start your upgrades? Contact the InfoBahn team today so we can give you a fair quote for your structured cabling system needs.