< PreviousAs industries and economies go through the digitalisation, data has become the new global currency e backbone of the economy Over the past four decades, there has been a gradual but progressive evolution in the digitisation of every industry and corner of the world. In this relatively short period of time, this evolution has significantly transformed societies and the global economy. Many industries such as healthcare, transport, e-commerce, the financial sector and more have been digitally transformed, changing the way they store and transmit information and data. This is creating new ways of conducting business, disrupting old operating models and paving the way for modernisation in all spheres of the business ecosystem. As a result of this, data is becoming the new global currency and is quickly growing to be more inextricably woven into the fabric of the new global economy. As the digital economy continues to grow, its dependency on computer technologies and data processing is becoming increasingly critical to everyday functionality. Processes such as customer service, transport, logistics and communication to name but a few, are increasingly reliant on data in order to operate. Data-driven industries The healthcare industry, for example, has significantly transformed with digitalisation and now provides greater quality and accessibility through innovative digital medical technologies like minimally-invasive surgeries, enhanced patient monitoring systems and more accurate scanning equipment. These technologies have allowed patients to experience advanced healthcare, which supports them on a quicker road to recovery. By Denon Amen Yuyu Osunde, Application Engineer, HUBER+SUHNER www.hubersuhner.com OPINION www.networkseuropemagazine.com 30Technology has also completely overhauled the financial sector. As a result, the degree of automation and speed of trading has dramatically increased in the past decade. Now having access to advanced data analytics, financial institutions have been able to tailor services to custom fit the needs of their customers, meeting the rising expectation for personalised services. On another scale, digitalisation has completely facilitated e-commerce, changing the ways commodities and services are traded and accelerating the volume of trade between consumers and businesses. Without the digital economy, high volumes of trade wouldn’t be possible and the modern economy would simply not be as advanced as it is today. As a result of these industries – and many more – relying on data to operate, 25 million terabytes of data are created every day, with that volume constantly increasing. Data connections have therefore become the backbone of the modern economy, driving everyday functionalities in critical operations such as business, healthcare and transport. The reliability of this data connection is pivotal in order to process and transmit information in an instant to provide real-time data connections. Data centres At the heart of vast volumes of data processing, is the data centre. Data centres process the transmission of all data that enables critical connectivity within everyday technologies in today’s modern digital economy. Therefore, the data centre ecosystem itself is a major economic enabler. They must connect vast amounts of equipment and technologies by protecting data and keeping track of its movement and storage. Doing so requires carefully planned and constructed data centres, which provide seamless data connectivity with security, low latency, redundancy and most importantly, availability to deliver connectivity. Preparing for a data-dependent economy The next evolution of technology innovation is already underway and with Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud-based services, 5G and Machine Learning (ML) already infiltrating the global digital economy, data centres are becoming increasingly complex. To provide reliable data connectivity to power all these new applications and services, data centres must be prepared to provide the level of capacity required to match the scale of this demand. In order to do this, data centres are facing the challenge of providing the scale, speed and capacity to provide increased bandwidth to meet critical digital economy connectivity demands. With demand so high, data centres have enhanced the creation of jobs and innovation in the modern economy. Technological innovations such as AI and ML are creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike, and are expected to grow the global economy by more than $15.8 trillion in the next decade. If data centres are going to keep up with increasing data demands influenced by new technologies, they too must be upgraded with the best high- class technologies to facilitate a resilient, future-proof data centre to meet increasing bandwidth and capacity demands. Adaptability is key To be future-proof, data centres must be able to change according to their environment, now and years into the future. They must adapt to meet increasing connectivity demands by using high-quality, high-capacity and flexible fibre management systems. Using the latest technology, fibre cabling structures can be customised with modules and structures to increase density in a simple and efficient way to directly meet soaring connectivity demands. With high volumes of fibre cabling required to match bandwidth demands, cabling is complex to manage in a data centre. For maximum ease and efficiency in organising and storing cables, a fibre optic distribution system must be used to create a highly secure environment that can reduce the likelihood of human errors. For example, using high- density cross-connect technology, cables can be structured in a clear and concise way to reduce the risk of damage and downtime in the connection. Integral to the successful service of the data centre is also the power, monitoring, cooling, communications, cabling, monitoring and metering to facilitate a high-capacity and reliable data centre. There’s also a need to train and employ people in the highly technical field of designing, manufacturing, operations and maintenance of the whole data centre ecosystem – which has become the spine of a modern digital economy. n OPINION www.networkseuropemagazine.com 31Over the past two years, we’ve conducted extensive research with cable installation companies in both the US and Europe, observing how they work when certifying cable installations and conducting more than 60 hours of in-depth interviews to delve into the specific challenges they face when using their certifiers. Here, we will look at some of our key findings around cable certifier usage trends. Topline takeaways A core part of the research investigated what cable installers consider to be most critical when choosing a certifier. It identified that durability is the factor that the market deemed most important by far, followed by the ability to set up tests simply, and having an accurate and easy to use fault finder. We also measured how the currently available certification solutions performed against the customer outcomes identified. To do this, we tested all the devices on the market with the most common test methods requested by customers. In each scenario, the tester’s performance was benchmarked against the customers’ average expectation. Our investigations also looked at which areas users felt performed worst regarding the capabilities of cable certifiers and found there were several areas with potentially concerning market satisfaction gaps. The largest concerned labelling results transfer and management software. This was closely followed by fault-finding – a potential worry for manufacturers as this was picked out as one of the most critical elements of a cable certifier to users. The industry’s requirements around fault-finding were expanded on as part of IDEAL Networks’ more in-depth research and product investigations. By Dan Barrera, Global Product Manager, IDEAL Networks www.idealnetworks.net Cable certifiers what really matters? IDEAL Networks shares its research into the challenges that end users face when using cable certifiers Minimise fault-finding time and improve accuracy Good cable installations tested with a correctly configured tester shouldn’t have many faults. However, when faults do occur, it’s important that they’re fixed quickly. Installers simply don’t have the time to spend reviewing measurements on the certifier to understand, and then fix, the failure – they don’t want complexity in this area. Instead, they are demanding products which show the type of fault, what has caused it and most importantly, where along the cable they need to go to fix it. Simple test set-up A need for simplicity was also expressed when it comes to set-up, in order to test the installation. During our research, we found that technicians may make hundreds of inputs on average for set-up. This includes typing the address and labels, selecting standards, moving between functions and configurations. This always happens at the end of the project when the pressure is on and there’s simply no time to absorb delays. Complex certifier set-up can take a lot of time, as well as leading to mistakes – many standards are similar so, in a rushed situation, it can be easy to choose the wrong one. Incorrect set-up can also lead to failed links which cause engineers to spend time fixing issues by re-terminating or pulling a new cable in the hope it will pass and resolve the problem, even though the problem will persist. On some occasions, installers may also encounter problems by mistakenly selecting a lower standard, like Cat 5e rather than Cat 6A. While the installation will test without problems, when the results are submitted for warranty, they will not be eligible. Misconfiguration leads to project delays affecting cashflow, and retesting reduces margins with unforeseen www.networkseuropemagazine.com 32 TEST & MEASUREMENTwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 33 TEST & MEASUREMENTlabour costs. Therefore, the installers we observed were keen to have access to products that make setting up the tester as simple as possible and consider the way that engineers work, not just the standards they’re testing to. Make data entry effortless On-site cable installers need to be able to accurately record the links tested using the correct naming convention to properly detail location. The most significant improvement that customers wanted, was a reduction in the time spent correcting errors and adding in missing details before submission for warranty for the customer. Users want ways to automate this process and to have more ways to collaborate among teams. Especially for large and complex projects, installers feel that their options are limited. Simplify results transfer At the end of the project, installers want to be able to get the results off the tester and back to the office or the project manager quickly. The faster they do this, the sooner they can submit the finished project and get paid. However, this can be time-consuming. "Cable installers work in an industry which is constantly evolving. As such, what they need is access to cable certifiers and test equipment that can change with them and address their biggest day-to-day challenges" www.networkseuropemagazine.com 34 TEST & MEASUREMENTQuite often, the remote engineers we spoke to are required to download results to a laptop via a USB stick or cable and then email the results back to the office. Their laptop is in the van, not the tool bag, so this process doesn’t mesh well with their standard working day. Other engineers downloaded the results when they return to the office once a week, sometimes less. Either approach wastes time and can cause a bottleneck at the end of the week where project managers have multiple projects to process. Cable installers told us that the process of transferring results from their cable certifier leads to delays, and in some cases lost results. The most common feedback from engineers was that they want to be able to ‘press one button’ to send the results back to the office to the job site. As tester manufacturers, this need should guide the development of our cable certifiers. Improve management software The right management software helps to minimise the time required to organise reports for customers, helping to ensure payment can be invoiced quickly. However, satisfaction in this area in our research was low. Project managers typically explained that they must follow a structured formatting and quality checking process when creating reports. Often, the data they receive from the certifier requires a significant amount of time. This process assures customer acceptance, warranty approval and quality, which in turn reduces callbacks. So, the challenge when developing improved cable certifiers and the related management software is to reduce the labour involved, without compromising the objective the process is designed for. More efficient port labelling Without accurate labelling, installers are handing over an installation that will be difficult and time-consuming for the owner to manage and resolving mislabelling issues takes up a huge amount of time. It’s also vital that the completed test report ID’s match the installed links on-site, whether the labels are printed beforehand or while on-site. Issues occur because the cable list is input to the tester and then into the printer as well. This double handling can lead to mistakes and mismatches. As the area of cable certification with the largest market satisfaction gap, labelling is clearly an important area to get right with cable certifiers. Decrease the lifetime cost of ownership A unanimous theme in our research was that test equipment is a big investment for cable installers that can put pressure on their business. We heard many tales of installers making bad equipment choices which meant they didn’t have the equipment needed to win work or enter an adjacent market segment; the result of which was needing to purchase yet more costly equipment. The investment required, in some cases, significantly impacted the company’s ability to grow. Cable installers also need to know that the certifiers they buy will be supported long enough for them to get a return on their investment and that they’re designed to meet the testing needs of the future. Reduced calibration and service downtime Due to the relatively high unit cost, we found that many cable installation businesses are running operations with far fewer certifiers in their fleet than would be ideal, and without carrying spares. If testers require calibration or to be serviced, they require time out of the business, and this needs to be carefully managed. In our research, installers told us that this could result in downtime on-site and complexities in managing completion dates to fit in with resources. If calibration dates are missed, sites can inadvertently be tested by equipment out of calibration, which will mean warranties are denied, certification needs to be repeated and profitability is reduced. Installers are keen for manufacturers to support them in keeping calibration and service downtime to a minimum. Overcoming challenges Cable installers work in an industry which is constantly evolving. As such, what they really need is access to cable certifiers and test equipment that can change with them and address their biggest day-to-day challenges. n www.networkseuropemagazine.com 35 TEST & MEASUREMENTwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 36 OPINIONAgainst the backdrop of transformative technologies and the latest regulations, Kevin Billings, Director & Industry Principal, Telecoms & Media at Pegasystems identifies what’s in store for the media & telecoms sector over the next twelve months. Flush with 5G firsts but fuzzy on value As 2019 ends, you can’t escape how much carriers have raced to make their 5G network live with everyone wanting to claim a 5G first, from first 5G village to 5G city to 5G shopping centre. But, let’s be honest, all this techno sound and fury is a game of retaining and winning those super- nerd customers. Bundles that offer 5G some of the time, in some places, may dislodge or cement high spending innovator-class customers but aren’t going to pay for the huge costs of 5G deployment. The job of articulating why 5G matters to the masses hasn’t got off the ground much yet, and this will have to change in 2020 to pay for the high upfront costs of both 5G and maintaining the legacy services and infrastructure. Being too complex and costly Despite their best efforts, CSPs can’t help themselves and make their businesses less complex and thus, less costly to run. 5G is a case in point. The licences were hugely expensive to buy, the networks are denser and more complex to plan, deploy and run. And, marketing budgets are being ramped up. As the dust settles, expect more CSPs to reflect on the need for digital process automation that better connects their customer frontend to the service backend. 5G and all By Kevin Billings, Director & Industry Principal, Telecoms & Media, Pegasystems www.pega.com Mobile & telecoms predictions 2020 After an eventful 2019 for mobile telecommunications, what can we expect from the year ahead? the rest of the ever-rolling digital transformation cries out for more end to end robotic process automation. Digital transformation is the new normal Digital native spending power is on the rise and there’s little brand connection to carriers, which is unsurprising when some are nearly 40 years old and others are over 100 years old. As customers flit between new digital experiences, CSPs need to do more to be the platform for what’s next. This is a tall order that can be achieved when CSPs rethink how they run their digital businesses, empower more business domain owners to be citizen developers who use low-code solutions to ensure digital processes and products are always adaptable at the pace of market demand. Squarely in Political Sights on Customer Service However, the UK sorts out the next stage of Brexit, it’s more than obvious that high-speed broadband connectivity is one of those top people priorities for politicians of all stripes. 2019 is ending with lots of heady corporate propaganda about 5G and the start of a streaming subscriber war between the globe’s biggest content holders. Consumer expectations for flawless high-quality digital experiences are soaring. Politicians fighting for office and looking for levers to improve people’s lives have fallen upon high-speed broadband coverage. CSPs will need to work out how to respond in 2020 and, if they’re pushed to make bigger capital investments, there will need to be a focus on more internal process efficiencies to push down OPEX as CAPEX see-saws upwards. n www.networkseuropemagazine.com 37 OPINIONSmarter cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 38 SMART BUILDINGSCabling for intelligent buildings so platforms and components can communicate as a whole By Todd Harpel, Standardisation Director, Nexans www.nexans.com In 1883, Warren Johnson of Johnson Controls created the first building automation Systems: a mechanical thermostat turned on a light, prompting a janitor to shovel coal into a furnace. In the early 1970s, more advanced mechanical systems came along: a thermostat was pneumatically connected to machinery that regulated temperature. By the 1980s, computerised systems were used for control of the predominately mechanical thermostats and actuators. Then, by the 1990s, electronic thermostats and control systems were being connected to computer networks and the web. For years, HVAC control systems were proprietary and mostly self-contained. However, building automation control network (BACnet) standardisation changed things. This protocol allows proprietary HVAC systems, or components from different manufacturers to communicate and facilitates centralised operational control of their functions. In fact, the integration of HVAC control and functionality across systems is what most building owners and facility managers used as their definition of building automation for several decades. By this definition, building automation would primarily benefit the building owner or facility management by, for example, reducing energy costs and maintenance. Modern automation Today’s intelligent buildings are an altogether different proposition. A truly intelligent building relies on new technologies to create an environment that is safer, more productive and easier to manage in an efficient and cost-effective way. Intelligent buildings feature sensors and devices that allow us to represent physical objects, systems and spaces digitally. These Building lnternet of Things (BIoT) devices can collect data from many different systems and aggregate it for analysis by specialised software that can yield many benefits. Looking at the economic benefits, energy efficiency which is closely related to reducing operating costs is an important target outcome of intelligent buildings. PoE-based LED lighting, for example, can save up to 80% energy compared to legacy systems. In addition to operational cost benefits, the scope of intelligent building beneficiaries now also encompasses the building inhabitants. New evaluation criteria focuses on productivity and people, and not just the functioning of the building itself. Intelligent buildings have been shown to increase employee productivity, yielding a hidden financial benefit. From a social perspective, we see that safety, security and the health and well-being of occupants is becoming more important as well. Building intelligence also enhances environmental responsibility and sustainability, and links to smart cities and urban planning. What’s more, building intelligence boosts resilience, enabling faster recovery from disasters or other adverse conditions, for example. The convergence of operational technology (OT) functional control that comes with creating intelligent building networks means IT and facilities management teams need to work together in entirely new ways. Rethinking basic infrastructure is essential. Historically, field bus OT networks and IT networks have always been regarded as two separate things. However, when www.networkseuropemagazine.com 39 SMART BUILDINGSNext >