EXPERT SPEAK
HOW THE PANDEMIC IS CHALLENGING YOUR IT NETWORK
While convergence of networking systems has been taking place , the benefits of a single and agile network to manage everything has been accelerated , explains Arafat Yousef , Managing Director – Middle East and Africa ( MEA ), Nexans Data Network Solutions .
The pandemic of 2020 has made the concept of remote teams and remote work collaboration a reality . Previously used by digitally mature and advanced organisations , like high-tech companies , the requirement of enabling mobile work triggered by the need for social isolation across much of 2020 , has forced all organisations to adapt to this new reality .
Transformation of the physical workplace has been a logical consequence , whether at home or at the office .
Team members whether they are part of the family working at home or employees when they are working from the office
Team members whether they are part of the family working at home or employees when they are working from the office by rotation , will usually not sit at any one physical location .
Arafat Yousef , Managing Director – MEA , Nexans Data Network Solutions by rotation , will usually not sit at any one physical location . They need to be able to work equally well from any place in the office work area .
Wi-Fi network connectivity and power over the Ethernet networks ( PoE ) need to be ubiquitously available and scalable across such places of work . Flexibility and scalability of the Wi-Fi network access points , access to the Ethernet , and availability of Power over the Ethernet , are now prerequisites to support teams working in the “ new normal ”.
While places of work , whether they are supporting the family working and schooling at home or employees at the office premises , are transforming , on a much wider scale , networks within buildings themselves are also transforming .
Just a few years ago , the convergence of voice into IP based , LAN data networks , was a high point of disruption and innovation . Since then , there has been a relentless trend into converging siloed networking systems into IP networks . Today , these include security systems , building management systems , access entry systems , biometric systems , digital signage , low voltage power , LED lighting .
This has spawned the term – “ Everything over IP ” or an “ All-IP ” approach in the convergence of isolated networks .
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