Are converged networks key to a sustainable future?

The concern over the future of our planet is ever-increasing and going green has become paramount in both today’s society and the working world. With many companies looking to reduce or even eliminate their carbon footprint, providing solutions that are equally as efficient as they are sustainable is essential.

The government is also driving this behaviour within the corporate world by implementing recommendations by the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures. The aim is to make these disclosures compulsory for every company by 2025.

Deploying a converged network can help landlords and clients with this reporting by helping reduce their assets’ carbon footprints.

What is a converged network?

A converged network can manage multiple building services all over the same fibre cable. Therefore, along with full-fibre internet, the converged network includes landlord services such as BMS, CCTV, door entry, smart meters, mobile coverage, etc. Additionally, residents can receive third-party services such as Apple TV or Sky over the same cable as their broadband.

The design and implementation of all these services within one network offers convenience and flexibility that is just not possible by deploying separate networks. Residential properties will no longer need different cables for different services. The combination of all these technologies does certainly increase the complexities of the wifi network, however when done correctly – with a well thought-out design and execution will lead to significant operational efficiencies.

What are the benefits?

Converged networks come with many benefits. A converged infrastructure is more effective in design and saves on time and cost. This is because everything gets installed on one network and therefore reduces containment space.

Operating and maintaining all these services via a single-fibre cable minimises the technical and physical materials and resources needed, which means reduced power usage and carbon footprint. Less hardware takes up less space and ensures the right amount of switch ports are available, in the right locations. Monitoring network ports, cables, connectors and components in real-time with an intelligent infrastructure management system allows the network to be managed far more efficiently and optimises energy consumption.

What’s next?

We can all agree that sustainable solutions are an integral part of our future and deploying innovative infrastructure such as Clear Convergence by ClearFibre will help achieve this. When done correctly, a converged network can eliminate concerns in a multitude of different aspects from power usage and maintenance costs to decreasing the overall environmental impact.

Developers can feel rest assured that they are delivering high-quality products and services that will have a low impact on the environment, and residents can enjoy full fibre internet with wifi in every room.

Ceyda Tabak is client executive at ClearFibre, part of the Telcom Group. Please get in touch: ceyda.tabak@clearfibre.uk. Follow us on LinkedIn