Internet connectivity is a vital service that no modern home or business can afford to be without in this day and age. There are various ways to connect data to homes, with fixed data being the most common option, followed by cellular connections.
Fixed data connectivity is achieved through cable or wireless technologies. Cable technologies involve the use of fiber data cables for core connectivity and twisted pair cables (commonly Cat 5 & 6) to distribute data over large and small distances, respectively. Wireless technologies involve the use of wireless radio wave transmitters and receivers over a large distance to provide connectivity to premises. Satellite connectivity is also classified as wireless and can be provided by either local satellite providers or international ISPs, such as the recently launched Starlink internet service.
Cellular internet connectivity, on the other hand, involves the use of 4G LTE data services provided by local mobile network operators, such as Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom. Advanced indoor 4G routers capable of connecting to cellular networks are deployed in homes and businesses to provide high-speed LAN, Wi-Fi, and sometimes VoIP.
In this article, we will discuss fiber broadband connectivity and installation requirements for end users/ clients. The end users may be a home, in which case it is called Fiber To The Home (FTTH), a building known as Fiber To The Building (FTTB), or sites (Fiber To The Site, FTTS). All of these are connected to a core network referred to as Backbone Fiber, which is made of high-capacity fiber cables over a Wide Area Network (WAN).
Fiber To The Home
Hardware Design and Requirements
You will need a good network design equipment that will guarantee the best service in and around your premises. The main part of the network will be the Structured Cabling System (SCS), and it is recommended to be of Category 6a (Cat6a) Class EA. This will provide last-mile connectivity to the various wired devices and outlets in the building. Generally, the components of the complete system should be supplied by a single vendor, such as Siemon, D-Link, Meganet, TP-Link, Krohne, or any other desired brand.
• Incoming services pathways:
The civil contractor shall provide trenches, pits, and conduits during construction. Provide an ICT ‘meet me’ manhole pit (500x500mm) at the building entrance that will be connected to the ISP’s external ducts and the building’s ICT inspection box via ducts. This system should be rodent-proof and sealed from the ingress of water.
• Communication Cabinet:
This should be carefully chosen in liaison with other service providers, such as CCTV systems, AV systems, and Alarm systems. It should be well-sized to accommodate all the anticipated equipment, such as switches, patch panels, power supply, cooling systems, and control units of other ICT services as listed before. This will subsequently determine if it will be free-standing or wall-mounted. These can be of different sizes, such as 4U, 9U, 12U, 15U, 18U, 22U, etc.
• Sleeves and pathways:
The electrical contractor installs concealed sleeves using PVC conduits during construction that run to various data outlet points and proposed equipment locations in the building as designed by the engineer. These all terminate at the communication cabinet or server room.
• Network Routers and Wireless Access Points:
The core router can be in the data cabinet, while access points and extender routers can be positioned in areas that will ensure nearly 100% coverage. The engineer will determine such points, and prior cabling is done. For regular homes, a GPON router or fiber-to-UTP converter in the network cabinet will provide a connection between the optical fiber and the RJ-45 UTP cables. For larger area applications, Wireless Access Points connected to PoE switches are used to add capability to the network.
• Network Switches:
These are used when setting up a large network with multiple devices. They are responsible for connecting devices within the network by acting as intermediaries for packet data transmission. The engineer will determine if they will be required during the design stage, although most residential setups do not require switches for basic networks.
Choosing your Internet Service
Now that you have all your equipment ready and set up, it is time to choose the right Internet Service Provider (ISP). This guide will assist you in choosing the right ISP based on your requirements and special needs, how to prepare your premises for Internet connectivity, and the equipment you will need.
Your data connection should meet the following requirements at a minimum:
• High reliability/availability:
Your ISP should provide data connectivity with minimal downtime that disrupts service. Downtimes may occur due to factors such as software glitches at the servers, overloading of bandwidth, power outages at the core level, and hardware failures like fiber cuts. Your ISP should guarantee quick restoration times in the event of any downtime, including hardware failures.
• Sufficient bandwidth:
This determines the amount of data per second that you will be allocated for accessing the internet. To choose the right package, you’ll need to determine the number of devices that will be connected to your network. High-quality videos, such as 4K, can consume up to 20Mbps per device, while light browsing can consume up to 1.5Mbps. For most residential units with up to 10 connected devices, 20Mbps dedicated should work. This will handle YouTube videos up to HD (1080p) on some devices without buffering and HD (720p) on multiple devices. For 5 devices, 10Mbps should work well. Generally, allocate 2Mbps per device for normal internet usage when choosing bandwidth.
• Low Latency:
Latency affects the rate of data transmission over a network. High latency results in delays and lags in networks. The data infrastructure, such as servers, core routers, and fiber optics of your ISP, should be sufficient and updated enough to reduce the effects of latency.
• Managed wireless spectrum (Wi-Fi points):
The end user will require control and administration of the network within their premises. This may be done using routers or access points that are managed. Routers receive and inspect data packets’ IP addresses from ISPs and forward them to the destination device accordingly. You will be able to set credentials such as the Wi-Fi name, password, and network properties which new devices will use to connect and interact with the network. Access points can be used to provide and extend the Wi-Fi reach over a large area to reduce signal loss.
In conclusion, a reliable and high-speed internet connection is indispensable in our modern homes and businesses. Whether you opt for fixed data or cellular connectivity, choosing the right Internet Service Provider (ISP) and ensuring your equipment meets the necessary requirements are crucial steps. Fiber broadband connectivity, in particular, offers exceptional performance and can be tailored to meet various user needs. By following the guidelines and hardware recommendations provided in this article, you can ensure a seamless internet experience and stay connected in today’s digital age.
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