What Are Structured Cabling Systems and How Can They Enhance Your Business Communications?

As the foundation of any communication system today, a structured cabling system is essential to the basic infrastructure of any business. Structured cabling and associated hardware systems allow access networks for applications such as telecommunications, security, and audiovisual platforms. The platform is composed of various smaller components and elements that are standardized for safety, cost, and efficiency. These might include optical wiring, patch cables and panels, and twisted pairs.

What Encompasses Structured Cabling Systems and Subsystems?

Most structured cabling solutions include data cabling—the most basic type of structured cabling system—fiber optic cables, and modular connectors. These cables and connectors are laid in line with network topology standards to establish the data and voice communication system of an office, college campus, data center, or other location. While cabling systems can be complex, it is important to know which solutions will fit the specific needs of your organization.

Fiber Optic Cabling

Fiber optic cabling systems provide unmatched security, allowing for high bandwidth applications that are safeguarded against electromagnetic interference. Fiber optic cabling is favorable in long-distance telecommunication platforms when a business needs a high-speed data connection between different parts of a building or needs a connection from a central office to a remote facility.

Voice, Video, and Data Cabling

In today’s rapidly changing world, your enterprise needs a reliable VoIP phone system that is both efficient and cost-effective, not to mention cutting-edge. Permit your staff to work efficiently through mobility platforms that unify messaging and presence management to include web, instant messaging, audio, mobile, chat, and video conferencing. 

Structured cabling systems & solutionsStructured cabling branches into six specific subsystems related to their application.

  1. Entrance Facility: This is the connecting point between the telephone company or ISP network and the customer. It includes wiring, connecting hardware, and protection devices. 
  2. Equipment Room: As the name implies, this is a physical space that features wiring consolidation points and that connects equipment for the hardware spread across the building.
  3. Backbone Cabling: Used to connect entrance facilities to equipment rooms and the rest of the company’s telecommunications, backbone cabling can be inter-building or intra-building, depending on the network topology. Backbone cabling typically uses cables that are no longer than 30m. UTP, STP, coaxial, and fiber-optic cables are commonly used for backbone cabling.
  4. Horizontal Cabling: This wiring connects telecommunication rooms to individual workstations in the same space through the ceiling and other conduits.
  5. Telecommunications Rooms: These vital rooms are the liaison between the backbone and horizontal cablings.
  6. Work-Area Components: This is a set of components that connects end-user devices to horizontal cabling system outlets.

Why Do You Need Structured Cabling Systems and Why Are They Beneficial?

Now that you know some of the basics of a structured cabling system and its components, consider some of the benefits that would further enhance your commercial office space. 

  • Reduces clutter: Structured cabling solutions are usually housed in a separate space, such as a server room, that keep most cables in a central location and out of the way. 
  • Makes diagnosing bugs and other system issues easier: Because structured cabling solutions help streamline system processes, you can also cut down any potential downtime caused by a hardware issue since it is easier to trace and identify a problem in structured cabling.
  • Allows for more flexibility: With a high level of flexibility, a cabling system can quickly accommodate reconfiguration or complete relocation of an office.

NCS Stands Out with Structured Cabling System Solutions

Network Cabling Services (NCS) can establish a structured cabling system for your commercial space. NCS’s experts are trained in more than 100 manufacturing lines and have experience providing services to various large-scale companies in a plethora of industries. 

Working with NCS assures you get a single source for the supervision of your structured cabling system, as well as a complete turnkey environment that reduces time between installation and deployment. NCS provides properly labeled and documented cabling to take the guesswork out of change management and troubleshooting.

Contact us or Call NCS at 800-876-2524 to find out more about structured cabling installations and get a quote for your project.

With ICT Co-Op Contracts, you save money and time.

  • 1559111485188Save Time. All contracts have been competitively bid so you no longer have to prepare competitive solicitations or evaluate responses. DIR has done the time consuming procurement work for you and has negotiated discounts on hundred of products and services.
  • Save Money. We leverage the volume buying power of the state of Texas to negotiate competitive pricing, which translates into big savings for your organization. You can negotiate even deeper discounts based on large volume purchases.

DIR-TSO-3708 Services

  • Cabling Technical Support
  • Cabling Project Management
  • Cabling System Design
  • Cable Removal
  • Fiber Technician
  • OSP Services
  • Conduit Services
  • DAS and WAP Services
  • Firestopping Services
  • Security Technician
  • Security Programmer
  • Security Designer
  • AV Technician
  • AV Programmer
  • AV Designer
  • AV Engineering

Who can buy through DIR?

You are eligible to buy through DIR if you are with a Texas state agency, county, local government office or public education entity.

You also do not have to go through the competitive bid process and release a RFO to buy through DIR? DIR has already performed all state of Texas competitive procurement requirements. You no longer have to prepare competitive solicitations or evaluate responses, since we have completed that work for you. Texas Government Code, Section 2054.0565 (b) states that ICT Co-Op contracts meet the competitive requirements for all governmental entities.

To learn more about the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) visit Cooperative Contracts Program. To obtain a quote you can contact our sales team at 281-484-1777 or email at sales@ncs-tx.com.

Please note: All POs must reference NCS’ DIR Contract Number: DIR-TSO-3708.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Cable: Structured cabling is most commonly made up of four twisted-pair cables, coaxial cables, and fiber optic cables.
2. Connectors: Connectors are the pieces of hardware used to join different types of cables.
3. Patch Panels: Patch panels are used to connect cables and provide a central point for network access.
4. Patch Cords: Patch cords are used to connect different types of cables within a network.
5. Work Area Outlets: Work area outlets provide an interface between the cabling system and the user’s equipment.
6. Network Interface Cards (NICs): Network interface cards are used to connect a computer to a network.

Structured cabling is a type of wiring system that uses a standardized cabling infrastructure to support a wide variety of services such as voice, data, video, security, and building automation. The structure of the cabling system is designed to support the diverse network of services and make it easier to install, maintain, and upgrade the system. The name is derived from the fact that the cables are arranged in a structured way, with each cable having a specific purpose and connecting to a specific point.

1. Point-to-Point: A point-to-point cable structure is used to connect two devices directly to each other, usually over short distances.
2. Bus: A bus cable structure is used for connecting multiple devices together in a line, usually over long distances.
3. Star: A star cable structure is used for connecting multiple devices to a single point (usually a central hub or switch), usually over long distances.
4. Ring: A ring cable structure is used for connecting multiple devices together in a loop, usually over short distances.
5. Mesh: A mesh cable structure is used for connecting multiple devices to each other in a grid-like pattern, usually over long distances.

Structured cabling is a highly efficient and reliable method of networking. It is cost effective, easy to install, and requires minimal maintenance. Structured cabling offers a consistent, reliable, and secure platform for all your data, voice, and video transmissions. With its standardized components, structured cabling ensures interoperability between different vendors’ equipment, enabling you to choose the best equipment to meet your needs. Structured cabling also allows for more efficient use of space and easier troubleshooting.