Definition: An Integrated Communications Network (ICN) streamlines all of your building infrastructure into one easy to manage environment.

Traditionally, when a business made an investment in a building they tended to install and manage separate cabling infrastructure.

These systems significantly increase the upfront and ongoing costs of implementing and managing the environment.

The Integrated Communications Network (ICN) is a common communications network that shall be used by all nominated building control and monitoring systems/equipment (in lieu of each system installing their own network) for communication between devices, controllers, servers, workstations etc.

Each System will be delegated a Virtual Local Area Network to provide separation between them while using the common network and cabling infrastructure.

The ICN provides the ability for each sub-system to connect securely through the firewall via VPN access for contractors to have access to their systems remotely.

The Integrated Communications Network (ICN) is composed of two parts and they are the passive network components and the active network components.

A Integrated Communications Network (ICN) can be cabled via one of three methods.

1. GPON cabling method
2. Traditional Ethernet cabling method – Category 6 or 6A method
3. KNX cabling method

The ICN will consist at a minimum the following components.

1. Communications cabinet’s including PDU’s
2. Fibre backbones
3. Firewall
4. Network Hardware
5. Network Monitoring System NMS – Software
6. Network Software
7. UPS

Were all designed, constructed and maintained by PON Projects or their related companies.

Aged Care Facility

Anglicare Sydney has reopened its Lady Gowrie Village in Gordon (formerly known as Roden Cutler Village) on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, including a heritage-listed mansion, after a six-year redevelopment.

The Burnham Thorpe mansion forms part of Gordon Quarter, the new name for Lady Gowrie Village, alongside 40 retirement living units and the new 107-room Roden Cutler Lodge residential aged care home. The mansion itself has been restored by architect Allen Jack + Cottier (AJC) and Taylor Construction, and contains eight ILUs and clubhouse facilities.

PON Projects were awarded the contract to design, construct and maintain an Integrated Communications Network (ICN) a GPON fibre cabled solution.

The following ICN services were cabled by GPON fibre solution;

Hotel / Conference Centre

The Inglis Riverside Stables at Warwick Farm have several dedicated wedding reception rooms and multiple function areas, the William Inglis Hotel.

The largest multi – function area  manages 1000 people inside this facility and up to another 1000 people outside this facility.

There are 11 stables on site, each with their own separate function room. The stables can cater for up to 800 horses when the Yearling Sales are held every February.

Due large size of this site – 26 acres, JCB Communications and the Barnwell Cambridge project team installed an Integrated Cabling Network (ICN) utilising a GPON fibre cabled solution. This site is now serviced and maintained by PON Projects.

The following ICN services were cabled by GPON fibre solution;

Offices, Retail & Research

South Eveleigh, previously known as Australian Technology Park is a retail, business centre and technology

South Eveleigh primarily houses start-up hi-tech companies, especially biotech firms, and spin-offs from university research. The Park also houses venture capital companies, banks and legal firms. It was created in 1995, by the Government of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, University of Technology, Sydney and University of New South Wales, and was originally operated by the Australian Technology Park Sydney Ltd up until 2000.

The ICN network manages a world-class Conference and Event Centre can comfortably accommodate groups from 10 to 5000 people with excellent access to public transport, parking, the CBD, airport, fabulous catering and technology.

Comtex had the challenge of designing and implementing an integrated ICN Network for BMS, Wi-Fi network spanning almost 25,000 sq/m, an AV over IP solution and wayfinding with digital signage.

ICN and Wi-Fi Network

Spanning over 200m long, the locomotive workshop is a unique and challenging building. Comtex was able to design and implement an integrated communications network for all building management services across this site, and the remaining precinct. Using the same network infrastructure we were able to deliver a robust Wi-Fi network to cover the almost 25,000 square meters for both public and private use.

The conference centre was able to provide a seamless and speedy Wi-Fi experience for its visitors and built to support more than 5,000 devices connected simultaneously.

Audio Visual

With 7 Meeting rooms, a Ballroom, 520 seat theatre and 9,000sqm exhibition hall, an Integrated AV System across the conference center was essential. Given the vast area to cover, Comtex partnered with AV Logic to design and implemented an AV over IP solution, one of the first of its kind in a conference centre in Australia.

The Comtex Group of Companies (owner of PON Projects), was awarded the tender to design, construct an maintain an Integrated Communications Network (ICN) using Traditional Ethernet cabling method, a Category 6 cabled solution.

Global Overview for ICN, Being Used by Airport’s & Major Organizations

Major international airport customers agree that Optical LAN (GPON) improves airport networks because of its:

• Better Performance
• Greater Reliability
• Easier to Manage
• More Secure

The following ICN services were cabled by GPON fibre solution;

Conclusion

In all cases, when an Intergrated Cabling Network (ICN) is installed using a GPON fibre solution these are some of the benefits that the end user will experience.

Will reduce real estate requirements by up to 90%

Will reduce electricity / energy cost by 80%

Will reduce overall project cost by 30% +

Will realize operational savings of 50%

The savings the End User will receive will be subject the final communications design and understanding by the IT consultant and IT project team.