July, 2013
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High-Profile: News
Set Up Business Tenants for Success With Robust Network Connectivity
by Vlad Shafir Advances in communications technology enable businesses to work more efficiently as well as give them the power to operate competitively and maintain their positions in the marketplace—regionally, nationally, or globally. But in order to take full advantage of the newest Vlad Shafir solutions available, businesses must be able to access them, which begins with high-speed network connectivity. To attract business tenants, facility managers must provide a network backbone capable of handling the demands of today’s businesses. The average workday and worker has changed. Employees are working longer hours, and from multiple devices. To complete daily tasks, they often come to work lugging a laptop, tablet, and a smartphone—all of which they are then connecting to the company’s network. Increasingly, companies are allowing the practice of “bring your own device” (BYOD) because it can improve productivity and profitability when employees are able to leverage multiple devices to access data within seconds. But with those advantages can come challenges when the skyrocketing demand for bandwidth places strain on companies’
networks. ence meetings, send massive amounts of To add to the problem, employees emails and more, fiber networks have the are using their multiple devices to send, ability to handle these continuous waves receive and access huge amounts of data. Large photo and video In addition to Ethernet connectivity, files, thousands of emails, enor- facility managers should also consider mous company databases, vid- other business connectivity needs when eoconferencing, and even social designing infrastructure. networking all contribute to the increased demand for bandwidth. Digital technology is everywhere, of data transmission, and won’t clog up or and it can be critical to a company’s suc- shut down tenants’ networks. Ethernet over cess. Doctors now review patient records fiber is a cost-effective and efficient soluelectronically. Retailers are drawing in tion that businesses can rely on. customers with interactive touchscreen In addition to Ethernet connectivapps. And financial analysts can telecon- ity, facility managers should also consider ference at anytime, from anywhere. Sent other business connectivity needs when and received data must also have a place to designing infrastructure. In many office live, therefore, data storage via data centers buildings, when an employee walks away and cloud computing solutions are becom- from an outside wall or a window, they ing business necessities. When it comes to network connectivity and adequate bandwidth, what can Montpelier, VT - The State of facilities managers do to ensure they are Vermont Department of Buildings and setting up their tenants for success? General Services has received approval Ethernet services are imperative to under Vermont’s environmental Act 250 the daily operations of today’s businesses. land use permit process to move forward Ethernet can be provided via T1, cable, with the construction of the new Montcopper, DSL, or fiber, and it’s important pelier District Heat Plant located at 122 to prepare facilities for such connectivState Street in the City of Montpelier. ity. Ethernet over fiber is an increasingly The Montpelier District Heat Plant popular solution for businesses of all sizes will be an expansion to the State Capital because of its speed and reliability and its Complex’s existing boiler plant which is large bandwidth capacity. When business tenants stream video, hold video confer-
quickly lose cell phone service—which can greatly hinder productivity. Allowing cellular companies to install cell sites or “picocells” inside structure walls will extend network coverage. With more people leveraging smartphones and data plans, WiFi connectivity has also become a must, therefore facility managers should ensure WiFi infrastructure exists for all tenants. The need for a strong, reliable network with enhanced bandwidth and WiFi connectivity has never been more critical for today’s small businesses and enterprises. Providing these capabilities gives businesses a solid foundation to be prosperous—and for facility managers to attract and retain these businesses as tenants. Vlad Shafir is account executive – business sales at Windstream, Framingham, Mass.
Engelberth to Begin Heat Plant
being constructed by the State to flood proof the existing building, construct an addition above the 100 year base flood elevation for; fuel offloading, to house two new wood chip boilers and air pollution control equipment, modify and relocate an existing oil fired boiler and sell thermal energy. The Heat Plant is being built by Engelberth Construction, Inc. of Colchester.
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