Planning NBN upgrades and fibre backbones for an organisation
Some of the most useful IT consulting happens where several suppliers’ responsibilities meet. The internet provider supplies a connection, the cabling contractor connects the buildings, and the IT team keeps the organisation working. Someone needs to consider how those parts fit together.
I’ve assisted organisations with complex NBN connectivity choices and transitions from Fibre to the Node (FTTN) to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). My infrastructure work also includes planning changes to older multimode fibre backbones. These are examples of the work I take on; the approach below explains the decisions involved without identifying individual organisations.
Start with what the organisation needs to do
A connectivity review needs to account for everyday work: cloud applications, file transfers, phones, remote access and the number of people using them together. It also needs to consider where the organisation is heading. A new building, more staff or a change in teaching spaces can alter the brief substantially.
I help bring those requirements together so an organisation can compare options and brief its suppliers. The useful output is a plan that connects today’s constraints with the next investment decision.
Plan the FTTN-to-FTTP transition as a project
For an NBN upgrade, I look at the handover into the internal network as well as the service being ordered. Where will the connection terminate? Can the firewall handle the intended service with the required security functions enabled? Which phones, remote connections or other services depend on the existing arrangement?
The provider needs to confirm availability, the installation process and the terms for the actual address. NBN’s business fibre information explains the upgrade pathway and directs businesses to participating providers. Eligibility and installation arrangements should be checked when planning the work.
A migration brief should identify who orders and activates the service, who changes the firewall, how essential services will be checked and when the old service can be retired. That last step should follow confirmation that the new arrangement works.
Look beyond the internet connection
The backbone is the cabling that carries traffic between key parts of a site, such as buildings or communications cabinets. A better internet connection may leave an existing internal bottleneck untouched.
When planning a change from older multimode fibre, I consider the installed cable, route length, condition, test records, required capacity and compatible optics at each end. Modern multimode options such as OM3 or OM4 and single-mode options such as OS2 need to be assessed as part of a complete link. OM denotes multimode fibre; OS denotes single-mode fibre. Fluke Networks explains the fibre categories.
There is no reason to replace usable cabling simply because a newer category exists. Equally, a route that is difficult to access deserves careful thought about future capacity and spare fibres before work begins. My role is to help define the design and requirements with the people responsible for physical installation and testing.
Compare the whole solution
I help organisations weigh what an Aruba solution offers against what Ubiquiti or another platform could deliver for their requirements. I would compare the specific proposed equipment, management functions, security needs, support arrangements, licensing and staff capability.
The purchase price is one part of that decision. A more expensive platform needs to justify its continuing cost; a lower-cost option needs to meet the operational brief. The comparison should also include optics, installation, migration effort, documentation and support after handover.
That is how I approach value for money: a recommendation the organisation can explain, fund and operate, with room for the changes it can reasonably foresee.
If you are planning a connection upgrade or changes between buildings, explore my IT consulting services in Townsville. For a UniFi-specific design or proposal, see network design and quote reviews.