Business today is driven by IT, increasingly relying on the hardware, software, communications platforms and, underpinning it all, physical infrastructure, to enable economic activities. Without this connectivity infrastructure the terabyte-transfers of information taking place among the world`s computers every second would not be possible. As we move into the 21st century our dependence on IT (and infrastructure) will only increase and South Africa must keep abreast in the march to the technology-centric future.
Thanks to IT conglomerates such as Microsoft, IBM and Compaq, and the brilliance of our own IT professionals, South Africa has to date been able to keep pace with the rest of the developed world and, in some instances, even led the pack in designing and deploying advanced technologies.
But will South Africa`s IT infrastructure support the technological future? Will the connectivity layers provide sufficient capacity, speed and reliability to carry the IT-powered economy into the digital tomorrow?
As far as the use of and access to technology is concerned, the cabling industry is definitely well positioned for the future. We enjoy ready access to sophisticated locally developed technologies and, through global market leaders such as RIT and Krone to leading-edge international technology as well.
However, in terms of implementation and installation skills, there is a disturbing disparity between the future needs of the user-community and the ability of the industry in general to deliver in a consistent and reliable manner. All too often one hears horror stories of cabling installers failing to adhere to service levels agreements because they lack resources, or experience or basic ethical standards. This is not acceptable now and certainly will not be acceptable in the future.
A critical problem is the traditionally low entry level to the cabling industry in South Africa. There are numerous reasons for this, such as the lingering perception that cabling is a `low-tech` business. Nothing is further from the truth. Cabling is often seen as the wide-open door into the profitable, high-growth IT business. Again, a perception that is devoid of all truth. The crux of the matter is that there are currently no minimum standards or qualifications for entry to the local cabling industry. Which could be taken to mean that cabling is an `easy` job that anyone can do. In reality it takes a team of highly trained and experienced individuals to "wire up" an Old Mutual or, for that matter, a small fledgling company that is dependent on its IT infrastructure to prosper and grow.
To improve its credibility and image, the industry must band together and agree to minimum entry level standards. The advantages to clients are many: firstly, they will enjoy the reassurance that installers will deliver on time, according to the specification, and that the installed cabling bandwidth will cater for the hardware requirements. Secondly, installations will be completed in a consistent and standards-compliant manner. Thirdly, networks will run reliably at the requisite speed. Finally, installers will be encouraged to compete on the basis of service and price (as opposed to today`s prevalent price-cutting), which will translate into improved service delivery to users.
I do not suggest that introducing baseline standards to the industry will be simple or straightforward. However, we in the industry can ease the process by actively supporting home-grown industry bodies (such as the Communications Cabling Association of Southern Africa) and by linking up with international regulatory bodies such as BICSI.
Founded in 1974 and based in the USA, BICSI is a non-profit telecommunications association which aims to serve and support companies responsible for the design and distribution of telecommunications wiring in commercial and multi-family buildings. It has some 17 000 members in over 75 countries - among them cabling manufacturers, installers, VARs, end-users, architects and electrical engineers - and is still expanding. BICSI has not yet established a branch in South Africa but a few of the local installers, such as CCI Technology Holdings, have joined as individual members and are seeing the benefits of this association.
I believe that allying ourselves with the likes of BICSI will provide the industry with access to top-drawer educational and certification services that have been developed and proven over many years. Wide-ranging services offered to members include libraries of technical information and manuals, conferences throughout the world and registration programmes with various levels of training for apprentices, installers and technicians. The type of education offered by these international bodies is high quality, on-going and generic - something our industry desperately needs to enhance its credibility in the marketplace.
It might be argued that, since suppliers of various cabling products offer their own training courses, there is no local need to expend resources on industry training and test equipment. The counter-argument is that suppliers` training, while invaluable, is of limited duration and scope, usually focusing only on the manufacturer`s particular product(s).
Access to generic training for newcomers (and more experienced cabling professionals) will have a major positive impact on the entire industry. For example, trainees will be exposed to all topologies (fibre, copper, CAT5, CAT6), not just specific products. They will be instructed in proper safety codes, and will gain wide-ranging knowledge and experience of project management, including planning, installation and troubleshooting.
Overall, trainees will gain a sound grounding in how to complete the most cost-effective installation with the minimum of disruption to users. Surely this is something both we in the industry and our clients will loudly applaud?
So whereto from here? Product suppliers and installers must rally together to agree and implement appropriate, uniform standards and training. We should not reinvent the wheel, but rather look to tap into well-honed international experience and apply this judiciously to our environment. We should agree on a budget - there is no free lunch! - and make funds and resources available for infrastructure and training. And we must do it now. The 21st century won`t wait.
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