We`ve all heard the phrase proudly South African, but unless one experiences something that brings this concept home, then the phrase is a clich'e.
Seeing the six new buildings that combine to create the unique DTI campus-style headquarters in Sunnyside Pretoria is enough to make any South African feel decidedly big-headed and Interconnect Systems is proud to have been involved with this prestigious project.
The DTI cabling contract was split into two parts; the six-building campus installation and the SSC (Shared Service Centre) installation. Interconnect took overall responsibility for both the 13 000-point campus cabling installation and the 1 000-point service centre installation. Approximately 30km of blown fibre and more than 800km of Krone Category 6 UTP cable was installed while the project was under way.
The project team from Interconnect faced several interesting challenges. One example was that in two of the buildings on the DTI campus, blocks A and B, it was not possible to route cables in false flooring. For aesthetic purposes the floors in both buildings are unadorned thrown concrete. Then, in block B, to create visual drama, the entire roof structure is exposed. This means that the air-conditioning ducts, the electrical conduit and of course the cabling infrastructure is clearly visible overhead.
To ensure the network cables were laid in the overhead cable baskets in such a way as to achieve aesthetic excellence, Interconnect made use of cable looms, which were pre-assembled off-site. These were installed in the cable baskets and then painstakingly arranged in such as way as to make it look as though each cable bundle has been "combed".
Interconnect worked on the project alongside electrical consulting engineers Somiah & Associates. Group Director Tai van Aswegen secured the cabling contract.
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