Buildings.com is pleased to publish this special Online Exclusive report by Thomas A.L. Kashangaki, Ph.D., The Strategis Consulting Group, Washington, D.C.
Introduction
Business demand for high-speed Internet access and advanced communications
services has dramatically increased in recent years. Owners and managers of
commercial office buildings now view these services as a requirement for attracting
and retaining quality, long-term tenants. Commercial office developers are more
likely than ever to plan and install the telecommunications infrastructure at
the beginning of the building design process. In addition, they are more likely
to extend state-of-the-art infrastructure to the tenant space, rather than merely
provide entrance facilities in the basement of the building and expect the tenants
and service providers to extend the infrastructure to the workstation. Building
rooftops have become a revenue-generating portion of the building as wireless
phone companies, fixed wireless broadband providers and satellite companies
roll out services. Commercial property owners see broadband services as an effective
business tool to meet the growing demands of their tenants while adding new
high value amenities to the service portfolio. These amenities help to develop
effective branding and increase revenues and profitability.
Some commercial property owners have chosen to develop in-house technical telecommunications
expertise to manage the design, installation and maintenance of the telecommunications
infrastructure throughout their property portfolio. Others are opting to partner
with consulting firms to provide unbiased, independent engineering, design and
project management support for implementation of their telecommunications infrastructure.
This paper describes the second approach, outlining the benefits of using a
3rd party Telecommunications Consultant solution and a methodology that will
result in profitable implementation of the telecommunications infrastructure.