NETWORK
ENGINEERING
Designing and deploying structured network infrastructure built on international cabling standards and proven engineering methodology. From site survey through to Fluke-certified handover, we deliver the physical foundation your business depends on.
All installations conform to ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801 international cabling standards.
STRUCTURED CABLING
Every network starts at the physical layer. We install copper and fibre cabling systems that comply with ANSI/TIA-568 and the international ISO/IEC 11801 standard, giving you a certified foundation that supports current applications and scales for future demand.
Get a QuoteCOPPER CABLE GRADES
Cat5e - Class D (100 MHz)
Supports up to 1 Gbps over a 100-metre permanent link. Suited for standard office environments and light-duty voice or data applications where 10-Gigabit speeds are not required.
Cat6 - Class E (250 MHz)
Supports 10 Gbps over shorter runs of up to 55 metres. Tighter twist rates of 24 to 28 twists per inch reduce crosstalk, making Cat6 the baseline recommendation for new commercial installations.
Cat6A - Class EA (500 MHz)
Delivers full 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T) at the maximum 100-metre channel length defined by TIA-568. With 28 to 32 twists per inch and improved alien crosstalk performance, Cat6A is the recommended grade for data centres, healthcare facilities, and future-proofed office builds.
FIBRE BACKBONE
For inter-floor risers, building-to-building links, and high-bandwidth backbone segments, we deploy single-mode (OS2) and multimode (OM3/OM4) fibre. Single-mode fibre supports distances well beyond campus scale, while OM4 multimode handles 10 Gbps up to 400 metres and 40/100 Gbps over shorter reach using MPO/MTP connectivity.
All fibre is fusion-spliced and tested with an Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) to verify splice loss, connector reflectance, and end-to-end attenuation before handover.
PATCH PANEL AND TERMINATION
Structured cabling is only as reliable as its termination points. We install and dress 24-port and 48-port patch panels in 19-inch racks, terminate each cable to TIA-568B wiring configuration, and label every port at both ends using a documented cable schedule.
Bend radius rules are enforced throughout: copper cables maintain a minimum bend radius of four times the outer diameter, preventing signal degradation from kinking. Jacket stripping is kept under 13 mm at termination points to preserve pair geometry and crosstalk performance.
RACK INSTALLATION AND LAYOUT
We install standard 19-inch server racks and cabinets, levelled and bolted to the floor for seismic and safety compliance. Rack layout follows the hot-aisle/cold-aisle principle: server fronts (cold air intakes) face inward toward the cold aisle, while the rear exhaust ports face the hot aisle where return air is captured by the cooling system.
This alternating row arrangement prevents hot and cold air from mixing, which is the single most effective airflow management technique in any server environment. Industry data shows that proper hot/cold aisle containment reduces cooling energy consumption by 20 to 40 percent compared to uncontained layouts.
POWER DISTRIBUTION AND PROTECTION
Each rack receives dedicated Power Distribution Units (PDUs) fed from an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). We size UPS capacity to the actual measured load plus a growth margin, and install automatic transfer switches where generator backup is specified.
Earthing and bonding follows the TIA-607 telecommunications grounding standard. A Telecommunications Main Grounding Busbar (TMGB) connects to the building ground, and Telecommunications Grounding Busbars (TGBs) are installed at each rack row or server room zone. All metallic cable trays, racks, and enclosures are bonded to this system.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Server rooms require temperature sensors at three points per rack (top, middle, and bottom) to catch hot spots before they cause hardware failure. ASHRAE recommends maintaining inlet air temperatures between 18 and 27 degrees Celsius for standard IT equipment.
We integrate environmental monitoring sensors for temperature, humidity, water leak detection, and door access into a centralised alerting system. This allows facilities teams to respond to threshold breaches before they escalate into outages.
SERVER ROOM BUILDS
A well-designed server room protects your hardware investment, optimises cooling efficiency, and simplifies ongoing maintenance. We build server environments to ANSI/TIA-942 data centre infrastructure standards, covering everything from rack placement and power distribution to airflow containment and environmental monitoring.
Build Scope Includes
- check_circle 19-inch rack installation and levelling
- check_circle Hot/cold aisle containment design
- check_circle PDU and UPS integration
- check_circle TIA-607 earthing and bonding
- check_circle Structured cable routing within racks
- check_circle Environmental monitoring sensors
- check_circle Access control and security
- check_circle As-built documentation and labelling
NETWORK DESIGN AND PLANNING
Every installation begins with a thorough design phase. We translate your business requirements into a documented network architecture that accounts for current bandwidth demand, future growth, redundancy targets, and compliance with South African telecommunications regulations administered by ICASA.
Get a QuoteSITE SURVEYS
Our engineers conduct a physical walkthrough of every floor and building included in the project scope. We document existing cable pathways, measure distances between distribution points, assess structural obstacles (walls, ceilings, risers), and photograph current infrastructure conditions.
The survey output includes annotated floor plans, a preliminary cable route map, and a scope summary that defines the number of network points, fibre runs, equipment rooms, and power requirements.
TOPOLOGY DESIGN AND IP ADDRESSING
We produce logical and physical network topology drawings showing the hierarchical layout of core, distribution, and access layers. IP addressing schemes are planned using a structured method where each VLAN maps to a clearly defined subnet, and address ranges are allocated to support efficient route aggregation.
Typical VLAN segmentation includes separate broadcast domains for management traffic, user workstations, servers, VoIP handsets, guest access, IoT and building management devices, and security systems. Segmenting traffic this way limits the blast radius of security incidents, controls broadcast storm propagation, and simplifies compliance auditing.
QoS AND CAPACITY PLANNING
Quality of Service (QoS) policies are defined during the design phase to prioritise latency-sensitive traffic such as VoIP and video conferencing over bulk data transfers. We specify DSCP markings, queue weights, and bandwidth reservations that align with business-critical application requirements.
Capacity planning models current device counts, anticipated user growth, and application bandwidth profiles to determine uplink sizing between access and distribution switches, as well as WAN circuit requirements. The design document includes a port schedule, equipment bill of materials, and a project timeline.
WI-FI 6 AND WI-FI 6E (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) introduces OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), which allows a single access point to serve multiple clients simultaneously on the same channel. Combined with BSS Colouring to reduce co-channel interference and Target Wake Time for improved power efficiency, Wi-Fi 6 significantly increases throughput in high-density environments like open-plan offices, warehouses, and conference centres.
Wi-Fi 6E extends these capabilities into the 6 GHz band, adding up to seven additional 160 MHz channels that are free from legacy device congestion. The 6 GHz spectrum has different propagation characteristics, meaning access point density planning must be adjusted accordingly during the design phase.
RF SITE SURVEYS AND HEAT MAPPING
Radio wave propagation is difficult to predict in non-open-space environments. We perform both predictive RF modelling (using floor plans and material attenuation data) and post-installation validation surveys with professional tools such as Ekahau or TamoGraph to verify real-world coverage.
Heat maps visualise signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, channel overlap, and data rate distribution on a colour-coded floor plan. Green zones confirm strong coverage, while red or orange areas flag dead zones or co-channel interference that need remediation through access point repositioning, power adjustment, or additional hardware.
ACCESS POINT DEPLOYMENT
Access points are mounted at surveyed locations and cabled back to PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches, eliminating the need for separate power runs to each AP. We support both controller-based architectures (where a central controller manages AP firmware, security policies, and roaming handoffs) and cloud-managed platforms for distributed multi-site deployments.
Final configuration includes SSID assignment, VLAN mapping, band steering, channel and power optimisation, and client roaming thresholds. We validate seamless roaming across all access points before handover.
WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE
Reliable wireless coverage requires more than mounting access points on the ceiling. We engineer Wi-Fi networks from the ground up using RF site surveys, predictive heat mapping, and validated access point placement to eliminate dead zones and co-channel interference across your facility.
Wireless Standards Supported
NETWORK AUDITS AND ASSESSMENTS
You cannot manage what you have not measured. Our network audits provide a complete picture of your physical cabling infrastructure, including cable grades, link performance, port utilisation, and documentation gaps, so you can make informed decisions about upgrades, relocations, or new deployments.
Book an AuditCABLE CERTIFICATION TESTING
We use Fluke Networks DSX CableAnalyzer instruments, which carry Intertek (ETL) Level 2G verification to the ANSI/TIA-1152-A accuracy specification. The DSX certifies every copper link against the applicable TIA-568 or ISO/IEC 11801 test limit in approximately 8 seconds per link, measuring insertion loss, return loss, near-end crosstalk (NEXT), power-sum NEXT (PSNEXT), alien crosstalk (where applicable), propagation delay, and wire map.
Each link receives a pass or fail result against the selected standard. Marginal passes are flagged for review. All results are exported to Fluke LinkWare PC software, producing a professional certification report that serves as proof of compliance for warranty claims and regulatory purposes.
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT
Beyond individual cable tests, our audit traces every active and inactive link across the site. We map cable routes, identify undocumented or abandoned cabling, verify patch panel assignments against the cable register, and record the grade and condition of every installed segment.
Port utilisation analysis identifies how many switch ports are active versus available, highlighting capacity bottlenecks or over-provisioned areas. For fibre infrastructure, OTDR testing measures end-to-end attenuation, splice loss, and connector reflectance to confirm the optical link budget is within specification.
DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING
The final audit deliverable is a comprehensive report covering: cable type and grade per link, measured test results with pass/fail status, updated floor plans showing cable routes, a complete cable register with port-to-port mapping, port utilisation statistics, and a prioritised list of remediation recommendations.
This documentation is valuable for property acquisitions, lease transfers, insurance assessments, pre-upgrade planning, and ongoing IT asset management.
THE ENGINEERING PROCESS
SURVEY
Physical site walkthrough, floor plan review, cable pathway assessment, and load analysis to define the full project scope and design parameters.
DESIGN
Network topology drawings, cable schedule, IP addressing plan, equipment bill of materials, and project timeline submitted for client review and approval.
INSTALL
Certified engineers execute the installation following health, safety, and quality control protocols. All cable runs, terminations, and rack work are completed to standard.
CERTIFY
Full cable certification testing with Fluke DSX instruments. Test reports, as-built drawings, and a complete cable register are issued on handover.
READY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR NETWORK FOUNDATION?
Our network engineering team serves businesses across Pretoria, Johannesburg, Centurion, Midrand, and the broader Gauteng region. Contact us to schedule a no-obligation site assessment and receive a detailed proposal for your infrastructure project.