WiFi

Smart Buildings & IOT

Care Homes, Healthcare, Hospitality, Hotels, Our Services, SME's, Telecoms, WiFi March 16, 2023

Ayo Smart Building Technology

With the surge of demand for increases in efficiencies by developers and businesses themselves, carbon emission reductions, and wholly-unified workplaces, commercial buildings are fast-becoming more intelligent. Rather than just delivering technology to individuals/contents within a building, Smart Buildings have this technology embedded into their fabric. Developers and construction firms are fast becoming aware of this new state of affairs, and most are now implementing preparation for such technologies into their build specifications. The main four derived drivers of Smart Buildings include Technology, Integration, Flexibility and Longevity (Chinnelli, 2020).

The huge rise in Smart Buildings and Smart Technology implementation is driven by a variety of factors – these could be categorised by economic, technological, and energy efficiencies. For example, energy consumption of the building itself – with HVAC systems, heating, lighting and power usage is monitored and automated autonomously, ultimately helping to reduce both the carbon consumption of the building, cost of electricity and heating.

Ayo Smart Building

Each coloured dot can be matched with a use-case in the example environment above

Voice & Data ^◉

Wireless ◉

Security ◉

Building Mgt (BMS) ◉

Sensors ◉

Lighting ◉

A/V ◉

Backbone/Supporting Infrastructure ◉

A large driving factor of Smart Buildings of course comes down to rapid acceleration of new technologies – notably data cable. From the 1990’s data cable was used merely for data/connectivity transfer at rates of no more than 10mbps – we’re now at a point in time where data cables can achieve 1,000 x this speed, 15-20 X frequencies, and even power devices at the other end with the same cable. In the last 5 years, authorities have passed much higher powers (W/Watts) of data cable, opening the door for an even greater range of technology it can power. Thus, the evolution of the data cable, in terms of network capabilities and also improvements in power capabilities, has bridged a lot of the gaps that would have made today’s ‘Smart Building’ look an impossibility even 10 years ago.

As you may know, our Hosted Telecoms solutions can be powered by the network cable which serves them. Through use of PoE (Power Over Ethernet) fibre cabling throughout a building, combined with the systems mentioned above, examples such as office lighting can be powered and regulated by a central unit (in network cabinet), with the power consumption over PoE sitting at around 75% less than that of standard electrical cables, and the PoE-enabled lighting lasting 25 X longer than standard incandescent lighting (Primex, 2018).

Survey

However, in terms of existing commercial buildings where this smart technology is just as applicable and vital, there is still a huge lack of even basic fibre-optic or high-performance data cabling. Of course, it’s far more straightforward implementing such technology into a ‘new build’, than it is overhauling an existing building – but it can be done, with the correct survey, planning and experience. The problem for many is that given most buildings without such existing technology and structured cabling were built before much of this technology was ever a consideration, their construct and architecture is rarely forgiving or accommodative for such implementation – thus in-depth surveys (occasionally with the expertise of a QS if warranted), robust planning and some ultra-lateral thinking are some of the essential requirements when carrying out such a project. In terms of planning for both WLAN & LAN network, we’d carry out an on-site survey of the building to ascertain the general structure & architecture, from here we’d investigate the best placement and routes for cable runs & carry out network testing in order to achieve network heat maps to work from.

If you’d like to discuss Smart Building technology further, please find more information here.

Deploying WLAN in Healthcare – What to consider.

Care Homes, Dental Practices, GP Practices, Healthcare, WiFi November 18, 2022

The surge in delivering Healthcare services digitally is by definition, accelerating the demand for robust Wireless Networks and Smart Infrastructure Technology. Since 2019, we’ve seen a rapid acceleration in clinical staff’s utilisation of mobile devices (tablets, handheld devices etc) through a variety of sectors – namely in GP Practices, Care Homes and Hospital environments. Of course, whilst the demand continues to increase, delivery should ensure multiple key elements are considered effectively.

In this blog we’ll run-through some of the main considerations when reviewing a WLAN/Wireless network deployment in healthcare facilities – weighed up with the common problems experienced in such environments. It goes without saying that Wireless Infrastructure (WLAN) deployments in most, if not all, healthcare environments are of critical importance – and will ultimately serve as the basis for staff to carry out critical day-to-day tasks using a variety of pieces of technology. With this in mind, in-depth consideration to planning and deployment should be given, ensuring the system’s Operational, Functional and Security elements are fulfilled.

Common Problems

Poor Planning

An all-too common issue we come across at problematic healthcare sites is that incremental changes have been implemented to the network over time – this can actually be more of a hinderance than improvement. As we’ll mention, ensuring the infrastructure is operated from a central ‘host’, ensures confluence is achieved on the network, reducing the probability of problems arising.

Poor Configuration

Consideration to the type of devices using the network, their use etc have always been an important consideration. Smart Televisions will now operate on the WLAN, even Coffee machines – this makes planning and ensuring all devices required on the wireless network are catered for. Further to this, having multiple platforms and peripherals of which the LAN/WLAN operates from can cause problems – we see this commonly, and can result in conflicts on the network, and delays in the troubleshooting process.

Poor Design

The placement of Access Points throughout a large site is paramount to ensuring wide-spread coverage at optimal levels of speed & performance, however there are multiple ways of mitigating problems by ‘splitting’ the network. For example, the installation of Cat 6/Cat 6a outlets throughout the premises can increase reliance on the LAN network, taking strain from the WLAN (office computers, laptops etc).

Full-Building Coverage

Placement & Coverage

The placement of Access Points is key to ensuring all intended users can achieve strong performance and consistency wherever they are situated in the building. Healthcare environments tend to involve slightly different planning for WLAN to your average office, for example. Staff tend to be ‘on the move’, roaming the building whilst still requiring consistent access to the internet. In order to ensure consistent and high performance connections are achieved equally, measures such as Data Outlets can be installed where staff have fixed devices (desktop/laptop computers) – this can ultimately reduce the ‘strain’ on the overall network itself.

Full-Building WiFi Survey

Planning for Performance

As with any WLAN deployment, planning is essential. An on-site survey of the building itself, taking into account a variety structural and architectural factors with the outcome/use case in mind is key to a well-performing network with longevity. Not only is the performance of the WLAN tested at this stage, but the deployment plan itself – structured cabling, server/cabinet locations and more need to be decided at the beginning of the process in order to ensure each section flows efficiently when the deployment commences. Our surveys also include structural cabling reports, of which we ultimately liaise with the customer on.

Smart Building Use Cases

Building a Robust & Versatile WiFi/WLAN Network

Security

The critical nature of the tasks & processes carried out over WiFi in healthcare environments makes security paramount. With the wide span of devices now used in such environments, there are a lot more areas to cover. Web Filters, Segmenting and other such measures can help mitigate such risks.

Hardware Planning

What devices are using the network? Desktop PC’s, commercial tablet/handheld devices, will you allow BYOD for personal use?

Network Configuration

Ensuring critical devices have a reliable and consistent connection. If devices in the environment are all connecting to one singular network, serious problems can occur as a result of the imbalance. For example, patients streaming Netflix on the same network nursing staff are trying to input/receive critical data could have serious consequences.

Maintenance/Management

What devices are using the network? Desktop PC’s, commercial tablet/handheld devices, will you allow BYOD for personal use? Ensuring systems are confluent from the ground up is key to mitigating issues on the network. By this, we mean ensuring the devices in-use in the environment are compatible with the equipment & infrastructure hosting the network.

Performance

Further to our points above on Configuration, there are more direct measures that can be taken. ‘RBAC’ (Role Based Access Control) is a tool we often use, whereby critical device’s connections can be prioritised on the network, as well as enhanced security on the connection between the device and the WiFi/WLAN.

Existing Infrastructure

Where are you looking to deploy your Wireless network? In new-builds, generally structured cabling and network outlets are installed as part of the development process, not afterward. If you’re replacing existing AP’s, or installing in a building without much structured cabling/network backbone, Structured Cabling will need to be taken into account.

What other measures are taken to ensure maximum Up-Time and Stability?

Emergency Power Backup

On most customer’s sites involved in critical activities, such as Care Homes, Private Hospitals, GP Practices and more, we’ll install an emergency back-up source of power for all systems. In doing so, in the event of a power-outage, the site’s full Phone, WiFi & IT Systems can continue to operate during this critical period, with no downtime.

Full-Building Power Continues

Downtime isn’t something we like at Ayo, nor would we wish to allow it for our customers. As soon as ‘mains’ power is not recognised, our systems automatically switch to industrial-grade battery power systems. In this scenario, our backup power systems are not linked with ‘mains’ power in the building – given most of our networking systems run on ‘PoE’ or Power over Ethernet, the main ‘Switch Box’ in the network cabinet powering all equipment and peripherals switches over to a backup power system, which in turn serves all connected devices via the network cable connecting them (generally Cat 6/Cat 6a).

Okay so it’s powered, what about connectivity?

So, we’ve covered the details on power outages and downtime in that sense – how does the connectivity (internet, phone lines) continue if the incoming lines are affected also? Given network provider cabinets in the street (the dark green ones) also run on ‘mains’ power, the problem isn’t fully-solved with backup power sources on-site, as these lines also generally fail in the result of a power outage. As part of our emergency backup system packages, we’ll also install a 4G/5G medium in the network cabinet, which also takes-over all systems seamlessly in the event the incoming lines are down.

If you’d like to discuss the process of WLAN/WiFi installation in your healthcare environment, leave your details below and we’ll call you.

How to prepare your business for Gigabit

Our Services, SME's, Technical Issues, WiFi January 3, 2022

In the past year, Gigabit installations (or FTTP/Fibre to the premises) have surged – largely down to the push and assistance from government, along with more consumer-friendly pricing options. As mentioned in our previous (blog), there are a whole host of benefits of installing Gigabit internet in your business – however there are some areas of upgrade to take into consideration also.

If you’re in a larger building, such as a Hotel, Care Home, Warehouse, large office, GP practice or other, it’s likely you’ll have some form of structured cabling throughout the building. This may be for phone system, desktop computer, or WiFi connections – if the cabling installation was carried out before the last couple of years, it’s likely it could be ‘Category 5’ cabling. Cat 5 cabling was great in its time, capable of speeds of up to 100mbps, however this is the maximum speed the cable can carry, meaning the benefits from a new Gigabit internet connection would not be realised by the end-user. Category 6 cabling (Cat 6) is the minimum level of cabling we deploy on projects, meaning even if the customer doesn’t yet have speeds of 1,000mbps+, when this does become available to them they can utilise the full benefits on all devices throughout the building. Whilst most consideration when installing Gigabit internet is down to the speeds, local availability, provider and pricing, the devices of which its use is intended along with the infrastructure within the building are all, of course, just as important.

Devices

Desktop PC’s, Laptops and other such devices may also not perform to their full potential with a Gigabit internet connection. You can check the capabilities of your device through ‘settings > control panel > network card’, which will indicate the speeds it’s capable of. Again, if the network card of your PC or Laptop is only capable of a maximum of 150mbps, this is the top speed you’ll be able to realise on the device – even with a Gigabit internet subscription. So, if you’re considering having a Gigabit internet connection installed in your premises, considerations of hardware on-site, such as devices mentioned above, is paramount in order to achieve a future-proofing solution across the board, and that all members of staff can benefit from the increased productivity and efficiency on their own devices.

WiFi Network

The WiFi access points (which emit the WiFi signal throughout the building) need to be capable of Gigabit speeds in order to realise the full speeds & bandwidth of your new Gigabit internet connection. Generally speaking, access points produced pre-2019 will be unlikely capable of catering for Gigabit speeds, and are generally not capable of more than 200/300mbps. So, whether you have access points in your building currently, or you’re choosing a provider to install them, the first point to check is the speed & bandwidth the system is capable of. All access points & networking equipment we install is capable of ‘WiFi 6’ or Gigabit speeds.

Structured Cabling

This depends on the form of cabling throughout your building – is it standard ethernet, Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6?

Cat 5 cabling is capable of speeds of up to 100mbps – this is the cap, so regardless of whether you have 1,500mbps Gigabit speeds coming into the premises, this can’t be distributed at this level on Cat 5….the maximum is 100mbps.

Cat 5e cabling is capable of speeds of up to 1,000mbps…again, if your incoming internet connection is capable of speeds upward of this, you will not realise any benefit above 1,000mbps.

Cat 6 cabling is capable of up to 10,000mbps (within a certain distance), which in terms of UK standards, the installation of which can be recognised as very securely future-proof. As the government ‘rolls-out’ gigabit internet, along with multiple providers, speeds are greatly increasing across the country. The maximum frequency of Cat6 is capped at 250MHz.

Cat 6a cabling is capable of up to 10,000mbps (the same as Cat6, in this respect), and has a maximum frequency of 500MHz.

So, overall when deciding on making the move to Gigabit internet for your business, there are undoubtedly many benefits of doing so – both in terms of staff performance, efficiency and overall business success. As mentioned, there are a couple of considerations to take into account to ensure once your new solution is deployed, it can make a difference to your business in all intended areas.

If you’re interested in utilising the benefits of Gigabit internet with Ayo, let us know your details below and we’ll call you right back.

How will Gigabit benefit your business?

SME's, Telecoms, WiFi December 5, 2021

Ayo Telecom is a full-fledged unified provider of Gigabit internet for businesses in the UK. We offer Gigabit solutions, from start to finish – from initial site surveys, installation & monthly hosting and billing from there on.

To explain some of the technical terms you may have seen when browsing up to now, such as ‘FTTC’, ‘FTTP’, ‘Leased Line’, ‘Gigabit’ etc it can understandably get a bit overwhelming….we’ll lay all of this out for you, and explain the multiple benefits of Gigabit internet for your business.

Most Gigabit offerings run on ‘fibre’ technology, across the fibre network. The main broadband providers in the UK typically provide homes and businesses with ‘FTTC‘, which is Fibre to the cabinet – in this situation, the fibre connection runs to the roadside cabinets and is then run into homes via a regular telephone connection. The other form of this is ‘FTTP‘, Fibre to the premises, whereby the fibre connection doesn’t stop at the cabinet, but is physically connected directly to the home/business premises. In this situation, speeds are no longer capped at around 100mbps, and can reach upward of 1Gbps.

What are the benefits?

Video Conferencing

Gigabit unlocks far quicker & clearer video conferencing capabilities. If you’ve struggled with Audio/Visual distortion, running concurrent calls in your office or other such frustrating & time-consuming issues – higher speeds & bandwidth eradicate these.

Boost productivity

Each minute an employee spends waiting for something to load is a minute paid by your business…and as more businesses implement further digitalisation deeper into their business, the cost of a poor internet connection gets even greater. Poor internet connections are responsible for 8% of employee time and inactivity each year (Accucode, 2019).

Reduced latency

Latency refers to how long it takes for a signal to travel to its destination and back. High latency can directly cause freezing and distortion of video calls, online streaming, and even general internet browsing.

Most Gigabit offerings run on ‘fibre’ technology, across the fibre network. The main broadband providers in the UK typically provide homes and businesses with ‘FTTC’, which is Fibre to the cabinet – in this situation, the fibre connection runs to the roadside cabinets and is then run into homes via a regular telephone connection. The other form of this is ‘FTTP’, Fibre to the premises, whereby the fibre connection doesn’t stop at the cabinet, but is physically connected directly to the home/business premises. In this situation, speeds are no longer capped at around 100mbps, and can reach upward of 1Gbps.

So, what is Gigabit internet, and how can it help my business? Gigabit is essentially the same as any other internet/broadband service – just a lot faster! As we move into a new age of technology, with more intensive use of the internet with the likes of VOIP phone calls, 4K video streaming and video conferencing, higher speeds & bandwidth become all the more necessary.

If you’re now considering implementing Gigabit to improve your day-to-day business operations, leave your details below and we’ll call you back!

Full WiFi Coverage for your Care Home

Care Homes, WiFi May 31, 2020

The older generation are becoming more ‘tech-savvy’ than ever before, and this comes with an increasing need for a reliable internet connection. Keeping up-to-date with the news and current affairs, speaking to distant family over the likes of Skype or FaceTime, and just generally feeling more connected with the outside world.

Offering WiFi in care homes is an increasingly important deciding factor for many families looking for care for their loved ones, and surprisingly, only 1 in 5 care homes in the UK actually offer all residents a reliable WiFi connection! Gain a massive competitive advantage, and Unique Selling Point for your business, and transform the service you can offer your residents.

Common problems we come across in Care Homes across the UK, include coverage, speed and expenditure on Telecoms & Internet. These are the three things we aim for, and regularly vastly improve on when dealing with Care Home operators. The chances are, if you’ve not yet switched over to an Internet-Based phone system, you are over-paying – we streamline, reduce and simplify existing infrastructure, and perhaps most importantly, bills!

Free Site Survey of your Care Home, to ensure Maximum Connectivity & Efficiency throughout your building(s).

Site surveys are highly important when reviewing a Care Home for WiFi infrastructure. There are multiple factors that must be taken into account, as to ensure the final installed infrastructure excels in its requirements.

The number of residents, size of the building, any coverage-reducing features such as thick, stone walls and other such factors must all be taken into consideration. We offer a a full site-survey for Care Homes, in order to ensure you receive the tailor-made service and seamless installation and operation that you deserve.

Ensure all residents and staff have access to a reliable and strong internet connection, throughout your building. Our systems ensure that any of our systems installed, will work to its maximum efficiency throughout your building(s), and that all intended users can utilise its benefits. As displayed above, we can offer custom networks for Staff, Residents and Visitors, allowing you to ensure everyone get’s to benefit from full WiFi in your Care Home.

So, what is ‘Full WiFi Coverage’?

The graphic below displays the typical WiFi coverage we come across in Care Homes or Assisted Living facilities, whereby the only WiFi offering in the building is a network-issued router. These can work well, but only if it’s connection is required in the office, or a small area.

Below displays full WiFi coverage, with each blue circle representing an Access Point. As opposed to the network-issued WiFi router, the Access Points are strategicall-placed throughout the building to ensure maximum connectivity throughout, allowing Staff, Residents and Visitors full connectivity wherever they may be in the building.

Introducing software doesn’t need to be a headache!

Have you considered implementing Care Planning & Management software in your Care Home? We hear a lot of Care Home managers and owners floating the idea of introducing such software into their business, but most are concerned with cost, and other factors that need to be considered – such as a full-building WiFi solution as so the software can operate at its full potential. However, it doesn’t need to be a costly experience – in fact, many of our customers have managed to implement software, commercial-grade devices to operate, and full-building WiFi for either not much more, or less than what they were paying before (for Telecom & Broadband). Our systems are fully-compatible with the main software providers in the UK, listed below, ranging from commercial-grade mobile-devices, tablet computers to laptops. For more details on introducing software to your Care Home, please click here.

So to summarise, what are the main benefits of full WiFi coverage in a Care Home?

If you’re interested in a Free Site Survey, to see how can help you implement Full WiFi coverage at your Care Home, simply leave some details below and we’ll get right back to you.

WiFi for Hotels

Hospitality, WiFi October 6, 2019

Demand for WiFi is ever-increasing with hotel guests, of all ages. Outdated systems & networks for WiFi in hotels has led to a drop in their reliability, and ultimately guest experience. But it’s actually a surprisingly simple process of reviewing & upgrading this – even more surprisingly it can be cost-effective with Ayo Streamline.

Furthermore, Guest’s uses of WiFi has changed significantly, even over the past decade. At one point their requirements used to be simply downloading emails, and general light browsing of the internet – now most want to be able to stream videos or movies, on the likes of Netflix, or even Live Sports. In considering a new WiFi system for your hotel, the kit itself is not just the most important, but how the devices in your building are structured, and planned-out can have just as much influence on variables such as speed & bandwidth than a good, solid network. This is where our Free Site Survey comes in.

What are the benefits of having full WiFi coverage in your hotel?

What are the common problems of WiFi in hotels?

As you can see above, the router issued by a broadband provider in the UK is only reaching a small area of the hotel (around the office). This is clearly insufficient in providing fully-fledged WiFi access for guests.

If you’d like to discuss achieving full WiFi coverage in your hotel, leave your details below and we’ll call you back

WiFi Boosters vs. Access Points

Care Homes, GP Practices, Healthcare, Hospitality, WiFi September 6, 2018

So, you’re looking at a WiFi solution for your business?

There’s all sorts of ‘jargon’ to get your head round, including ‘routers’, ‘boosters’, ‘ethernet’, ‘Cat5’, yeah? In this blog, we’ll briefly outline the differences between WiFi Boosters, and Hard-Wired Ayo WiFi Access Points.

WiFi ‘Boosters’, or ‘Range Extenders’, are small, plug-in devices (pictured above), that’s main intention is to ‘extend’ a WiFi connection to a further area of a building. These are okay, for home use, with minimal connected devices, and for someone who doesn’t want structured cabling involved.

However…the problem with Boosters/Range-Extenders, is that it essentially ‘talks’ in two directions…i.e., it takes the router signal, then projects it for other devices to pick-up. This ultimately halves the projected signal to the other devices, and can cause up to 50% (or more!) loss of speed, strength and bandwidth. For example, you may achieve 30mbps download speed, but devices connected to the Booster may only achieve around 15mbps, as well as lower bandwidth and overall strength. Ultimately, Boosters or Range Extenders are a ‘quick’ and temporary fix for homes, and are not an appropriate solution for larger buildings and businesses, such as Care Homes, Hotels etc.

As standard, we carry-out a survey of your building(s) to ensure the most efficient solution is proposed. We will carry-out range checks from every applicable location in the building, and locate Access Points in required areas, for maximum efficiency & effectiveness.

WiFi Access Points, are essentially hard-wired throughout your building, straight to the router. Each Access Point is connected via structured cabling (RJ45/Cat5), throughout your building, allowing for 100% of Speed, Bandwidth and Strength to be transferred throughout. The beauty of WiFi Access points, include guaranteed 100% connectivity throughout your building, with no loss of Speed, Bandwidth or Strength, with the user’s device automatically connecting to the nearest available access point as they travel throughout the building