The Challenge

Over the last 30 years, various Tenant companies have installed PSTN, ISDN, Coaxial, FTTC and lately FTTP line plant for Telephone Systems, Fax machines, Alarm, Broadbands and Internets on individual floors leading to overfilled ducting, obsolete technology and heaps of redundant cabling, left by vacating firms. As staff now rely exclusively on ultra high-speed Internet i.e. more than 400Mbps upload to run WiFi, Hosted & AV systems, the building’s French Freeholder agreed to upgrade and centralise all the communication facilities in 2023 and improve the Internet’s reliability, as the FTTP services failed from time to time. There were other problems to be resolved, such as install a CCTV system which could be viewed remotely, crackly door entry and data cabinets using up valuable floor space. There were also multiple Telephone/IT processors using extra power, conflicting WiFi networks and importantly, there was no redundancy whatsoever, in the event of an Internet or power outage. By using high-quality equipment and with careful planning, all these issues could be resolved economically and relatively quickly.

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Our Solution

LCC organised 5 BT Fibre Engineers to install an armoured cable with 4 fibre cores from under a pavement manhole cover (known as a Silent Night) to Flat Iron House’s Data Rack, newly installed in the basement. Each core is capable of up to 10Gbps but only one was lit with 1Gbps upload and then layered with a large number of Static IP addresses for security for individual Tenants, who wished to pay for the Landlord’s new ultra high-speed service. One FTTP service was kept, as a little used Secondary back-up but in 2026, this was replaced by a 100Mbps Starlink and Extender unit for a truly redundant set-up, as Satellite units do not require any fibre cabling, contain embedded WiFi and can connect to a Battery.

After the 1Gbps Fibre went live, 2 WiFi Networks were installed across 6 floors including the popular roof terrace, where visitors and staff have lunch, take calls and work on laptops using the new WiFi and 240V power outlets in weatherproof housings. UTP cabling improved the entry phone call quality and fob access added at the same time. A Hikvision CCTV could now be viewed remotely and the alarm upgraded with PTSN Redcare service discontinued. Hosted IP Featurephones are in use by different Tenants along with LCC supplied MS Teams and Polycom handsets, for those who prefer desk phones. Even one of the Jura Bean to Cup machines is connected wirelessly and an App provided for staff who want a customised coffee!

There are no longer any copper based PSTN, ISDN or FTTC services, so the building is fully prepared for BT’s Digital Switchover by January 2027. Flat Iron House has 2 dedicated AV Conference Rooms fitting with 60” and 85” TV’s and also a Neat Bar Pro & Neat Centre is in regular use in LCC’s 1st Floor offices, with a trolley-mounted 40” TV for added versatility.

In the last 3 years, the Internet has been off once, lasting only a few minutes. Luckily, the building has not suffered a power cut but there is a small battery back-up unit to power the Fibre optic unit, PoE data switch, WiFi and Internet router for approximately 20-30 minutes if a severe outage ever happened.