Joint FIA and ECA seminars bring fibre to the installer The Fibreoptic Industry Association and the Electrical Contractors’ Association have joined forces to present a cutting edge full day seminar covering the latest developments in fibre and wireless LAN technology, automated infrastructure and Gigabit Ethernet. With the presentations given by leading industry figures from the FIA, Optical Technology Training, Mayflex and The Siemon Company, the seminars, supported by BICSI, CableNet and others, will be of immense value to both new and experienced installers and end users alike. The seminar will be held in the Botanical Gardens Conference Centre, Birmingham, on 17 September and at the Institute of Directors, London, on 26 November. Delegate fees are £99 plus VAT. The seminar programme includes: * Legal issues. In addition to system-related issues such as documentation, testing and inspection, many will surprised to learn that there is a lot more to the installer’s and user’s legal obligations than perhaps was generally understood. * Intelligent connectivity management software enables the network manager to manage and monitor the physical layer and associated hardware, providing automated network mapping and information on moves and upgrades. This latest network management tool is fast becoming the “must-have” killer application. * Fibre-to-the-Desk has been the coming technology for some time. Has it now arrived? Is it still on its way? Do we in fact need it? Find out the latest status and thinking on this critical subject. * Paperwork is probably the biggest bugbear of most installers’ lives. Collecting, retaining, updating and distributing test results, drawings and documentation is a huge challenge. New technology can help: the familiar browser and a CD-ROM writer means that everyone, even the most computer-phobic, can organise their system data in such a way as to make it a big selling point with customers. Gain the extra edge over the competition by using the power of the PC. * Wireless networking under IEEE802.11b is rapidly increasing in popularity. There are issues and opportunities for both installers and users: security is a primary concern and the technology is currently limited to 11Mbps bandwidth over relatively small areas with a limited number of users. How will wireless coexist with cabled networks, now and in the future? * A user never complains about his workstation running too fast! As applications become ever more bandwidth-hungry, so IT managers have to consider their migration path to Gigabit and 10Gigabit Ethernet. The implications for fibre cable selection, installation, testing and overall network performance are enormous. For the installer, installation, testing and commissioning procedures are critical. A detailed overview of the opportunities and possible pitfalls. * The small form factor connector is here to stay. The final presentation reviews the various products currently available, the Standards position and looks forward to the next generation connector technology. Places on either seminar can be booked by contacting Nancy Satariano at the ECA, telephone 020 7313 4829, email nancy.satariano@eca.co.uk. *** Ends: body copy 496 words *** Notes to Editors. For further information: FIA commercial contact: Andrew Watson Commercial Director c/o Molex Premise Networks tel: 01489 572111 fax: 01489 559130 arwatson@molex.com FIA administrative contact: Jane Morrison Fibreoptic Industry Association The Manor House Buntingford SG9 9AB tel: 01763 273039 fax: 01763 273255 jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk www.fibreoptic.org.uk Agency contact: Nigel May Parkfield Parkfield House Damerham SP6 3HQ tel: 01725 518321 fax: 01725 518378 Nigel_May@parkfield.co.uk www.parkfield.co.uk The Fibreoptic Industry Association represents more than 80% of UK companies involved in the manufacture or installation of fibre optic components and systems for voice and data communications. The Association provides advice to end-users, runs training and qualification services for its members, contributes to the development of national and international standards and generally represents the interests of the fibre industry. Its web site, www.fibreoptic.org.uk provides a free online reference service to all visitors.