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CAT 6 Installation in Birmingham

THE PROJECT
AT A GLANCE

Structured Cabling Infrastructure Case Study

TNS Comms was commissioned to deliver a CAT6 structured cabling installation in Birmingham for a food manufacturing company experiencing significant network performance issues.

 

Following an independent third-party audit of the organisation’s IT infrastructure, multiple faults were identified within the existing network cabling system. These issues were impacting network reliability and overall operational efficiency.

 

Our engineers were asked to review the audit findings, identify the root causes of the network failures, and deliver a complete remediation and upgrade of the site’s network infrastructure.

 

The project required the installation of high-quality CAT6 structured cabling, fibre connectivity between buildings, and a reconfiguration of the existing network environment to ensure long-term reliability.

Improving Network Reliability for a Birmingham Manufacturing Facility

The Birmingham-based organisation relies heavily on reliable network infrastructure to support production systems, office communications, and data access across the facility.

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However, the existing cabling infrastructure had deteriorated over time and had been poorly installed in several areas. As a result, the network suffered from intermittent faults, connectivity problems and unreliable data transmission.

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TNS Comms conducted a detailed assessment of the site and developed a solution to deliver a new structured cabling system designed to industry standards.

Key Project Goals

  • Provide connectivity between critical network areas

  • Improve connectivity across the main building and remote offices

  • Install additional data points to support expanding operations

  • Replace faulty or poorly installed cabling

  • Identify and resolve the causes of network performance issues

  • Deploy a high-performance CAT6 network cabling solution

Identifying Critical Infrastructure Issues

The third-party audit revealed several serious issues within the existing network infrastructure that were causing instability and performance degradation.

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During the assessment phase, the following problems were identified:

  • Data cabling installed alongside incoming three-phase electrical power cables

  • Network cables in poor condition with kinks and damaged sheathing

  • Internal-grade cabling being used externally across the building roof

  • Lack of structured cable management within the comms room

  • Insufficient data points to support the company’s growing operational needs

 

These issues not only caused connectivity problems but also presented long-term reliability risks for the organisation’s IT systems.

 

TNS Comms was tasked with developing a complete remediation plan to address these issues while upgrading the infrastructure to modern structured cabling standards.

Key facts

Our Approach

Designing a Structured CAT6 Network Solution

Following a detailed survey of the facility, our engineers proposed the installation of a Draka CAT6 structured cabling solution throughout the main building.

 

The proposed design would replace unreliable cabling with standards-compliant structured network infrastructure, ensuring consistent performance across the site.

 

The solution also included fibre optic connectivity between network locations, improving bandwidth and reducing network bottlenecks.

 

Once approved by the client, the TNS Comms engineering team began implementing the installation plan.

The primary element of the project involved the installation of a CAT6 structured cabling system across the organisation’s facility.

This installation provided reliable high-speed connectivity capable of supporting modern IT systems and future network growth.

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Key Installation Tasks:

  • Installation of Draka CAT6 network cabling throughout the main building

  • Installation and termination of data outlets

  • Deployment of structured cable pathways and containment

  • Structured patching within the comms room

A total of over 100 data points were installed across the facility to support operational systems and office connectivity.

Network Installation Activities

CAT6 Structured Cabling Deployment

Fibre Connectivity Between Buildings

Installing OM3 Fibre Infrastructure

To ensure reliable connectivity between separate areas of the site, TNS Comms also installed an external OM3 CST fibre optic cable between the main comms room and remote office areas.

This fibre link provided:

  • High-bandwidth connectivity

  • Improved network reliability

  • Reduced latency between network devices

 

Fibre Installation Activities

  • Installation of external OM3 CST grade fibre optic cable

  • Fibre routing between buildings

  • Fibre termination and presentation within cabinets

  • Fusion splicing of fibre optic cores

This fibre infrastructure created a robust backbone network capable of supporting high data throughput across the site.

Network Infrastructure Upgrades

Improving the Comms Room Environment

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Alongside the cabling installation, several improvements were made to the site’s network infrastructure.

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These changes ensured that the newly installed network could operate efficiently and remain manageable for the client’s IT team.

Additional Infrastructure Improvements​

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  • Repositioning of server cabinets and network equipment

  • Repatching of network switches

  • Cable management improvements within the comms room

  • Health checks carried out on existing hardware equipment

Testing and Certification

Once installation was complete, the entire structured cabling system underwent comprehensive testing.

All network cables were tested to confirm they met the performance standards expected of CAT6 structured cabling installations.

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Testing activities included:

  • Cable continuity testing

  • Performance verification

  • Patch panel connectivity testing

  • Fibre link verification

 

This process ensured the network was fully operational and ready to support business operations.

Project Outcome

The project was successfully delivered, enabling VX Fibre to expand connectivity across Stoke-on-Trent and offer symmetrical broadband speeds up to 1Gbps over the newly installed fibre optic network.

Network Faults Resolved​

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Critical cabling faults were identified and corrected, restoring stable network connectivity across the facility.

100+ Data Points Installed​

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Over 100 CAT6 network outlets were installed to support office systems and operational equipment.

Fibre Backbone Deployed​

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OM3 fibre optic cabling installed between buildings to provide a high-capacity backbone connection.

Improved Comms Room

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Network cabinets reorganised with improved patching, cable management and equipment layout.

Fully Tested

Network​

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All cabling was tested and certified to ensure reliable network performance.

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