Why Full Fibre is a game-changer for engineering & construction firms

From surveying, specification and inventory control to workflow management and CRM, every aspect of an engineering and construction project can be streamlined with advanced digital technology.

However, there’s one vital pre-requisite: a fast, stable internet connection. Without good connectivity, bandwidth-hungry hosted communications solutions and cloud computing apps simply won’t perform at optimum levels. And that means they’re unlikely to fully deliver the promised benefits, such as enhanced productivity, improved efficiency and better customer relationship management.

Many businesses are still relying on a hybrid solution of copper and fibre for internet connectivity. But that’s all about to change. With the forthcoming PSTN switch off in 2025, and the imminent Stop Sell of WLR-based services, businesses will need to migrate to All-IP. So, now’s the time for engineering and construction firms to look at new connectivity solutions, such as FTTP. It makes sense for them to act now and get themselves future-proofed with full fibre broadband, rather than waiting until the move is forced upon them.

Also known as fibre to the premises (FTTP), full fibre uses fibre optic cable to take the broadband all the way into a business premises, rather than stopping at the cabinet. That means it’s not only capable of carrying data at much faster speeds, it’s also much more resilient and reliable than legacy, copper-based connectivity solutions such as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) or ADSL.

Unlike copper, fibre optic cable isn’t affected by external forces such as bad weather or interference. What’s more, the signal strength doesn’t weaken over longer distances. Therefore, full fibre broadband is ideal for engineering and construction businesses that operate in large spaces or in remote locations.

Although FTTP isn’t as widely available as legacy broadband solutions, here at Giacom, we work with CityFibre, who are currently expanding their independent network in areas that aren’t yet served by Openreach, meaning you can serve your customers in more towns and cities across England.

The eye-catching feature of full fibre is that it delivers speeds of up to 1Gbps. However, it’s not just about being able to do things faster. It’s about being able to take full advantage of the exciting new world of hosted communications and cloud computing.

Why is this so important? The construction industry was relatively slow to realise the benefits of cloud computing. However, in recent years the rate of digital adoption has been soaring and many businesses now see investment in new technology as essential.

Cloud computing underpins key technology solutions in engineering and construction, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), project management apps and inventory management systems. With access to software via the Cloud, there’s no need for bespoke on-site IT infrastructure. All that’s needed is a fast, reliable internet connection. In addition, having a resilient full fibre connectivity solution at HQ means remote workers can reliably use 4G or 5G mobile connectivity to utilise the relevant software, as well as accessing and sharing real-time data.

Civil engineering and construction companies often share site plans and other large data files in digital format. Having a robust full fibre broadband connection enables large amounts of data to be uploaded and downloaded quickly, easily and securely.

Good communication is vital in the engineering and construction sector, not just between contractors and customers, but also internally. With a disparate workforce and complex reporting structure, often involving sub-contractors and associate companies, keeping everyone in the loop is a challenge, but without information being shared quickly and efficiency, costly errors or downtime could be the result.

Fast, reliable full fibre connectivity enables effective use of Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP). Full fibre can deliver the bandwidth to carry significant amounts of VoIP traffic, providing a stable connection across multiple channels and locations. That means enhanced communications capability, both internally and externally, with access to advance calling features such as instant messaging and call diversion from landlines to mobiles.

With VoIP powered by full fibre, office-based staff can share information and collaborate more effectively with workers on construction sites. In addition, VoIP can drive better customer engagement, providing the ability to respond more quickly to enquiries and deal with issues before they impact on agreed service levels or project benchmarks.

At Giacom, we provide Channel partners with industry-leading connectivity solutions suitable for any size of business in the engineering and construction sector. Combining experience and expertise with a straight-talking approach, we can provide a powerful platform to run hosted voice and cloud computing apps that delivers enhanced productivity and efficiency, at a competitive price. Now’s the time to make full fibre work for you and your customers.

Want to learn more about our FTTP portfolio, now including CityFibre? Get in touch with our teams today!