R&M is a leading producer of copper and fiber-optic solutions. Nabil Khalil, Executive Vice President R&M Middle East, Turkey & Africa discusses some of the highlights of the company’s innovative cabling solutions and how they are making strong inroads in terms of customer deployments

Elaborate on highlights of the current year so far?

Our focus in 2016 has been on R&M Netscale solution that we launched earlier this year. Netscale is the world’s highest-density fiber cable management solution, and the first to feature integrated intelligent infrastructure management functionality. Designed as an ultra-high density platform that utilizes the smallest diameter uniboot patch cord for minimal cabling bulk, this solution boasts up to 67% higher density than its competitors and promises to eliminate a host of cable management problems that plague data centres today. Its combination of market leading features saves considerable amounts of -costly- space at large companies in the financial, pharma, colocation and telecom segments as well as edge data centres.

Currently available high-density fiber solutions for data centers generally offer up to 72 LC duplex ports per rack unit and pose great difficulties for management. Thanks to R&MinteliPhy technology, Netscale delivers a density of up to 80 RFID-monitored LC duplex or MTP ports, and even 120 standard LC duplex or MTP ports per rack unit. Innovative rear-cabling management makes it easy to manage connections, alleviating risk during MACs and migrations. Modular components and best-in-class network scalability makes it possible to accommodate the unique infrastructure requirements of each data center.

In edge data centers, Netscale’s unmatched density makes it possible to consolidate all PoP servers into 1U housing, leaving more space for switching/routing gear. The high density allows colocation providers to minimize meet-me-room footprint, freeing up space for more racks and switches.

Discuss your focus on the FTTH segment in the region and some key projects completed this year?

We have established ourselves as the leading and preferred vendor for Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Networks by the regional operators. As a result of this, we have had a significant amount of success in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

This year, we are focusing on our SYNO dome closure solution, a product designed to give network operators more freedom for FTTx projects. The SYNO dome closure is revolutionizing the assembly process. A modular system for cable entries eliminates the laborious task of threading fiber optic cables through the closure bottom plate. This product from R&M dispenses with time-consuming sealing using shrink tubes. Instead, integrated blocks made from the company’s own SYNO gel seal the splice closure.

With the new SYNO dome closure, the fiber optic cables are inserted laterally, doing away with the need to thread them through the closure bottom plate. The cable entries can be opened, closed, changed, and retrofitted in just a few simple steps. The cable bays and individual cables remain freely accessible, meaning that the dome closure can be modified or fitted with additional fiber optic cables even during network operations.

The SYNO gel technology developed by R&M is an innovation for mechanical cold sealing. When the cable entry is sealed, gel surrounds each cable, preventing dust and moisture from getting in. Fluctuating temperatures, mechanical loads, or water pressure cannot damage the dome-end splice in any way.

As an example of our success in the FTTH market, one of the UAE’s largest oil companies has begun investing in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. One of their undertakings has been building a massive complex of 40 residential buildings to accommodate the staff. To provide the very latest and best connectivity, Etisalat’s compliant FTTH cabling is being installed in all the buildings with a total number of data/telephone points exceeding 38,000 Cat6 points. The end-to-end Cat6 and FTTH cabling solution was procured from R&M in Q4 2015. The cabling project execution began in the second half of Q2 2016 and is expected to be completed in a year.

Elaborate on your partner collaboration/ enablement strategy in the region in terms of deploying turnkey solutions such as for the datacenter segment?

R&M’s partners are vital to its success. Besides our local presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, we also have an extensive network of partners that enables us to serve our customers in Bahrain, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and Tanzania.

Enablement of these partners is also key to our strategy. We support and encourage professionals in network technology and structured cabling with our Qualified Partner Program (QPP). It enables them to increase their expertise and the quality of their projects and deliver turnkey solutions which in turn helps them gain satisfied customers.

The global network of qualified and certified R&M partners gives customers competent, professional advice on site, provides the ideal cabling solution pursuant to ISO/IEC 11801, EN 50173-x and TIA/EIA 568-x as well as offers a compelling and unique Warranty Program, covering 5 years product, 25 years System and lifelong application warranty

With QPP, R&M ensures multinational customers the same high quality standard worldwide.

Besides the datacenter, which are your major segments of focus?

We develop and manufacture passive cabling solutions for high-quality communication networks (Layer 1) which contribute significantly to operational reliability and safety in voice, data and video transmission systems worldwide. While we enjoy great success in the data center market, our high performance cabling solutions are also used extensively in offices, by network operators, in homes and in industry.

In terms of market segments, we serve a broad range of industry verticals including petrochemical, infrastructure, security services, telecom, finance, education, healthcare, hospitality, automotive and utilities.

Comment on any recent success story regionally for R&MinteliPhy in terms of customer deployments?

In Saudi Arabia, McDonald’s selected R&M, well-known for its innovative Swiss-quality cabling solutions in order to ensure its new data center leverages with best physical connectivity solutions.

The technology highlight however is the R&MinteliPhy Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM) solution which has been used for real-time visibility as well as seamless monitoring and management of the entire physical network. With features such as easy and up-to-date documentation, remote man¬agement of infrastructure work orders and simplified asset management, R&MinteliPhy allows McDonald’s to better plan and manage future infrastructure expansions.

The R&MinteliPhy system was designed to allow full infrastructure management of McDonald’s data center and office cabling cabinets at their Head Office in Riyadh. With this system, a single analyzer at the end-of- row cabinet controls all cabinets in that row, which will help McDonald’s IT team to save critical space in the data center. The system is currently monitoring more than 1000 Cat. 6A and fiber optic links in the data center and is ready to be linked with remote locations as well for full future management.

At McDonald’s request, the R&MinteliPhy system was also used to monitor – via SNMP – other devices in the network for more integration with the Building Management System (BMS) and active equipment. A 25-year system warranty was provided to the customer after thorough testing and checking of all links. An extensive training with a strong focus on the R&MinteliPhy system was held for all the technical leaders as a part of R&M Academy.

Elaborate if you constantly update your solutions?

We continuously enhance our solutions to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of technology and we have already revised the solution multiple times since its initial release. Like previous releases, integration of the RFID-based R&MinteliPhy 4 platform offers users real-time visibility into the physical network infrastructure that connects IT assets in the data center. The latest release enables 3D modelling and rendering, reporting based on historical values of objects and changes made to objects, multi-factor TOTP authentication and automated cable length calculations.