Fibre Optic Cabling
Fibre backbone between floors, on site
Our office spans two floors and the link between the switches is slow and unreliable.
Our office spans two floors and the link between the switches is slow and unreliable.
Many multi-floor offices start with one copper cable dropped between switches, sometimes longer than Cat6 is rated for, sometimes shared with other tenants' trunking. Every device on the upper floor then depends on that single link. A fibre backbone through the riser gives a faster, more reliable uplink and leaves spare cores for a second connection or future growth. It also frees the copper run for other uses.
What the technician does
- Survey the riser and agree cabinet positions on each floor
- Install multimode fibre with enclosures and spare cores
- Fit SFP modules, bring up the uplink and record test results
Ask the building manager about access rules for the riser before booking - some buildings require an escort or a permit.
About fibre backbone between floors
We usually use OM4 multimode for runs inside a building, terminated with LC connectors in rack-mount fibre enclosures on each floor. Each core is tested with a light source and power meter, and the results are recorded. We fit SFP modules that match both the fibre and your switches, configure the uplink, and can add a second core pair as a redundant link.
What usually causes it
- Copper link between floors exceeds 100 metres
- Upstairs staff report slow file access and dropped calls
- Business has taken on a second floor in the same building
- Old cable in the riser was damaged during other building work
Before we arrive
- A site plan showing both ends of the link
- Details of any existing ducts, pits or conduit between buildings
- The make and model of the switches at each end
- Contact for the civil contractor if new trenching is planned
What a visit looks like
When you book fibre backbone between floors, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
Each fibre backbone between floors job is priced before work starts. The price depends on what's involved - the size of the site, the equipment, and whether parts are needed - so the quickest way to a number is to tell us about the job on the booking form.
There is no contract and no monthly fee. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
Fibre backbone between floors: questions
Do our switches support fibre?
Most business switches have SFP or SFP+ slots for fibre modules. If yours do not, a small fibre-capable switch or a media converter can be added at each end.
Why install spare cores?
The extra cost of more cores is small compared with pulling a second cable later. Spare cores allow a redundant link, a separate network for cameras or a future upgrade without returning to the riser.
Do you do fibre backbone between floors on site?
Yes. We come to businesses and homes across Auckland and Hamilton and do the work where the equipment is.
How much does fibre backbone between floors cost?
It depends on what's involved. Tell us about the job on the form and we'll confirm the price before any work starts.