Internet update

Citation

Nigel Almond, D. (2001), "Internet update", Property Management, Vol. 19 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/pm.2001.11319aag.001

Internet update

Picture the scene – a busy afternoon in the office, clients are demanding reports immediately. The IT network fails. The office turns into chaos, as files on the network cannot be accessed. Frustrating isn't it? Curse we may, but the reality is technology will continue to play an important part in the business world of the future. According to Cisco Systems:

One day, a business that is not on the Internet will not be in business (Cisco Systems, Annual Report, 1999).

Fact or myth, we are dependent on computers and their associated networks just as much as we are on the motor car. Within the property sector, the increasing dependence on new technologies is becoming apparent. Every week the regular property journals – Estates Gazette and Property Week – carry some story about the latest communications revolution. The buzzword these days seems to be broadband communications. There are compelling reasons why property professionals need to understand this technology. Businesses will need high-speed communications; video-conferencing demands the need to transmit large quantities of data across international barriers in a matter of seconds.

This means buildings need to have the necessary infrastructure. Property professionals will need to understand the technology and how to access it. Property managers, too, need to become aware of how the provision of high-speed communications could bring alternative sources of revenue – in addition to the traditional rent and service charge. But what is all this new technology?

The benefit of the WWW is that it is a great resource in providing information on the latest technology, and information can be gleaned from a variety of sources.

A useful starting point is the BBC news Web site (news.bbc.co.uk). This is a great resource and has been discussed in detail previously. Taking the business section and then the business basics link displayed under this heading will provide you with a list of various guides including farming, inflation, GDP and employment. Amongst these guides is a useful one entitled "Understanding Broadband". Whether you are IT literate or totally IT-illiterate you will have no difficulty in getting to grips with the subject area. The guide defines broadband in simple terms as "the name given to systems designed for high-speed transmission of huge amounts of electronic data". It goes further to provide an idiot-proof explanation through comparing the technology to a water pipe.

Taking things one step further, the guide outlines the two main technologies supporting broadband communications, i.e. fibre optic cables and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). Only ADSL is described, in a few sentences – therefore if you want more detailed information you will need to look further. To assist, links are provided to related stories both within the BBC Web site and externally. Taking the link to which technology will win under "key stories" provides some more detail on various technologies, both those mentioned above and together with wireless, satellite and power lines.

Of course as with most technology things can get complicated with various acronyms being used by the IT industry to confuse the lay person. For those brave enough to learn more, taking the Internet link "Internet technical information" will find them directed to what's?com (www.whatis.com).

The site is essentially a comprehensive on-line dictionary explaining thousands of different technological terms used in the IT, telecommunications and Internet industries. The site is usefully laid out and segregates the different sectors including software, hardware, Internet and networks. Of course if you know a word and want a definition then simply clicking on the appropriate letter of the alphabet will take you to a list of all the different terms. Want to know what multiplexing is? Well, click on the letter M and a list of 169 terms beginning with M are displayed on two pages. Scroll down and click on the next page, find the word and clicking on that will supply the correct definition. If the term is related to another, a hyperlink is provided to explain further. What could be simpler? Just be careful how deep to delve – with so many links to other words in this comprehensive database you could find yourself forever looking up new terms.

A useful way of finding about the latest technologies is to visit the Web sites of the various companies supplying the latest services. All the companies have Web sites these days with a wealth of information – and so they should – being leaders in the technology industry. A word of warning though – some sites are better than others! Furthermore, it is also useful if you know what you are looking for; otherwise you could spend hours searching for material. There are too many sites to mention within this editorial, so I have selected a few to outline what is on offer.

Global Crossing (www.globalcrossing.com) is perhaps the largest provider of fibre optics, laying cables across international boundaries. From the main page, select the investor section from which a number of choices are given. Choosing "network" provides an interactive map of its network. "Vast" is one way of describing it. Global Crossing uses ships and submarines to lay cables on the ocean floor. The UK is linked to the US by cables on the Atlantic Ocean seabed. To print off the network, select the brochure and you can download a short summary of their operations with maps of their main networks – you can even have it in a choice of languages.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology used, a comprehensive glossary of terms is provided. It is laid out alphabetically and you have the choice to either scroll down or select the letter you wish from the links at the top which will take you straight down to the appropriate location.

For networks across Europe, one company which has advertised in the business press is Interoute (www.interoute.com). Perhaps of greatest use is the list of frequently asked questions, definitions and acronyms – these are especially useful to those with a limited knowledge of this technology.

In the UK, the canal network is having a new lease of life as Marconi in conjunction with British Waterways has established a company called Fibreway (www.fibreway.com). The Web site is limited, but it does provide details of the network. Many key locations in the UK are covered radiating out from London to Basingstoke in the west, and up to Watford and Birmingham towards the north.

Cable & Wireless also has a useful site (www.cableandwireless.com). The best area for finding out about services is through the business section, and from this take the global operations link. Taking this option provided a warning that parts of the site were under review. Nevertheless, there was a reasonable amount of data compared to other fully operational sites! A network map is available under the services section – whilst there is global coverage, only the maps for the US and UK appeared to work for me. The investor section also has annual reports dating back to 1995, which can be downloaded. In my experience, annual reports can be a useful source of information on a company, particularly the initial review of operations section – leave the accounts bit for the accountants!

Finally, don't forget the search engines either. Google (www.google.com) is a good starting point. I typed in "broadband" and within 0.08 seconds it had found 1,170,000 matches! I'll let you explore further – happy surfing!

Dr Nigel Almond Market AnalystWeatherall Green & SmithLondonE-mail: nia@weatheralls.co.uk