One of Berwick Electric Co.'s top priorities is to provide the local community with quality electrical service in an efficient, trustworthy manner. As part of Berwick’s continual improvement process in this area, Data Communications Manager Shane Gebbink spearheaded a project to improve internal communications. More advanced internal communication technology will enable the Berwick team to get needed electrical service to the community more efficiently. We recently interviewed Shane to learn more about this exciting undertaking.
 |
| Take a peek inside of Berwick Electric Co.'s new telecommunications room! |
Berwick Electric (BE): Describe what data communications means for those that may not be familiar with the term.
Shane Gebbink (SG): Essentially, data communications systems transmit data to and from computers and components of computer systems. Data communication is transmitted via mediums like wires, coaxial cables, fiber optics, or radiated electromagnetic waves such as broadcast radio, infrared light, microwaves, and satellites. It’s really the “nuts and bolts” of how we communicate in this day and age. Here at Berwick, we install, test, and maintain these connectivity systems.
BE: What does Berwick’s data communications system upgrade project entail?
SG: We are updating our building’s cabling system and network devices from the old Cat5 cabling to new Cat6 and Cat6A cabling. This update will provide an increase in bandwidth capability, and it will be noticeable in both speed and reliability.
Along with the wiring changes, Berwick has increased our Century Link service from 3Mb to 10Mb. This will alleviate a lot of errors in packet dropping and collisions on our systems. The “power users,” a.k.a project managers, computer automated drawings, etc., who transfer large drawings, videos, or cad files will now be cabled with CAT6A to have a higher capability (1GB) at the desk at all times. In addition to these “power users,” regular users (everyday computer operations, such as email and internet) will see an increase in bandwidth with more consistent reliability.
BE: How are you facilitating this upgrade?
SG: In conjunction with the work on our service and cabling, Berwick has also built a “true telecommunications” room to house brand new switches that are capable of handling our increased bandwidth. There is also a new wireless system in place to accommodate the smartphones, laptops and iPads. This system is tied to our network and is hot transferrable, so there will be no login or dropping from one radio to the next. In other words, a device on the network can be located anywhere in the building and have total access to the network with no VPN login.
BE: Is there anything else that you would like to share about the upgrade?
SG: Berwick has also made a switch in network maintenance providers to Amnet. We genuinely appreciated all the years of service from our previous provider, but the timing with our data communications upgrade was right for a change. We look forward to working with Amnet. If there is an individual or a company out there that is thinking about a data communications system upgrade, please feel free to stop by and look at Berwick’s new telecommunications room to get an idea of how we might be able to help you upgrade. We are really looking forward to years of continued, reliable, efficient service.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ If you are in need of faster, more reliable data communications, we encourage you to contact Data Communications Manager Shane Gebbink at 719-492-8333 or sgebbink@berwickelectric.com. In the meantime, we invite you to stop by Berwick Electric Co.'s office located at 3450 N. Nevada Ave #100 in Colorado Springs to take a peek at the latest in data communications technology.