BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/325023
MAY/JUNE 2014 | www.broadbandcommunities.com | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | 11 It decided to build an Ethernet data network in the building, using the telephone wires that already served each unit along with commercial-grade Ethernet electronics and a 10 Gbps network backbone. Te system is powered by a whopping 500 Mbps data circuit, which can be upgraded to 1 Gbps or more with only a week's notice to keep the building on the cutting edge. Te Brookwood's bandwidth pipe is even larger than that of nearby Georgia Tech, and it serves a much smaller constituency. Because it was a modifcation of the existing infrastructure, the new system was implemented without major cost. Tis solution gave all residents 50 Mbps upstream and downstream – a service that was not previously available to residential users in this area – at a cost of only $22 per month, which also covers access to a dedicated customer service line that dispatches technicians 24 hours a day. Te Ritecom Group, a well- established local commercial broadband and fber optic contractor, provided the design, network equipment and commercial-grade customer service for an all-inclusive monthly fee. Te Ritecom equipment and services and the separately contracted commercial- grade circuit are the association's only two expenses. In addition to the association- supplied Internet service, Brookwood residents can choose Comcast or DirecPath for video service, and they have access to 30 Mbps Wi-Fi in the property common areas. Te association uses the excess bandwidth for management ofce telephones and other low-voltage monitoring, cutting its management ofce monthly expense from more than $1,500 to $250. VITAL STATISTICS Property Description: Te Brookwood is an energy-efcient, mixed-use building in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. It has 219 condominium units, 20,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants, and a 1-acre green deck. Tis classic 19-story building ofers dramatic views of downtown, midtown and Buckhead, large open-foor plans with spacious terraces, foor-to- ceiling windows, a pool and an owner's club, ftness facilities, a concierge and more. Te Brookwood is Atlanta's only high-rise condominium community constructed with the environment in mind and built to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the only building in Atlanta using the Energy Recovery Ventilator Air System and the building with the fastest Internet speeds in Atlanta. Demographics: 30- to 60-year-old upper-income residents Greenfeld or retroft? Retroft Number of units: 219 Style: High-rise PROPERTY OF THE MONTH HIGHLIGHTS ~ The Brookwood, Atlanta ~ • Condo association installed its own DIY Ethernet access network. • Fiber-to-the-foor network design minimized cost by using existing telecom wiring to each unit. • Network provides the highest-quality Internet access at the lowest cost in the Atlanta area. • Key vendors included Broadband Planning, Ritecom Group and Juniper. BBC_May14.indd 11 5/29/14 6:50 PM