Abstract:
such VoIP, security surveillance systems, video conferencing and streaming of online multimedia content. Due
to demand placed on network resources by these applications physical layer cabling solutions have had to evolve
to support faster, improved LAN technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet. Although new network architectures
(such as Centralised Fibre networks) address current and long term demands of the modem networking
environment, concerns have been raised about its cost viability. The key problem identified in this study was an
inadequacy of suitable tools that aid decision making when estimating the cost of a network infrastructure
project. Factors of importance in this regard were collected in a survey and used in development of a cost model.
A network was designed based on two architectures _ centralised fibre (all-fibre network) and hierarchical star
(UTP for horizontal cablirtg and optical fibre for backbone cabling). Thereafter, cost of implementing these two
architectures was calculated using the model. Based on the results computed from the cost model, the all-fibre
network (centralised fibre architecture) was found to be more cost effective than the hierarchical star network.
