Mirdif City Centre breaks new ground with communication technology

The new mall, due to open in 2009, will be one of the first facilities in the region to adopt this latest technology, which is being installed in partnership with communications provider Etisalat.

The structured cabling system has been designed by the centre with the needs of each and every individual tenant in mind. The system means that tenants will now receive easy access and connection for the internet, entertainment and business services, state of the art technology and complete telecommunication solutions as well as an environmentally friendly communications system.

Richard Reid, Senior Vice-President, MAF Developments, said: "Majid Al Futtaim Group has always been a leader when it comes to developing and managing its shopping malls. Having taken a decision to go the fibre-optic way is a big step in this direction.

"Fibre optic cable is important because of its capacity to handle a vast amount of information. One of the great things about this technology is that it is evolutionary and "future proof" - that is, the technology keeps improving and enables vast increases in bandwidth over the same fibre."

Each store at Mirdif City Centre will be provided with fibre optic cables from a main hub, instead of the traditional copper cables. Tenants will then do the distribution within their shops through the Optical Network Unit (ONU).

Fibre-optic systems are revolutionising telecommunications around the world. They are thinner and more lightweight than traditional copper wires, use less power, and also provide less signal degradation. Fibre optic cables have a higher capacity for information and power than copper wires and they are also non-flammable as well as better suited for digital and light signal transmission.

Scheduled for a 2009 opening, the construction of Mirdif City Centre is following the MAF Group's sustainable and environment friendly policy. The Centre will adopt Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standards; a rating system developed by the US Green Building Council and adopted by the Emirates Environmental Group as the methodology for measuring and certifying 'sustainability'.