Business Day Reporter

NEW generation internet protocol (IP)-based technology is being planned for the R1bn state-of-the-art Novate Property Investments’ Triple Point mixed-used development in East London.

Novate says the development is inspired by Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch and is Eastern Cape’s first, and East London’s largest, mixed-use development including residential, commercial, office and leisure facilities.

It will have three separate apartment buildings, each with 70 units; 35 homes; a four-star hotel; retail and lifestyle facilities and office space. It is expected to be completed in 2010.

Novate says the IP technology has been described by experts as a “leap for East London” and will replace the analogue communication system common in most homes and businesses.

The 23ha Triple Point development will offer tenants an IP-based security system. The features include IP-based cameras, face recognition, broadband internet, access controls, alarm system and television, which run on a centrally managed converged network.

Tenants will be able to download videos from the system, which they will pay for later.

“This is forward thinking technology which is used in the Melrose Arch mixed-use development in Johannesburg and it means that the era of having to install new lines every time you add on a new service is coming to an end,” says Dimension Data solutions manager Clint Hansen.

“It is a plug-in service, which means every time a tenant wants to add on a service it will be plugged into a cable and the service will be pulled through from a central control room.”

Novate strategic development manager Grant Wheatley says a fully manned control room will monitor the system to react swiftly to security breaches. It will also feature back-up power supply in the event of a power failure.

Wheatley says they are also considering biometric sensors that control access to certain areas for certain people.

“We want to make the building as keyless as possible, because there will be many tenants coming and going.”

According to Hansen, this technology is a major selling point in similar developments in places such as Dubai.

Source: Business Day