In the international property development sector, there is a growing recognition of the strategic importance attached to ICT infrastructure on campus-type projects.
Historically, property developers have tended to overlook ICT, considering it a non-critical component of the overall development, and outsourcing it to incumbent service providers. In many cases, this has led to inadequate infrastructure that fails to meet the expectations of tenants, and is eventually retrofitted and upgraded at considerable expense and inconvenience to all parties.
However, in Malta, local consortium MIDI plc is at the forefront of a turnaround. In a move that is beginning to be echoed in the rest of the property market, MIDI envisaged that advanced ICT infrastructure would be a key differentiator. It wanted proven technology that would meet its sophisticated tenants' needs for the next 10 years. Their ambitious Tigné Point and Manoel Island developments are aiming to offer the best residential, retail and corporate accommodation. The ICT strategy was to encompass telecoms services, TV, broadband, control systems, environmental systems and other building services. A specialist UK consultancy, Analysys Mason, was appointed as MIDI's ICT adviser and is still involved in the projects.
The process began by reviewing the market in Malta and looking at the regulatory environment, followed by an analysis of available technologies. Requests for information to interested vendors helped develop a high-level design, ahead of the detailed ICT infrastructure design and costing process. The design and build plan were synchronised with the overall project plan for Tigné Point and Manoel Island. This ensured that ICT was a core component of the overall project, and that the in-building infrastructure has become a strategic asset.
There are huge opportunities for property developers and construction companies in pursuing integrated ICT strategies. Indeed, to remain competitive, many companies are increasingly seeing this change in direction as inevitable.
For example, in North Africa at the moment, one of the region's biggest construction companies is embracing ICT in a bid to extend the reach of urban cities. The plans are ambitious: We understand that among the key projects to be deployed, is a "new city" covering 35 million square metres and 120,000 mixed-use units from villas through to educational and retail establishments. In order to attract users, the company plans to deploy fibre to the home to deliver IPTV (TV over internet), broadband and telephony services. And it's not just a question of supplying infrastructure: The company is actively looking for an independent telecoms partner to supply innovative and competitive services.
In the UK, the growing demand for integrated ICT is highlighted by a project instigated by one of the regional development agencies, EMDA. Analysys Mason developed a comprehensive ICT toolkit specifically for the property market. EMDA now offers the toolkit to developers to ensure that new property developments of all sizes are planned, designed and built with ICT in mind. The toolkit provides guidance for the development of high-spec ICT locations that are commercially viable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to the community.
In both developing and developed countries this approach is gaining credibility with developers themselves, and is becoming an expectation of commercial users, residents, and planning and regulatory authorities.
Following Analysys Mason's development of business models, MIDI was able to reassess its position within the ICT value chain. A business plan was developed which incorporated setting up SIS Ltd, a joint venture in Malta between network and equipment supplier Siemens and MIDI plc.
It has taken MIDI beyond being a property company, into a service provider, and was established to operate and maintain the systems at Tigné Point and Manoel Island.
As well as telephony and internet access, these services include building technologies such as convenient access control systems, environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient climate control systems and smart card services. These are aimed at providing high standards of comfort to the residents, businesses and customers using Tigné Point retail and entertainment establishments.
Tigné Point is now moving at a rapid pace and SIS will provide a comprehensive range of technology-based services backed by a personalised 24-hour service designed to afford a better lifestyle for residential and business users.
• Mr Kidney is a senior manager at Analysys Mason and also head of the Analysys Mason Ireland office.
Historically, property developers have tended to overlook ICT, considering it a non-critical component of the overall development, and outsourcing it to incumbent service providers. In many cases, this has led to inadequate infrastructure that fails to meet the expectations of tenants, and is eventually retrofitted and upgraded at considerable expense and inconvenience to all parties.
However, in Malta, local consortium MIDI plc is at the forefront of a turnaround. In a move that is beginning to be echoed in the rest of the property market, MIDI envisaged that advanced ICT infrastructure would be a key differentiator. It wanted proven technology that would meet its sophisticated tenants' needs for the next 10 years. Their ambitious Tigné Point and Manoel Island developments are aiming to offer the best residential, retail and corporate accommodation. The ICT strategy was to encompass telecoms services, TV, broadband, control systems, environmental systems and other building services. A specialist UK consultancy, Analysys Mason, was appointed as MIDI's ICT adviser and is still involved in the projects.
The process began by reviewing the market in Malta and looking at the regulatory environment, followed by an analysis of available technologies. Requests for information to interested vendors helped develop a high-level design, ahead of the detailed ICT infrastructure design and costing process. The design and build plan were synchronised with the overall project plan for Tigné Point and Manoel Island. This ensured that ICT was a core component of the overall project, and that the in-building infrastructure has become a strategic asset.
There are huge opportunities for property developers and construction companies in pursuing integrated ICT strategies. Indeed, to remain competitive, many companies are increasingly seeing this change in direction as inevitable.
For example, in North Africa at the moment, one of the region's biggest construction companies is embracing ICT in a bid to extend the reach of urban cities. The plans are ambitious: We understand that among the key projects to be deployed, is a "new city" covering 35 million square metres and 120,000 mixed-use units from villas through to educational and retail establishments. In order to attract users, the company plans to deploy fibre to the home to deliver IPTV (TV over internet), broadband and telephony services. And it's not just a question of supplying infrastructure: The company is actively looking for an independent telecoms partner to supply innovative and competitive services.
In the UK, the growing demand for integrated ICT is highlighted by a project instigated by one of the regional development agencies, EMDA. Analysys Mason developed a comprehensive ICT toolkit specifically for the property market. EMDA now offers the toolkit to developers to ensure that new property developments of all sizes are planned, designed and built with ICT in mind. The toolkit provides guidance for the development of high-spec ICT locations that are commercially viable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to the community.
In both developing and developed countries this approach is gaining credibility with developers themselves, and is becoming an expectation of commercial users, residents, and planning and regulatory authorities.
Following Analysys Mason's development of business models, MIDI was able to reassess its position within the ICT value chain. A business plan was developed which incorporated setting up SIS Ltd, a joint venture in Malta between network and equipment supplier Siemens and MIDI plc.
It has taken MIDI beyond being a property company, into a service provider, and was established to operate and maintain the systems at Tigné Point and Manoel Island.
As well as telephony and internet access, these services include building technologies such as convenient access control systems, environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient climate control systems and smart card services. These are aimed at providing high standards of comfort to the residents, businesses and customers using Tigné Point retail and entertainment establishments.
Tigné Point is now moving at a rapid pace and SIS will provide a comprehensive range of technology-based services backed by a personalised 24-hour service designed to afford a better lifestyle for residential and business users.
• Mr Kidney is a senior manager at Analysys Mason and also head of the Analysys Mason Ireland office.