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Time Business News
3 days ago
- Time Business News
Cat6 Plenum Cable Explained: Safe, Fast, and Future-Proof
The first thing that comes to mind of most people when they hear the term plenum-rated cable is fire safety. And they are not mistaken. The plenum spaces which include the concealed spaces above ceilings or below floors are dangerous locations in case of fire. This is the reason why such areas need plenum-rated cables. They are produced in special jackets that do not emit much smoke and toxic fumes. However, what is usually ignored is that plenum-rated Cat6 cables are capable of much more than code compliance. Cat6 plenum cable has become the unspoken but de facto gold standard in high-performance networks today. They provide reliability, speed, and future proofing as well, particularly in the commercial setting as well as schools, hospitals, and data centers. Before we get into the meat of the matter as to why plenum is important, it is necessary to know what makes the Cat6 Ethernet cable a star in the Ethernet realm. It has a speed capability of up to 10 Gbps at 50 meters and 1 Gbps on shorter distances of 100 meters, where Cat5e Ethernet cable is not consistently reliable. Cat6 cables provide 550 MHz bandwidth as well, which makes data transmission faster and reduces crosstalk. In real world applications like easier video conferencing, quicker downloads, and more reliable work under multiple devices running simultaneously. Although Cat6a Ethernet cable offers even greater bandwidth of 750MHz and better shielding, it is thicker, heavier, costly, and more difficult to install. Cat6 Ethernet cable is the optimum combination of performance, flexibility, and cost in most typical office and enterprise applications. Plenum-rated cable jackets are made of low-smoke and flame-retardant materials, like FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene). Such materials are intended to be self-extinguishing and release little smoke in the event of a fire. These cables are critical in buildings where ventilation systems have the potential to transmit toxic fumes rapidly. However, fire safety is only the tip of the iceberg. Plenum-rated cables are also more resistant to following conditions: Physical damage over time This strength is reflected in improved long-term performance and reduced maintenance. This is one of the reasons that many installers use Cat6 plenum cables even where the code does not mandate them. When dealing with big commercial spaces, the network performance should be consistent. Cat6 plenum cables provide better signal integrity, due to better insulation and a more tightly twisted cable. This translates into less transmission errors and purer signals. Flexibility during installation is another advantage that is not frequently considered. Because plenum-rated cables can be installed in plenum spaces, they increase simplicity in planning, and allow avoiding issues with compliance. This makes them a convenient one-stop solution to most of the modern buildings. Cat6 plenum cables are not only constructed in case of emergency. They suit best to those settings where performance and compliance have to be hand-in-hand. These are the environments where Cat6 plenum Ethernet cables are used: Schools and universities in which a large number of users are connected at the same time in large buildings Labs and hospitals where safety and dependable communication are equally important VoIP-based corporate offices, cloud services, and remote conferencing Data centers where a high performance, well-organized cabling is necessary to facilitate huge data flow Government buildings in which there is strict code compliance Cat5e, while still used in older installations, is rapidly becoming outdated. It is limited to 350 MHz bandwidth, although technically capable of 1 gigabit speeds, its signal quality degrades over longer distances and under load. Cat6a, on the other hand, is more than many organizations need. It is heavier and costlier. It works well in places such as high-speed data centers, but in the majority of commercial or institutional contexts it is usually excessive. A perfect balance can be found with the Cat6 plenum cable. It provides superior performance and speed over Cat5e, without the hassle and cost of Cat6a. And since it complies with the most stringent safety standards, it can be used in any place: in the ceiling ducts, on the open office floors. Some decision-makers hesitate at the higher price of plenum-rated Cat6 cable. But the benefits outweigh the upfront cost. You are not just paying for fire protection but you are also investing in reduced maintenance, fewer chances of network downtime, and more stable data transmission. Over time, this results in smoother operations and fewer service disruptions. Cat6 plenum can also future-proof your network to meet increasing bandwidth demands, which is essential as your network expands to include more devices, cloud applications, and high-resolution media. In a structure that will be in use in decades, installing poor quality cabling now can be a headache in the future. Selecting Cat6 plenum is a decision of creating a network that will last not only in terms of speed but also in reliability over the long-term. Fire safety will always be a part of the story with plenum-rated cable. However, in modern installations, it is just the start. Cat6 plenum is emerging as the preferred cable not only because it is code compliant but because it is demand compliant. Whether you are wiring a high school, a research lab, or a multi-floor office, it delivers speed, strength, and reliability in one clean package. And while you may never see the cable again once it's in the wall or ceiling, its impact will be felt every time your network performs exactly as it should. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
NZ Herald
08-08-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Georgie Woods to aid Waimakariri farmers with environmental goals
'Get to know more about their farming operation, their family, their goals and their plans for the future.' Woods grew up in Rangiora, and both of her parents had agricultural roles with her mum, Gendie, working as a specialist farm accountant and her dad, Mark, working in the stock and station industry. They also leased a sheep and beef farm near Amberley, where Woods spent many weekends working with her dad. That's where her love of agriculture began. While at Rangiora High School, Woods enjoyed agricultural studies and being able to put what she'd learned into action on the school's farm led to her pursuing a career in agriculture. After graduating from Lincoln University in 2023 with an Agricultural Science degree (Hons) and an additional major in Environmental Management, Woods spent just under two years working as an environmental advisor for Enviro Collective, based in Ashburton. Her role focused on providing environmental support for the Barrhill Chertsey, Acton Farmers and Rangitata South irrigation schemes. When the environmental advisor opportunity with Waimakariri Irrigation came up, Woods jumped at the chance to work in North Canterbury. Waimakariri Irrigation is a shareholder-owned cooperative that manages a large run-of-river irrigation scheme in Canterbury, providing water to around 200 shareholders and irrigating approximately 23,000ha. Now, a month into her new job, she is learning about the scheme and has been out and about meeting shareholders. She's also enjoying the shorter commute time from Rangiora to the scheme's Oxford office. 'I was spending about three hours per day driving from Rangiora to Ashburton, so it's lovely to have a few more hours in the day for myself,' she said. 'I have been on a tour around the scheme and have met some of our shareholders who are all so welcoming. 'I am joining WIL at an exciting time where I will have lots of opportunities for learning and development, but for me, the main thing is to be out on the ground with the farmers and getting to know them and their farming businesses.' Initially, Woods' role will focus on Farm Environment Plan (FEP) updates and coordinating the scheme's FEP audit programme, along with supporting environmental manager Ben Howden and the wider team with various projects. When Woods isn't working, she enjoys playing netball for the Amberley Netball Club, baking, photography, volunteering for organisations such as the Northern A&P Show and working on her newly purchased first home with her partner, Reegan.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Govt introduces new tax incentives to strengthen venture capital, private equity sectors
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has introduced new tax incentives to strengthen the venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) sectors in the country, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the new incentive offers a concessionary tax rate of 5% for up to 10 years for investment funds that invest at least 20% of their capital in local startups. In addition, VC and PE management companies registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia will benefit from a 10% tax rate. The incentives also apply to onshore limited liability partnership structures. 'Capital alone is not enough. For innovation to flourish, policy reform must walk hand in hand with investment,' he said in his speech at the announcement of the appointment of Fund Managers under Jelawang Capital's Emerging Fund Managers' Programme (EMP) and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative (RMI) today. Previously, Malaysia offered tax exemptions rather than concessionary rates. VC firms investing at least 70% of their funds in early-stage startups could apply for a 100% tax exemption on statutory income for five years, and could apply to extend it. Management companies also enjoyed exemptions, but only on income from VC management fees, and were subject to strict qualifying conditions and definitions. To complement these changes, Amir Hamzah said, Bank Negara Malaysia is enhancing the Foreign Exchange Policy (FEP) framework. 'VC and PE firms may now apply based on their fund mandate size, rather than on a transactional basis, for cross-border fundraising and investments exceeding standard FEP limits.' He said this streamlines VC and PE operations to enable capital to move more efficiently across Malaysia's borders and boosting regional competitiveness. 'These reforms mark meaningful progress in positioning Malaysia as a globally competitive hub for venture and private capital,' he added. Khazanah Nasional Bhd and its subsidiary Jelawang Capital have selected the first five VC firms under the EMP and the RMI. 'Together, these five managers are expected to deploy over RM200 million. A significant portion of this will be channeled into Malaysia-Nexus companies, supporting around 50 early-stage firms,' said Khazanah managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir. Out of the first five fund managers appointed, three firms were selected under the EMP. The programme is structured to support Malaysian fund managers in raising their first, second, or third fund, with the aim of developing regionally competitive venture capital firms by improving governance, building investment track records and attracting capital. The first of the three is Vynn Capital, a home-grown venture capital firm focused on specific sectors. It was established in response to Malaysia's role within the regional innovation landscape. Vynn Capital will focus on the mobility and supply chain sectors, investing across seed to Series A stages, with a regional focus on Southeast Asia. The second firm, Kairous Capital, is a venture capital firm with roots in private equity. It invests in technology companies and is positioned as a cross-border specialist, supporting Malaysian startups in expanding into key Southeast Asian markets such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Kairous also facilitates regional growth through the transfer of innovation and know-how from more advanced technology markets like China. The third is First Move, a venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed stage startups across Southeast Asia. The firm partners with second-time founders and domain experts, not just as early investors, but also as co-builders, to help turn ideas into scalable businesses. First Move often serves as the first institutional investor. In addition to these three EMP recipients, two regional firms were selected under the RMI, which is designed to attract regional and global fund managers who are committed to enriching Malaysia's startup ecosystem. This includes supporting the growth of Malaysian startups into regional and global players, facilitating the redomiciliation of global companies in Malaysia, expanding local job opportunities, and attracting high-quality talent. The first RMI partner is AppWorks, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Taiwan. AppWorks combines an equity-free accelerator with founder-first capital to help scale tech startups across Greater Southeast Asia. The firm has a performance track record, with top-quartile distributions to paid-in capital. AppWorks' investment focus includes artificial intelligence, blockchain and the digital economy. It plans to launch Malaysia-focused cohorts for Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, supported by in-market experts, capital, and a regional network of founders to help accelerate the growth of Malaysian startups. The second RMI partner is Granite Asia, a multistage investor with a record of building over 115 unicorns and achieving 61 initial public offerings globally. Through its early-stage fund, Granite Asia will invest in startups in sectors such as consumer tech, enterprise software, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and automation. The firm will collaborate with Khazanah and Jelawang Capital to give Malaysian founders access to ecosystem programmes, strategic guidance and Granite Asia's extensive network of top founders and industry players.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Govt approves venture capital tax incentives to boost investments in startups
Minister of Finance II Datuk Amir Hamzah Azizan KUALA LUMPUR: The government has approved new venture capital (VC) tax incentives to include a five per cent concessionary tax rate for up to 10 years for eligible fund entities investing at least 20 per cent in local startups, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the new VC tax incentive also includes a 10 per cent tax rate for VC and private equity (PE) management companies registered with the Securities Commission, subject to conditions. "The new VC tax incentive extends to onshore limited liability partnerships, further broadening investor base to deepen capital pool for local startups,' he said in his keynote address after Khazanah Nasional Bhd and its subsidiary, Jelawang Capital, announced the selection of the first five VC firms under its Emerging Fund Managers' Programme and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative, event here today. These measures are part of the government's efforts to strengthen the venture capital ecosystem. Amir Hamzah said that Bank Negara Malaysia, in parallel, will facilitate a more efficient and investor-friendly application process under the Foreign Exchange Policy (FEP) framework. "VC and PE firms may now apply based on their fund mandate size, rather than on a transactional basis, for cross-border fundraising and investments exceeding standard FEP limits,' he said. Moreover, Amir Hamzah said that this streamlines VC and PE operations, enabling capital to move more efficiently across Malaysia's borders and boosting regional competitiveness, simultaneously positioning Malaysia as a globally competitive hub for venture and private capital. Today, Khazanah has selected the first five VC firms under the Jelawang Emerging Fund Managers' Programme and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative, reflecting its commitment to nurturing local fund managers and the VC ecosystem. The five VC firms are Vynn Capital, Kairous Capital, First Move, AppWorks and Granite Asia. Welcoming the selection of five fund managers, Amir Hamzah said that Jelawang Capital are not only financing startups but also encouraging them to scale across borders, solve real problems, and create real jobs. "We want an ecosystem where a university graduate with a bold idea can find a funder, mentor, regulatory path, and market. Where a Malaysian founder can raise capital locally, and benefit from Malaysia's conducive ecosystem, scale regionally across Asia, and ultimately list in Kuala Lumpur,' he said. This month, Kuala Lumpur entered the Top 20 Emerging Startup Ecosystems globally. Today, Malaysia's VC ecosystem remains modest, with just US$429 million (US$1 = RM4.29) in funding in 2024. - Bernama
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia approves VC tax incentives to boost startup investments
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has approved new venture capital (VC) tax incentives to include a five per cent concessionary tax rate for up to 10 years for eligible fund entities investing at least 20 per cent in local startups, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the new VC tax incentive also includes a 10 per cent tax rate for VC and private equity (PE) management companies registered with the Securities Commission, subject to conditions. 'The new VC tax incentive extends to onshore limited liability partnerships, further broadening investor base to deepen capital pool for local startups,' he said in his keynote address after Khazanah Nasional Bhd and its subsidiary, Jelawang Capital, announced the selection of the first five VC firms under its Emerging Fund Managers' Programme and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative, event here today. These measures are part of the government's efforts to strengthen the venture capital ecosystem. Amir Hamzah said that Bank Negara Malaysia, in parallel, will facilitate a more efficient and investor-friendly application process under the Foreign Exchange Policy (FEP) framework. 'VC and PE firms may now apply based on their fund mandate size, rather than on a transactional basis, for cross-border fundraising and investments exceeding standard FEP limits,' he said. Moreover, Amir Hamzah said that this streamlines VC and PE operations, enabling capital to move more efficiently across Malaysia's borders and boosting regional competitiveness, simultaneously positioning Malaysia as a globally competitive hub for venture and private capital. Today, Khazanah has selected the first five VC firms under the Jelawang Emerging Fund Managers' Programme and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative, reflecting its commitment to nurturing local fund managers and the VC ecosystem. The five VC firms are Vynn Capital, Kairous Capital, First Move, AppWorks and Granite Asia. Welcoming the selection of five fund managers, Amir Hamzah said that Jelawang Capital are not only financing startups but also encouraging them to scale across borders, solve real problems, and create real jobs. 'We want an ecosystem where a university graduate with a bold idea can find a funder, mentor, regulatory path, and market. Where a Malaysian founder can raise capital locally, and benefit from Malaysia's conducive ecosystem, scale regionally across Asia, and ultimately list in Kuala Lumpur,' he said. This month, Kuala Lumpur entered the Top 20 Emerging Startup Ecosystems globally.
