Financial Sector Moves IT from Backroom to Boardroom

CommScope Launches Essential Planning Guide for Mission Critical Data Centers
September 10, 2007 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

CommScope, Inc. (NYSE:CTV), a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks, through its SYSTIMAX® Solutions brand, has launched a Data Center Planning Guide that we believe will provide assistance on all aspects vital to the successful implementation of a secure and reliable data center.

Data centers have become a technology priority for Middle East companies and institutions, particularly in the financial sector, as they seek to increase their financial position and stay ahead of the competition, according to Ciaran Forde, managing director for Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, SYSTIMAX Solutions™, CommScope.

“When five minutes of downtime can mean a multi-million dollar loss to a trader in the financial industry, we believe the ‘once-neglected’ data center has become the most mission critical system of many organizations,” said Forde.

In the growing Middle East financial sector (whether banking or financial trading), regulatory and supervisory authorities continue to increase the level of time-sensitive information required to be collected and stored. These changes place greater demand not only on data processing but may require additional levels of security.

“In the most successful companies, IT (Information Technology) exits the backroom and enters the boardroom. We believe that many visionary organizations in the Middle East financial sector are following this global trend,” Forde said. “When it comes to data centers, companies should look to the potential results -- five, ten or 15 years ahead.

“Continuously-operating data centers are essential to the flow, processing and storage of business-critical information,” said Forde. “Most downtime in computer systems is caused by poor planning in the data center-- whether the interconnected data processing, storage and communications assets are designed for one room or for an entire, dedicated building.”

CommScope has launched the essential Data Center Planning Guide to help in the setting-up of secure and reliable data centers that should help businesses reduce downtime and increase security in their data centers. Complete with diagrams of actual data centers, the 28-page guide takes planners through the details necessary to establish anything from a tier one basic center to a tier four center with maximum fault tolerance.

The free guide covers key areas that need to be addressed for the successful design or enlargement of a data center, including data processing, storage to physical location, access to power, cooling and strictness of security.

Whether a company is spending thousands or millions of dollars on a data center, the guide offers practical information:

  • Choosing the location. Being close to major industrial facilities could cause power and electrical interference while being on the same feed as a hospital could mean restoring utilities will be a priority
  • Planning with a view for growth – allowing 25% as a starting point
  • Avoiding placing data centers near immovable features such as elevator shafts or load-bearing walls
  • Choosing an interior space - windows to the outside bring unwelcome heat and potential security risks
  • Reducing the risk of downtime with adequate ventilation and air conditioning systems – data centers need dry bulb temperatures of between 68 and 75 degrees F and humidity should be between 40 and 50% with a dew point no greater than 70 degrees F.

The SYSTIMAX Solutions Data Center Planning Guide can be downloaded at the following address: www.commscope.com

Photo caption:

“When five minutes of downtime can mean a multi-million dollar loss to a trader in the financial industry, we believe the once neglected data center has become the most mission critical system of many organizations,” said Ciaran Forde, managing director for Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, SYSTIMAX Solutions.

About CommScope

CommScope (NYSE: CTV – www.commscope.com ) is a world leader in infrastructure solutions for communication networks. Through its SYSTIMAX® SolutionsTM brand, CommScope is the global leader in structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications. It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of coaxial cable for Hybrid Fiber Coaxial applications. Backed by strong research and development, CommScope combines technical expertise and proprietary technology with global manufacturing capability to provide customers with high-performance wired or wireless cabling solutions.

Forward looking statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management's beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see CommScope's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Enquiries:
Laura Kelly
CommScope
+ 971 4 3900987
llkelly@commscope.com
or
Nathalie Visele
Shamal Marketing Communications (SMC)
+971 50 4576525
nathalie@theshamalgroup.com