Switch ports and locations
- Count available ports at each switch location near where endpoints will be installed
- Identify buildings or blocks with no nearby switch — these may need a new switch or fibre/uplink work
- Note port speeds: most IP speakers and intercoms are happy on 100 Mbps, but gigabit future-proofs
PoE budget
- Check the PoE class/wattage each proposed endpoint draws (datasheets vary from ~3W to 15W+)
- Total the draw per switch and compare against its PoE budget (e.g. 370W on a typical 48-port PoE+ switch)
- Plan headroom of at least 20% for additions and powered-up variants
- Outdoor or high-output speakers may need PoE injectors or outdoor-rated supply decisions
VLAN and addressing
- Decide whether paging endpoints sit on a dedicated voice/IoT VLAN or the general LAN
- Confirm enough IP addresses are available in the chosen scope
- Document DHCP vs static addressing — many installers prefer static or reserved addresses for endpoints
Quality of Service (QoS)
- Ensure DSCP prioritisation is applied to paging audio so announcements are not delayed by heavy network use
- This matters most on shared school networks during backup or update windows
Cabling state
- Test existing Cat5e/6 runs to endpoints that will reuse cabling — age and workmanship vary widely in NZ school buildings
- Identify runs over 90–100m, which need an intermediate switch or re-route
- New cabling work is usually a property works item — see the funding implications on our funding page
Core infrastructure resilience
- Ask what happens to paging if the switch, server or controller fails — endpoint-local storage of emergency messages is a common mitigation
- Confirm UPS coverage for core switches and any paging server
- Check that a WAN outage does not take down on-site paging (local survivability matters for emergency use)
Wi-Fi independence
- IP paging endpoints use cabled connections — do not plan paging over Wi-Fi
- If a site has poor cabling but good Wi-Fi, that is a cabling project signal, not a wireless paging plan
Who supports the network layer
- Agree in writing whether the paging installer or the school's IT partner manages VLANs, QoS and PoE provisioning
- This is the single most common cause of deployment delays on school IP paging projects
Why this changes cost
Network readiness is one of the main cost drivers between otherwise similar quotes. A network-ready site means endpoint labour; an unready site means switch upgrades, cabling and possible fibre work. Our pricing guide reflects this split, and the ballpark calculator asks about it directly.
Funding note for schools
Cabling and switch work tied to a paging upgrade typically follows the same 10YPP / 5YA property route as the paging system itself. See the funding guide and use the funding checker for an indicative read.
After the checklist
Once you know the network position, write the full project scope with the specification checklist so every quote you receive covers the same work. The Ministry-side context is in the requirements guide.
Continue planning your project
Last reviewed 12 September 2026. General guidance — always confirm specifics with your network administrator and installer.