CommScope has released a new white paper, entitled IEEE 802.3 Approves CFI On Next Generation BASE-T Over Balanced Twisted Pair Copper Cabling. The background of the white paper is as follows:
At the IEEE 802.3 plenary meetings during the week of July 16, 2012, the committee approved the formation of a study group to develop objectives, project authorization requests, and five criteria for considerations to develop the Next Generation BASE-T (NGBASE-T) application over balanced twisted pair cabling. The intent of the study group was to explore the technical feasibility and broad market potential for higher speeds over structured cabling that continues to be the most prolific media type for Ethernet applications.
CommScope suggests that the formation of the study group confirms that balanced twisted pair cabling continues to be a popular media type for local area networks (LANs) in all types of customer-owned premises. The company further contends that balanced twisted pair copper networks have served well in the adaption and evolution of Ethernet LANs.
See also:10GBase-T equipment availability and the future of copper media
Some reasons for the popularity of balanced twisted pair copper cabling, according to CommScope, include the following: it continues to be a lower cost media than fiber or twinax; it supports remote power up to 100 watts for separated extra-low voltage (SELV) devices; designers, installers, customers have considerable experience and confidence in copper networks; it provides robust and reliable performance in harsh environments (i.e. does not require end-face cleaning of fiber connectors); it is compatible with a variety of applications, making it a ubiquitous universal media.
The company expects that the approval of the new study group on the use of balanced twisted copper cabling for higher data rates will continue to evolve copper cabling with improved transmission performance and higher bandwidth, while continuing to maintain backward compatibility to existing legacy cabling and applications using the RJ-45 equipment outlet interface connector. The new white paper describes the various considerations that led to the decision of IEEE 802.3 to approve the study group for NGBASE-T and provides some answers to frequently asked questions.