10GBase-T PHY developer Aquantia used cabling from Siemon to demonstrate a 120-meter 10GBase-T channel. Aquantia stated that it used its 40-nm PHYs along with Siemon's Z-Max Category 6A cabling to run error-free 10GbE.
The silicon developer said cable reach that goes beyond 100 meters is important to speed up the adoption of 10GBase-T. "Additional margin enhances the end-user experience and mainstreams the design for system OEMs," Aquantia said when announcing the results of its performance tests. "End users benefit from the additional margin as it allows for variability in connectors and cable bends. It also helps system OEMs to simply their design and lowers their cost by allowing for generic magnetic, fewer PCB layers and overall enhanced reliability."
Aquantia also used a Siemon Cat 6 channel to send 10GBase-T more than the 55 meter reach specified in IEEE 802.3an.
Siemon's chief technology officer John Siemon said, "This is a further confirmation of the maturity of the 10GBase-T industry and the lead taken by Aquantia as an outperforming silicon supplier. Instead of shortening the distance over copper cabling in the data center and falling short of industry standard requirements, we are extending it while offering end user greater design flexibility."
Faraj Aalaei, Aquantia's CEO, said 10GBase-T is gaining market momentum among switch and server OEMs.