The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has, for the second time, recognized the interface based upon Siemon's TERA connector as the standard interface for high-performance copper cabling.
The second edition IEC 61076-3-104 standard (IEC 61076-3-104 Ed. 2.0) was published in preparation for the pending Class FA standard, as well as for the ISO/IEC 15018 standard, specifying generic cabling for homes.
Created by an amendment to ISO/IEC 11801, the Class FA standard is specified to an upper frequency of 1000 MHz and is intended to support the next generation of data applications beyond 10GBASE-T and all frequencies of CATV video. To support the future Class FA parameters, the new connector requirements specified in IEC 61076-3-104, Ed. 2.0 extend the upper frequency for balanced twisted-pair connectors from the category 7 upper limit of 600 MHz to 1000 MHz.
According to Siemon, although the TERA connector remains unchanged since its launch in 1999, it meets or exceeds all mechanical, dimensional, and electrical transmission property requirements specified in the IEC 61076-3-104, Ed. 2.0 Standard. The company contends that the overall superior design elements of the IEC 61076-3-104 "TERA" interface resulted in overwhelming support for approval, as evidenced by the 22-0 voting results from the standards committee. The company says that independent testing and the IEC voting results indicate significant global backing and confidence in the TERA cabling system's ability to support future applications.
"When the IEC first standardized on TERA for Class F/Category 7 cabling in 2003, the committee believed that it would support future applications," comments Dan Mullin, director of Siemon Labs, the company's research and development group. "That confidence proved correct. TERA systems installed as early as 1999 are fully compliant to the recently published IEEE 802.3an 10GBASE-T standard. In fact, Class F systems are the only pre-standard installed copper systems ready to support 10GBASE-T up to 100m without additional testing or mitigation."
The IEC 61076-3-104, Ed. 2.0 and Class FA standards are similarly expected to support future application standards beyond 10Gbit/sec. According to Mullin, the IEC and Siemon's track record of developing future-proof global standards and components not only virtually assures future application support, but also deeply underscores the importance of future-proof networks.
"Siemon Labs and the ISO/IEC have consistently been out ahead of the curve, giving end-users a chance to build a network infrastructure that can support multiple applications and provide an extended lifecycle," continues Mullin. "A TERA system installed seven years ago in expectation of 10GBASE-T will most likely support applications beyond 10Gbit/sec without additional upgrades."
According to Siemon, as a standards-recognized interface, the TERA connector is a non-proprietary solution, offered by multiple manufacturers. The connector's non-RJ interface fits within a standard RJ-45 footprint and is easily integrated into current electronics through the use of hybrid TERA to RJ patch cords.
The company notes that, for ease of installation, its TERA outlets feature a simple "tool-less" termination procedure, which allows termination times of under four minutes. The outlet also offers the company's integrated Quick-Ground technology whereby, during standard termination steps, the cable shield is automatically terminated, eliminating additional grounding steps. By dramatically simplifying the grounding process, the company says its TERA connector allows users to benefit fully from the performance and EMI resistance of a fully-shielded solution.
A video detailing the TERA outlet termination procedure can be found at http://www.siemon.com/us/download/installation.asp#videos.