The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) established the Single Pair Ethernet Consortium (SPEC) to accelerate the adoption of next-generation operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Founding members of SPEC include Belden, CommScope, Panduit and the Siemon Company.
“We are proud to bring together leading technology companies to focus on paving the way for adoption of single pair Ethernet,” said TIA chief executive officer Wes Johnston. “Working together, the Single Pair Ethernet Consortium will ensure we can leverage this powerful technology to support the micro-IT devices that enable the Internet of Things, smart buildings, and so much more.”
SPEC will provide vendor-neutral representation for technology leaders and users across the building automation technology ecosystem and support the following goals.
- Speed awareness of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)
- Build ecosystem support of SPE technologies
- Provide a collaborative forum for network and building automation technology leaders interested in using SPE
- Provide case studies, proof of concepts, white papers and reference architectures
- Work in partnership with other SPE initiatives and building automation technology organizations
When announcing the establishment of SPEC, TIA observed, “The intrinsic value of OT and IoT for buildings is data collection and how that data can help building occupants, owners and operators improve the user experience, increase operational efficiency and drive an overall better return on investment from built spaces. The long-term viability of wireless connectivity is limited because these devices must be powered by batteries or a separate power cable. In this context, the ability of Ethernet wired connectivity to run simultaneous data and power over a single media becomes a huge advantage.
“Traditional 4-pair Ethernet connectivity meets the technical performance requirements of these devices, but may be cost-prohibitive for micro-IoT devices and not easily incorporated into smaller equipment. Single Pair Ethernet with its smaller footprint and Ethernet platform can deliver reliable, simultaneous power and data to the billions of devices that will make our buildings safer, smarter and more sustainable. SPE also can support runs up to 1000 meters [1 kilometer], making it easier to replace the existing 2-wire systems with the same cabling design.
“Standardization of OT and IoT is critical to obtaining widespread adoption. The IEEE and TIA currently are developing standards to support SPE.”
Participation in SPEC is open to all companies interested in accelerating the acceptance of SPE technologies in building automation technology and networks. These include building operators as well as design and engineering professionals in all areas of the ecosystem.
Anyone interested in participating in SPEC can contact Liz Goldsmith, [email protected]