Standards

IEEE ratifies 802.3bq standard for 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T

July 7, 2016

The IEEE 802.3bq 25 and 40GBase-T standard was completed almost in sync with the standard for the Category 8 cabling that will support these high speeds.

The IEEE's ratification of the 802.3bq standard for 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T comes on the heels of the TIA's approval of Category 8 cabling specifications. As of early July 2016, the market awaits the arrival of Category 8 cabling systems.

The IEEE recently ratified the 25G/40GBASE-T specifications, which were produced by the IEEE 802.3bq 25G/40GBASE-T Task Force. The Ethernet Alliance issued a statement welcoming the ratification of 802.3bq as well as three other recently ratified Ethernet standards.

“IEEE 802.3bq Standard for Ethernet Amendment: ‘Physical Layer and Management Parameters for 25 Gb/s and 40 Gb/s Operation, Types 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T’ opens the door for higher-speed 25- and 40-Gbit/sec twisted-pair solutions with autonegotiation capabilities and Energy Efficient Ethernet support for data center applications,” the Alliance said.

The standard’s ratification comes shortly after the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) approved its standard specifications for Category 8 cabling, which is the twisted-pair type designed to support 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T.

In the Ethernet Alliance’s statement, Alliance chair John D’Ambrosia commented, “Ethernet is erupting in every direction. Whether you are talking about new markets like automotive or historic proving grounds such as networks and data centers, Ethernet’s ongoing expansion has reached critical mass. There’s growing velocity behind work being done to develop the next generation of speeds, innovative technologies, and forward-looking specifications for emerging application spaces.”
The Ethernet Alliance also welcomed ratification of the following IEEE standards: 802.3bp Physical Layer Specifications and Management Parameters for 1 Gb/s Operation over a Single Twisted Pair Copper Cable; 802.3br Specifications and Management Parameters for Interspersing Express Traffic; and 802.3by Media Access Control parameters, Physical Layers and Management Parameters for 25 Gb/s Operation.

“These new standards are the latest product of the surge in enthusiastic activity permeating the Ethernet ecosystem,” D’Ambrosia continued, “but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. There’s much more yet to come. We commend the members of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group for their efforts and congratulate them on a job well done.”