Slicing into 5G; Industrial networks spec drops: Last week's top stories

Here's our weekly round-up of the top structured cabling industry news stories and featured articles for ICT and IT industry professionals, as compiled by the editors of Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and CablingInstall.com.

1. BICSI Fall 2018 San Antonio: 'In Pictures' & 'More Highlights' (Image Galleries)

You may have heard, Cabling Installation & Maintenancepresented some awards at the show. But we weren't the only ones giving out prizes...

2. Cat 5 vs. Cat 6 vs. Cat 7 vs. Cat 8 Ethernet network cable comparison

Fair warning: This video mentions copper-clad aluminum (CCA) cable as among the range of available options for Category 5e and Category 6 media. CablingInstall.com would like to emphasize that, per the guidance of the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA), copper clad aluminum conductors as found in Cat 5e and Cat 6 cables violate UL, TIA and NEC standards, and should NEVER be used.

3. Cabling Standards Development and Implementation (Resource Guide)

As some cabling standards emerge and others evolve, they continue to be the bedrock upon which many projects are specified and built. Understanding the intent and details of these standards can enable cabling system designers, installers and users to ensure their built infrastructures will support current and future applications. This guide provides information on current standards-development activities, and best practices for implementing existing standards.

4. The role of fiber in 5G networks

The stringent requirements for 5G heavily rely upon the interconnected backbone in the short term. Intensive 5G fiber-optic backhaul is necessary to seamlessly stream bandwidth-intensive applications such as 4K video. For a while it seemed this technology was in the future, but with the most recent World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) already allocating some of the millimeter-wave spectrum to 5G and major U.S. telecommunications companies such as Verizon and AT&T already announcing plans to launch 5G service by late 2018, it seems gigabit high speeds, and low-latency cellular capabilities are fast approaching.

5. Top 10 global ribbon fiber-optic cable suppliers identified

According to a new study by technology market analyst The Insight Partners, the global market for ribbon fiber-optic cable is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% until 2025.

6. Looking for a 'slice' of 5G action?

As reported by New Electronics magazine (UK): "With the emergence of 5G, mobile groups are beginning to edge towards 'network slicing' as they look to provide differentiated services. Mobile communications networks have, traditionally, been developed and rolled out using a one-size-fits-all approach that provides for services to all types of devices, regardless of the connection requirements of vertical services. "

7. Industrial communication networks installation specification IEC 61918:2018 now available

IEC 61918:2018 specifies basic requirements for the installation of media for communication networks in industrial premises and within and between the automation islands, of industrial sites. This standard covers balanced and optical fiber cabling.

8. IEEE forms study groups targeting extremely high throughput, Wi-Fi latency

IEEE and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) announced the formation of a study group and topic interest group focused on advancing the technology and deployment of the IEEE 802.11 standard, commonly referred to as “Wi-Fi.”

9. Campus Wi-Fi upgrades abound outdoors: Report

As recently reported by Dan Tynan of EdTech magazine: "It’s hard to escape the internet at Kennesaw State University. Located about 25 miles northwest of Atlanta, the 36,000-student campus is awash in bandwidth, thanks to recent upgrades to its wireless network. Aging network infrastructure, the smartphone explosion and an exponential increase in video consumption are driving schools like Kennesaw not only to upgrade their Wi-Fi networks, but to extend them to every corner of campus."

10. Wherever cabling goes, grounding and bonding requirements follow

The rise of the Internet of Things and every environment being a connected environment, means structured cabling systems are being installed in facilities and structures in which they previously were not. While significant attention is being paid to the physical characteristics of a cabling system that can enable it to perform as expected in these new environments, it remains true that cabling systems must be bonded to a building’s grounding (earthing) system.