Optical Connections Magazine Spring 2024

ANDREAS RÜ SSELER FIBRE FUTURES

Building technology and management devices can communicate without barriers over Ethernet/Internet Protocol (Ethernet/ IP), with the LAN providing the basis for physical communication. LAN-enabled IoT can help monitor and manage energy usage to reduce carbon output. SINGLE PAIR ETHERNET Uptake of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) cabling based on xBASE-T1 using a single twisted pair for data transmission is expected to keep growing. SPE enables integration of field devices, sensors, and actuators into an existing Ethernet environment, without extra gateways and interfaces. SPE is well-suited for connecting sensors and actuators in industrial environments due to its support for cable runs up to 1 km and its ability to deliver power and data over a single wire pair, simplifying cabling and reducing installation costs. SPE can transmit up to 50W along with data and control signals - ideal for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. It can support converged networks for data, voice, and video over a single network infrastructure.

which in turn necessitates smart migration paths and monitoring/ asset management. DC operators need to utilise (rack) space more efficiently as density increases. Very Small Form Factor (VSFF) Connectors (SN/MDC), slim ribbon fibres, and high-density connectors and closures are key. VSFF connectors are characterised by their small size but huge fibre connection capacity. They are developed to allow for port breakout at high speeds, such as 400G. Use of VSFF connectors can increase the fibre count to 432 in a 1U space. Using these connectors in data centres allows for the deployment of a significantly larger number of GPUs by maximising the use of available space and improving efficiency of connections.

R&M Connectors.

DIGITISATION Widespread digitisation is profoundly impacting data centres, driving significant changes in their design, operation, and strategic importance. To manage the complexity and scale of modern data centres, operators are increasingly relying on automation for tasks such as systems management, predictive maintenance, and workload optimisation. This not only improves efficiency but also helps reduce errors and operational costs. As thousands of cables run into the DC, fast, easy, splice-free connections are vital. Pre-term cabling and new push-pull fibre connector types significantly reduce handling and installation time, guarantee functionality, and increase quality of initial installation. As new applications use different types of DC elements such as close to the data source (edge), on-premise DC and private and public cloud, decentralisation and Hybrid / Multi-cloud strategies are becoming prevalent. Increasingly -adopted Spine-Leaf architecture -a two-layer network topology composed of spine (backbone) switches and leaf (access) switches - is designed to enhance data centre scalability, performance, and reliability for supporting AI workloads. IOT Introducing IoT and asset and capacity management has made Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) solutions essential. Larger data centres increasingly rely on DCIM and Automated Management Systems. An ‘expert layer’ can present actionable insights from across DC systems in an understandable manner and link these directly to KPIs. DCIM can also support compliance with standards and anticipate issues before they

result in non-compliance. 5G, low latency and high-speed

connectivity are enabling fast expansion of edge computing growth which requires a network of smaller, distributed data centres to process and store data locally, reducing latency and bandwidth use. IoT-driven data production is pushing DCs to scale up storage capacity and develop more efficient data processing.

CONCLUSION As digital content becomes more

data-intensive with the rise of 4K/8K video streaming, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and cloud-based services, the demand for higher bandwidth will continue to grow. FTTH networks will need to support even faster speeds, potentially leading to the widespread adoption of next-generation fibre technologies like XGS-PON and NG- PON2, offering multi-gigabit speeds. Looking further ahead, the increase of service convergence and the rollout of smart cities and 5G networks will continue to require dense fibre backhaul to support high-speed, low-latency capabilities, driving further expansion of FTTH infrastructure.

LANS In increasingly dynamic Local Areas

Networks, a need for faster, more reliable wireless connections will push adoption of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and drive centralised SDN control that can manage and orchestrate

network resources. Information Technology (IT) and Operational

Technology (OT) network convergence is expected to accelerate, along with increased uptake in Power over Ethernet (PoE), IoT Devices and edge facilities. LAN convergence is largely driven by the need to simplify, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, while enhancing uniformity, functionality, and flexibility. Centralising IT resource management provides enormous technical and business efficiency increases by consolidating systems, boosting resource utilisation, saving energy, lowering costs, and leveraging system intelligence. A ‘holistic fibre’ backbone, merging data and building control, is becoming widespread. ALL-IP An ‘All-IP’ approach ensures there’s just one network to manage instead of separate networks for telephony, data, and video. This can reduce cost and complexity of physical cabling infrastructure and network management.

Andreas Rü sseler, CMO, R&M.

www.opticalconnectionsnews.com

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ISSUE 36 | Q1 2024

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