BICSI Brief Volume 1, Issue 4 | November 2023
Volume 45, Number 4 October/November/December 2024 THE OFFICIAL TRADE JOURNAL OF BICSI ICT TODAY AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SUBMARINE SMART CABLES
PLUS: + U nleashing the Power of Digital Health + T he Enernet: A New Model for Energy
contents
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 Volume 45, Issue 4
FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT 05 From Technician to Trailblazer: Guiding the Next Generation of ICT Professionals By David M. Richards, RCDD, NTS, OSP, TECH, CT COVER ARTICLE 06 An Ocean of Opportunity for Submarine SMART Cables: Hidden far beneath the waves of the world's oceans lies a crucial component of the Internet's infrastructure: submarine cable networks. These massive cables are a marvel of human ingenuity that span the greatest geographical obstacles on our planet to link people and devices for instantaneous communication. Yet, these under- water networks may hold the potential to fulfill outsized roles beyond their primary function of transmitting terabytes of data per second. By Rebecca Bosco 14 The Enernet: A New Model for Energy: When electrical demand outstrips generation, grid operators traditionally engage in a process known as balancing the grid, which may include rolling blackouts. Distributing energy production efficiently requires a new model to assist with power quality and surety. A new grid-connected local generation schema where the local community contributes could be the electrical distribution solution that is needed for a brighter future. By Patrick Mahoney, Brian Patterson, Todd Taylor 22 The Convergence of Power with Information and Communications Technology (ICT): The line between the energy and communications systems industries is more blurred than ever. Deter- mining the point at which power and data delivery converge has become more difficult due to the increasing overlap. Now more than ever, the two
industries must learn to play in the same sandbox. There are ICT cabling systems that can deliver data and power to the devices simultaneously and it is becoming much easier to enable smart devices in a building that facilitates the convergence of power and ICT infrastructure. By Patrick Mahoney, Brian Patterson, Todd Taylor 30 The Growing Pains of 5G In-building Deployments: Over the last 5 years, the wireless industry has seen a surge of data-intensive applications and services, as well as innovations such as IoT devices, smart buildings, and immersive digital experiences that depend on reliable access to robust and high-speed network connectivity. While 5G technology can deliver on the promises to meet the unprecedented speed and capacity needs, its rollout has been significantly slower than expected. By Mohammed Ali 36 Unleashing the Power of Digital Health: Exploring Modern Advances of Wireless Innovation, Integration, and Compliance: Digital technology has become a foundational element in modern healthcare. Among the technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are now playing a transformative role in revolutionizing hospital processes and driving innovation across the medical industry. At the heart of this transformation lies various wireless technologies, serving as the backbone for seamless communication and empowering better-informed healthcare. By Bree Murphy, RCDD
CUSTOMIZED, PERMANENT, ON-SITE TERMINATIONS Made Possible by SEL’s Lynx-CustomFit™ Splice-On Connectors
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SUBMISSION POLICY ICT TODAY is published quarterly by BICSI, Inc. and is sent in digital format to BICSI members and credential holders. ICT TODAY welcomes and encourages submissions and suggestions from its readers. Articles of a technical, vendor-neutral nature are gladly accepted for publication with approval from the Editorial Review Board. However, BICSI, Inc., reserves the right to edit and alter such material for space or other considerations and to publish or otherwise use such material. The articles, opinions, and ideas expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of BICSI, its members, or its staff. BICSI is not liable in any way, manner, or form for the articles’ opinions and ideas. Readers are urged to exercise professional caution in undertaking any of the recommendations or suggestions made by authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission from BICSI, Inc. ADVERTISING: Advertising rates and information are provided upon request. Contact BICSI for information at +1 813.769.1842 or cnalls@bicsi.org. Publication of advertising should not be deemed
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From BICSI’s Board President David M. Richards, RCDD, NTS, OSP, TECH, CT
FROM TECHNICIAN TO TRAILBLAZER: GUIDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ICT PROFESSIONALS
THE OFFICIAL TRADE JOURNAL OF BICSI
ADVERTISER’S INDEX Adrian Steel..............................................29 newera.adriansteel.com AFL.............................................Back Cover learn.aflglobal.com Sumitomo.................................Inside Cover sumitomoelectric.com BICSI INFORMATION BICSI Winter Conference & Exhibition....13 DD215........................................................ 29 DCDC........................................................ 35 ANSI/BICSI 003-2024.................................47
BICSI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board President David M. Richards, RCDD, NTS, OSP, TECH, CT Board Vice Chair Todd W. Taylor, RCDD, NTS, OSP Board Secretary Rick Ciordia, PE, RCDD, DCDC, RTPM Board Treasurer William Foy, RCDD, DCDC, ESS, NTS, OSP, WD Global Regional Director Fernando Neto, RCDD U.S. Western Regional Director Luke Clawson, RCDD, RTPM, GROL, MBA At-Large Director Peter P. Charland Ill, RCDD, RTPM, DCDC, SMIEEE, CET, NTS, ESS, WD At-Large Director Ninad Desai, RCDD, NTS, OSP, TECH, CT At-Large Director William “Joe” Fallon, AVSEC PM, RCDD, ESS, PSP, CISSP At-Large Director Trevor Kleinert, RCDD, DCDC, NTS, TECH, CT At-Large Director Jay Thompson, RCDD Chief Executive Officer John H. Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, CPHIMS
There is an old and common ICT industry saying, “An RCDD’s design will only turn out as good as the training of the technicians who will be called upon to build it.” But what is less well- known is this: “The best RCDDs are the ones who started as technicians!” Ok, given that I am originally from Los Angeles, I just had to throw a movie parody in somewhere. This saying proves to be true even going back to those who were the founders and early RCDD trailblazers of BICSI, as the majority of them began their own careers by either wielding a punch tool or fanning binder groups across a 710 splice rig. So where exactly am I going with all of this? Well to start, the theme of this edition of ICT Today is centered around the latest ICT installation and connectivity trends. Many of you may share a similar career history as described above. I would challenge those of you who do to identify an installer or two that you know, who you could envision lifting their own career in a similar trajectory. After all, we have a vast talent pool of field service technicians out there who simply do not know how accessible the knowledge and skillsets are and that they can help elevate their career path to anywhere in this field that they would like to take it. As an instructor, I tell all of my students the same thing. We don’t have the luxury of an ICT College or University. We don’t have a football team or basketball team. What we do have is BICSI and a vibrant community of professionals who keep our world connected. Consider sharing this copy of ICT Today with them. Show them this very letter that made you think of them. Speak to them and share what you know about BICSI and what BICSI has meant to you and your career. Share your experiences and stories with them (the good and the bad).
One of the most important benefits of a volun- teer association like BICSI is that being a member isn’t just about what’s in it for ourselves. The big- gest value and return on your investment that so many of us have discovered is volunteering to contribute and give back to this incredible industry in which we have found ourselves. BICSI manuals, BICSI standards, and the constant cycle that shadows them called a JTA (Job Task Analy- sis) require the invaluable contribution of industry field service professionals just as much as it does of our industry designers, project managers, consultants, and manufacturing professionals. We have a constant need to recruit new all-star installers and technicians to help maintain relative and current best practices content that can be captured, documented, and inserted into the ongoing evolutions of these living documents that have enhanced all of our careers. What is less well known is how tomorrow’s BICSI can continue to evolve and be shaped by their experiential input. Have this discussion with them. Take them under your wing. Mentor and guide them. You never know where they may be able to take themselves and their career if you do… Go BICSI!
EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Beatriz Bezos, RCDD, DCDC, ESS, NTS, OSP, PE, PMP Jonathan L. Jew F. Patrick Mahoney, RCDD, CDT PUBLISHER BICSI, Inc., 8610 Hidden River Pkwy., Tampa, FL 33637-1000 Phone: +1 813.979.1991 Web: bicsi.org EDITOR Dan Brown, icttodayeditor@bicsi.org
ICT TODAY NEEDS WRITERS ICT Today is BICSI’s premier publication for authoritative, vendor-neutral coverage and insight on next generation and emerging technologies, standards, trends, and applications in the global ICT community. Consider sharing your industry knowledge and expertise by becoming a contributing writer to this informative publication. Contact icttodayeditor@bicsi.org if you are interested in submitting an article.
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An Ocean of Opportunity for Submarine SMART Cables
COVER ARTICLE By Rebecca Bosco
Studying the ocean is essential for understanding the Earth’s interconnected climate systems. It provides insights into natural courses of weather patterns, climate regulation, and resource management. Scientists can better predict weather impacts by understanding ocean dynamics. It also helps manage resources sustainably and address natural and human-made environmental challenges. Hidden beneath the waves, the world's oceans conceal a crucial component of the Internet's infrastructure. Submarine cable networks, unseen and largely unacknowledged, are a marvel of human ingenuity, transcending the greatest geographical obstacles to link individuals and devices over immense spans for instant communication. Yet, these underwater networks hold the potential to fulfill outsized roles beyond their primary function of facilitating communication and connection. According to industry analysts at TeleGeography, 600 active submarine cables are deployed worldwide, spanning a total distance of nearly 1.4 million kilometers. These cables, which carefully crisscross the ocean floor, can cover thousands of kilometers of ocean floor. Critical components of undersea fiber optic cable systems are the repeaters placed every 60-100 km along the cable to provide optical signal amplification. Integrating new environmental sensors, including seismic, pressure, temperature, and eventually other sensors, will enable a new trove of real-time data collection for environmental and infrastructure threat reduction, natural disaster mitigation, and cable system safety monitoring. After all, undersea networks can already transmit terabytes of data per second, facilitating the worldwide connectivity we rely on daily in our personal and professional lives.
How Scientific Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Cables help save lives and inform global scientific research By Rebecca Bosco
Hidden far beneath the waves of the world's oceans lies a crucial component of the Internet's infrastructure: submarine cable networks. These massive cables are a marvel of human ingenuity that span the greatest geographical obstacles on our planet to link people and devices for instantaneous communication. Yet, these underwater networks may hold the potential to fulfill outsized roles beyond their primary function of transmitting terabytes of data per second.
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THE SMART APPROACH - WHAT IS IT? The Earth's oceans have a vital impact on shaping long-term climate patterns and short-term weather phenomena. By better comprehending the changes in ocean currents and closely observing factors such as temperature, salt levels, and carbon content, we can improve our capacity to predict weather and climate conditions on land with increased accuracy. Understanding ocean dynamics and closely tracking important variables is crucial for preserving the environment, conducting climate research, and managing natural resources sustainably. In recent years, telecommunications network providers have made great strides by introducing sophisticated submarine telecom cables that can play host to new state-of-the-art sensors. These sensors can monitor various environmental factors such as temperature, pressure, salinity, movement, and currents. Known as Scientific Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) cables, these innovative undersea cables serve a dual purpose. Not only do they transmit data for communication purposes, but they are also contributing significantly to global environmental monitoring and research efforts. Beyond their primary function of enabling instant communication across continents, these SMART cables are now pivotal tools in addressing the
THE SMART CABLES JOINT TASK FORCE (JTF)
Known as Scientific Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) cables, these innovative undersea cables serve a dual purpose. Not only do they transmit data for communication purposes, but they are also contributing significantly to global environmental monitoring and research efforts. cutting-edge low-power sensors and artificial intelligence, will continuously transmit real-time or near-real-time data to publicly accessible databases. The data will complement the information gathered by ocean surface satellites. GOOS leaders envision Soon, advancements in cost-effective technology could revolutionize our ability to monitor the oceans. A sophisticated network comprising gliders, autonomous underwater vehicles, Argo floats, moorings, and research platforms, all outfitted with a global ocean observing system by 2030 tailored to the scientific users' specific needs. The system will provide pertinent information concerning climate, operational necessities, marine ecosystem well-being, and human impacts, drawn from a combination of local and remote ocean observations. Numerous organizations, including UNESCO, the ITU, the World Meteorological Organization, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and various ocean science organizations, have added their support to the JTF’s mission to drive the adoption of SMART cables. The overarching objective is to streamline and
pressing issue of climate change. Additionally, by facilitating the transmission of large quantities of renewable energy between countries, these undersea cables can hold the potential to support and accelerate the transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources. The SMART Subsea Cables Initiative aims to profoundly impact ocean observation by integrating sensors into transoceanic telecommunications cables. The innovative approach will enable continuous ocean monitoring, providing invaluable insights into climate change, cable security, and detecting and monitoring seismic events like earthquakes and tsunamis. The initiative seeks to create a global network of sensor- equipped subsea telecommunications cables that will provide a constant power source and real-time data streams while stationary, making them ideal for climate studies. SMART cables represent a fusion of robust and standard fiber optic communication cables and cutting-edge deep-sea scientific instrumentation packages. Within these cables, repeaters serve as protective enclosures for the ocean sensors and their accompanying electronics while also providing a power source. The data collected by the sensors is then transmitted in real-time along a dedicated pair of fiber optic cables. Essentially, SMART cable sensors leverage the power and communication infrastructure of millions of kilometers of undersea fiber optic cables and thousands of repeaters, to create a cost-effective method of conducting global ocean observation from the seafloor. Fiber optic sensing enhances ocean observation by providing constant reliable, and instantaneous data while overcoming common limitations associated with traditional sensors. Fiber optic sensors allow for real-time, in-situ measurements, and providing continuous data without delays. The real-time capability is crucial for understanding dynamic ocean processes, where fixed data collection is invaluable. Fiber sensors are also compact and lightweight, making them ideal for deployment in various oceanographic settings.
The JTF SMART Cables Initiative, led by the United Nations, aims to bring together the scientific research community with the telecommunications industry to pave the way for a continuous and strategic expansion of a SMART subsea cable network and gain a better understanding of the Earth. The network is designed to constantly monitor various properties of climate change, such as ocean heat content, circulation patterns, and rising sea level. It also plays an outsized role in providing early detection warnings for earthquakes and tsunamis and monitoring seismic activity better to understand the structures of the Earth’s biggest hazards. Reliable, real-time data is essential for reducing the risks associated with natural disasters. It is crucial for making well-informed decisions regarding the sustainable development of coastal and offshore infrastructure, including undersea cables and their global connectivity mission. The SMART Cables Joint Task Force (JTF) aims to leverage substantial private and public investments in telecommunications infrastructure by collaborating with governments and telecommunications suppliers on new subsea fiber cable projects. Through this initiative, each deployed cable has the potential to host numerous deep ocean and seismic sensors, offering a cost-effective alternative to standalone scientific systems. GLOBAL OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM 2030 STRATEGY Understanding the Ocean is crucial in addressing a wide range of challenges facing society, including those related to natural and human-induced phenomena including climate change, ocean circulation, rising sea levels, tsunamis, and earthquakes. The SMART cables can significantly enhance important scientific and research initiatives with new sources for reliable, long-term climate data from the under-explored ocean. By investing in SMART cables, we can establish a comprehensive international network of durable sensors and enhance the Global Ocean Observing System ( GOOS ).
The innovative approach will enable continuous ocean
monitoring, providing invaluable insights into climate change, cable
security, and detecting and monitoring seismic events like earthquakes and tsunamis.
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UN Tsunami Ocean Decade Strategy
United Nations SMART Cables Joint Task Force The primary goal of the Joint Task Force (JTF) for SMART Cables is to establish collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships between governments and telecommunications firms and explore new opportunities to install environmental sensors on subsea cables, approximately every 70 kilometers. The Joint Task Force on SMART Cables was formed in 2012 by three United Nations agencies: the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC). Anel CAM
Warn!
accelerate the scope of how we monitor oceans and their continuous influence on climate. There are initiatives already underway bringing together cable suppliers, sponsors, multilateral development banks, and end users to collaborate on ideas to incorporate SMART cables into upcoming projects. Cutting-edge simulations have demonstrated how using SMART cables enables the acquisition of highly accurate measurements of deep ocean temperature and pressure. These measurements ultimately lead to better insights into ocean dynamics and climate patterns. Additionally, placing these sensors on the ocean floor helps reduce the risk of vandalism, a challenge that continues to be a weak spot for other observation systems, such as buoys or land stations. Furthermore, SMART cables help mitigate issues related to inter- ruptions in data transmission, which are often caused by power supply problems or disrupted transmissions through satellite or cellular networks. CURRENT SMART CABLE PROJECTS Initial SMART Cable projects have commenced globally, with one of the most prominent projects connecting Lisbon, Madeira, and the Azores in a ring formation in the waters off the coast of Portugal. The project is fully funded and expected to become operational in 2026. The cable ring will stretch over 3,700 kilometers and have 30-50 SMART sensor modules. This groundbreaking initiative will soon enable the residents of Lisbon to benefit from more advanced tsunami warnings, providing an important improvement to a lead time of at least half an hour. With an investment of €154 Million, the SMART cable system will be able to detect tsunami waves at their inception points. Aligned with the joint UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Resilience Program and GOOS, Portugal plans to share the valuable data gathered through SMART cables with the global community. This collaborative approach will allow other North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean countries to enhance their tsunami warning systems and contribute to the broader understanding of these catastrophic events. Portugal's leadership in this innovative endeavor places it at the forefront of climate
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FIGURE 2: A diagram from UNESCO showing goals to improve tsunami danger warnings and notifications in the future for populations living near coastlines.
Submarine Cable System
enhancing the country's connectivity services, technological capabilities, and safety of its people. In January 2024, a significant deal was signed by New Caledonia and Vanuatu to lay a 375-kilometer-long smart cable in the South Pacific Ocean, connecting the two regions. France is funding the scientific operations for this ambitious project. Additionally, in December 2023, a team of researchers from Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) successfully deployed the first SMART cable demonstration in the Mediterranean Sea to the east of Sicily. The cable will be instrumental in monitoring Mount Etna's volcanic activities. Other emerging opportunities include the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) considering connecting Antarctica to New Zealand through a smart cable, and, various groups are actively pursuing the connection between Europe and Japan under the Arctic via the Northwest Passage. According to the United Nations, approximately 40% of the global population lives within 100 km of a coast. Large tsunamis, while infrequent, can result in devastating outcomes. However, thanks to advance- ments in oceanic observational technology and increasing worldwide coordination with telecom providers, quicker, more accurate, and easily accessible
tsunami warnings are becoming achievable – offering a safer future for coastal communities across the globe (Figure 2). THE BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SMART CABLES The potential of SMART undersea cable networks stands as the pinnacle of ocean monitoring prowess. This mission is continually advancing, buoyed by fresh investments in upgraded cable infrastructure, next- generation optical technology, and robust cybersecurity protocols. As the insatiable market demand for band- width continues to rise, undersea cable operators are diligently planning how to meet it head-on. The SMART initiative holds great potential to deliver opportunities for new collaboration between tele- communications companies and maritime researchers. By working together, these sectors can enhance the effectiveness of ocean monitoring and ensure the data collected is reliable and cost-effective for scientific and environmental applications. Fueling a more environ- mentally supportive digital economy with these remarkable enhancements, the undersea cable sector is poised to remain indispensable in seamlessly connecting individuals and enterprises across the globe and helping improve our understanding of Earth’s oceans.
Terceira (Azores)
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change research and natural disaster prevention, offering essential data for comprehending and predicting extreme weather phenomena. Over 95% of global communication and internet traffic relies on submarine cables. The project aims to replace the existing communication infrastructure with a more advanced system capable of handling approximately 150 terabytes of data. This upgrade will lead to significant improvements in communication performance and a subsequent reduction in costs. Moreover, the project marks the introduction of a SMART Cable in Portugal for the (Figure 1) first time, further FIGURE 1: The Anel CAM submarine cable system is a 3,812 km cable system connecting Portugal with the Azores and Madeira regions.
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References: 1. TeleGeography 2024 Map of Submarine Networks, https://www2.telegeography.com/ 2. SMART Cables for Ocean Observing, https://www.smartcables.org 3. Observing the Ocean and Earth with SMART Subsea Cables, https://static1.squarespace.com/ static/62bb372eb211913441aab8dc/t/66622afc3a123c46b 34eaedb/1717709574848/ Poster+SMART+cables+overview+2024.pdf 4. “Submarine cables and smart technology,” Revista De Marina. https://revistamarina.cl/es/articulo/ submarine-cables-and-smart-technology 5. State of the Ocean Report (2024). https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000390054. locale=en 6. Subsea Cables as Enablers of a Next Generation Global Ocean Sensing System (2023). https://tos.org/oceanography/assets/docs/ocean-observing- 2023-pereira.pdf. 7. SMART Cables - Expanding Global Seafloor Observation and Monitoring (2024). https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2318917/. 8. ‘Smart’ fiber-optic cables on the sea floor will detect earthquakes, tsunamis, and global warming (2024). https://www.science.org/content/article/ smart-fiber-optic-cables-sea-floor-will-detect-earthquakes- tsunamis-and-global-warming 9. The Contribution of Submarine Optical Fiber Telecom Cables to the Monitoring of Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the NE Atlantic (2021). https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/ articles/10.3389/feart.2021.686296/full 10. United Nations Brief: Percentage of Total Population Living in Coastal Areas https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/natlinfo/indicators/ methodology_sheets/oceans_seas_coasts/pop_coastal_ areas.pdf
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Rebecca Bosco, APR is an award- winning, accredited marketing and communications consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the ICT industry. Bosco is a trusted advisor to senior leadership, and internal and external clients alike with strategic skills matched by impeccable on-the-ground savvy and tactical abilities. Bosco is an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies in the Masters of Public Relations and Corporate Communications program. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Southern California's Organizational Change and Leadership doctoral program where her research focused on achieving gender parity in optical communications. Contact email: Rebecca.Bosco@Georgetown.edu.
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Our personal and professional lives are increasingly dependent upon the communications of networked devices and having an adequate supply of power to run those devices. Gone are the days of our society feeling it is acceptable to do things later even if there are network outages or disruptions to the supply of electricity powering our devices. Since power intermittency is unacceptable, what needs to be done from a local power perspective? Will future electrical architecture be more like that of the Internet? When electrical demand outstrips generation, grid operators traditionally engage production from peaking power plants that use fossil fuels before forcing blackouts. This activity is referred to as balancing the grid. However, other imbalances between the power supplying the grid and the electricity being consumed locally can cause the frequency, voltage, or phasing to deleteriously vary near the final end point of use. For example, the increase in lower power factor and non-linear loads such as switch-mode power supply (SMPS), which can be found in virtually every power
electronic device (e.g., computers, servers, monitors, printers, photocopiers, telecom systems, broadcasting equipment, and electric vehicle chargers), can also be disastrous for ac power distribution. This is where local battery storage systems and microgrids come in. They can mitigate these issues locally or, better yet, help prevent them entirely. Bob Metcalfe, an American engineer and entrepreneur who co-invented Ethernet, describes the Internet model for energy as Enernet (Figure 1): "After 38 years as an Internet innovator, 10 years as a pundit, and with my wife, Robyn, a Ph.D. student in history, I decided to look back into Internet history for lessons on how to solve energy.” Distributing energy production on an Enernet would be a better architecture to assist with power quality and surety. While traditional electrical utilities have focused on centralized generation of bulk power, grid-connected local generation where the whole community contributes could be the improved electrical distribution model that is needed. The Enernet nodes would bear more resemblance to the Internet than the
INTERNET: ENERNET
The Enernet: A New Model for Energy
By Patrick Mahoney, Brian Patterson, Todd Taylor
When electrical demand outstrips generation, grid operators traditionally engage in a process known as balancing the grid, which may include rolling blackouts. Distributing energy production efficiently requires a new model to assist with power quality and surety. A new grid-connected local generation schema where the local community contributes could be the electrical distribution solution that is needed for a brighter future.
FIGURE 1: An Internet and Enernet structural comparison, EMerge Alliance, 2024.
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traditional grid which is more akin to the old telephony architecture where central offices furnished all signals.
It avoids the ac issues of power source synchronization, power factor correction, frequency control, line balancing, and information non-linear load support and articulation. In addition, it is ideal for lower-cost ICT distribution (e.g., PoE, SPoE, FMPS) cabling both in-premise and outside plant (OSP). DC power electronics make it easier and faster to articulate power based on information concurrently supplied by the ICT monitoring and control layers in more highly converged power/data system architectures. System features can include: • Power quality and safety monitoring and protection/maintenance • Power source prioritization and conversion • Load (use) monitoring, analysis, control, and shaping • Storage monitoring, management, and control • Real-time diagnosis,predictive system, and device-level maintenance management
• Collection and integrated use of information about projected supply and demand requirements (e.g., present and future bulk grid conditions, weather forecasts, power arbitrage management). Future developments in intelligent building applications for AI, with higher data bandwidth and power needs in previously unconsidered locations, will undoubtedly reshape on-premise communications and power dis- tribution requirements. These changes will become more pronounced due to the transition from USB and PoE power delivery to SPoE and FMPS. At the same time, data centers are predicting tremendous growth from evolving AI and augmented reality (AR) computing tasks leading to more ICT work and taxing the power grids beyond their current capacity for expansion. A multi-dimensional energy crisis is taking place. The desire to use clean, renewable energy sources is up against the need for energy availability and reliability. Electrical energy is fast becoming a modern currency in the technological world. Bob Metcalfe states “We need an abundant and squanderable supply of electrons from clean generation technologies to continue to move the world forward.” The quest for digitally enabled buildings that can produce enough energy to run themselves (i.e., smart, net zero energy buildings) will likely force an evolution in how buildings are designed, constructed, and oper- ated in the future. Driven by technology, economics, and regulatory policy, the energy transition will "We need an abundant and squanderable supply of electrons from clean generation technologies to continue to move the world forward." Bob Metcalfe Co-inventor of Ethernet
reimagine how energy is produced, transported, stored, and consumed. A more complete solution will come from improving how energy is used and created in buildings. The effects of energy consumption cannot easily be ameliorated by conservation alone. Some fundamentally new conclusions need to be reached. This will require a power system that will: • Grow, shrink, rearrange, and otherwise change dynamically. • Self-organize as a network and reconfigure/respond to user needs while complementing the needs of the existing grid structure. • Avoid the negative non-linear failure dynamic that dominates the current macro power system. Such a flexible architecture in buildings must contain multiple layers of integrated mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer, and communication devices. In a truly end-user-focused solution, the upper layers should provide grid and network converged power and intelligence, while lower layers provide a building environment that optimizes user comfort, energy consumption, safety, and work efficiency. In the most advanced state, the combination should be able to semi-autonomously orchestrate a level of control and work execution normally associated with human intelligence, including the attributes of reasoning, learning, and adaptation. But while information technology has rocketed through the digital age, power generation and distribution technology has been stuck in a 100-year-old paradigm. So, despite the mounting demands of an asynchronous digital electronic world, we find ourselves electrically tethered to a synchronous analog ac infrastructure. As a result, the building and data center industries have suffered wasted energy, reliability, safety, and cost consequences. Fortunately, a rapidly growing number of companies and organizations believe it is time for a change from pure ac power distribution in buildings to hybrid ac-dc and pure dc systems that can be increasingly converged wired and wirelessly with data distribution. A practical distribution of dc power allows efficient use of directly coupled alternate energy sources with highly controllable, energy efficient, plug-and-play
POWER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE An Enernet has a "Grid of Grids" architecture and is a concept in the field of distributed power system networking that envisions a hierarchical or layered structure of interconnected microgrids and traditional grids, where each grid represents a distinct and autonomous system for power generation-storage-use in a resource-sharing environment incorporating semi- autonomous balancing authority (Figure 2). It aims to address issues related to the technical viability and long-term economic sustainability of providing optimized renewable resource integration, resiliency, scalability, flexibility, and efficiency in both public and private power systems. As the need for energy grows much like the need for bandwidth, on-site generation that produces dc power is a better form of electricity to use at the grid’s edge.
Centralized Generation System
Distributed Generation System
FIGURE 2: Comparing a legacy energy distribution architecture with a modern distribution architecture in a resource-sharing environment.
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND THE CONVERGENCE OF POWER AND ICT What will be the impact of combining power and data given the evolution of AI in both industries? While AI will provide the capability to manage inform-ation and power semi-autonomously, it will consume a significant amount of power. AI already uses as much energy as ent- ire countries and is expected to continue significantly over the next two years according to the IEA. 1 the impact will be on data centers as well as premise infrastructure. U.S. electricity demand is forecast to grow as much as 20% by 2030 (Figure 3). Goldman Sachs projects that data centers will represent 8% of total U.S. electricity consumption by the end of the decade.
devices in an integrated architecture that will propel our buildings into a whole new era of capability. These Enernet advances can benefit from the lessons learned from the Internet. Modern power electronic solutions enable changes to the power topology to make appropriate and useful power conversion at more logical and effective points in a system. And dc-based platforms make renewable power generation simpler and more efficient to integrate. Additional benefits include increased user safety, low-cost plug-and-play reconfiguration flexibility, and enhanced equipment reliability. New, open standards for FMPS, as well as room and building-level dc and hybrid ac/dc microgrids for commercial buildings, are now available. These standards cover occupied spaces, data centers, tele- communications, building services and utilities, and outdoor power. The standards also define safe low voltages and limited current potential at the user interface to enable plug- and-play device flexibility. They are crafted to facilitate energy savings from efficient lighting and other electrical
“Economic growth, electrification, accelerating data center expansion are driving the most significant demand growth in our company’s history and they show no signs of abating,” opined Robert Blue, Dominion Energy CEO. When it comes to powering the future of AI, a multifaceted strategy will be required. This will encom-pass on-site microgrids, DERs, and traditional central grid resources in order to maintain reliability and afford-ability. An Enernet of power could support the rapidly growing need for IoT solutions, a fast-approaching requirement.
devices by avoiding unnecessary power conversions and maximizing the opportunity for highly articulated digital control. And importantly, they are easier to install using more sustainable cabling and materials. The standards allow direct integration of site-based renewable energy sources and storage devices without the use of costly and inefficient power inverters. Many building owners, engineers, and designers now see dc microgrids as part of a larger strategy that plays a bigger role in their buildings and campuses. These industries are searching for holistic solutions for renewable energy and striving for net zero energy buildings that are an integrated part of regional and national smart grid efforts. Interest has been driven by the demand for flexibility, sustainability, and energy savings. Many believe that now is the time to begin creating the Enernet of power. Some experts see a future world of buildings that (when aided by AI) are autonomously capable of managing the new electro-active living and working environments that are comfortable, safe, efficient, and highly productive.
Summary of GenAI demand forecast
1 Electricity 2024 Analysis and Forecast to 2026, IEA, 2024 https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/6b2fd954-2017-408e-bf08-952fdd62118a/Electricity2024-Analysisandforecastto2026.pdf
FIGURE 3: Projected impact of Artificial Intelligence on electricity demand, Wells Fargo, 2024.
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WHAT’S NEXT, POWER AND ICT IN SPACE? Things like data centers, ICT infrastructure, and both in-situ resources (mostly hydrogen and oxygen production from water) utilization or mined extraction will entail heavy power requirements for any sized colonies on the Moon or Mars. Power generation will probably be some mix of solar, nuclear, battery storage, wind, and hydrogen fuel cells along with the need to include dissimilar power sources. Work will have to be accomplished almost exclusively with electronic equipment including brushless dc electric motors. Digitally converged and complemented dc power systems are the most logical choice for providing basic energy. “Driven by technology, economics, and policy, the energy transition will reimagine how we produce, transport, store, and consume energy. Its pace, scale, and complexity present a transformational opportunity for our infrastructure. But for that transformation to be both just and sustainable, it must occur at the intersection
He is on the Editorial Review Board for ICT Today, the official trade Journal of BICSI. Pat is an editorial review committee member for the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual and the Information Technology Systems Installation Methods Manual. Pat can be reached at patrick.mahoney@aecom.com. Brian T. Patterson is the Chairman and a founder of the EMerge Alliance, a 501c non-profit corporation developing application standards for hybrid ac/dc powered building, enterprise, neighborhood and community level microgrids. Patterson has an extensive technical and work history in electronics, optical fiber and building technologies and holds multiple patents in those fields. He is Managing Director of B. L. Coliker Associates, a technology consulting firm and formerly General Manger of Armstrong World Industries. He is the US representative to IEC SysC on LVDC, a member of IEEE and sponsor of its 2030.10 workgroup on electricity access, a representative
to NEMA, CABA, SEPA, PSMA, and an active participant in UL/NEMA/NFPA/Emerge task group on DC power. He has held guest professorships in business and innovation management at Long Island University and Susquehanna University. Brian can be reached at bpatterson@emergealliance.org. Todd Taylor is a senior technology manager with 40 years of experience in the ICT industry with the last 24 focused in healthcare, data center and educational facilities design, integration, and implementation management. This includes master planning, design, installation and commissioning of technology infrastructures that support voice, data, video, paging, security, RTLS and nurse call. He also is very active in driving the healthcare design standards within the industry by leading and participating in various committees within BICSI, HIMSS, FGI and TIA. Todd is a Past President of BICSI. Todd can be reached at todd.taylor@aecom.com.
NASA is already working in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories and others to develop robust, autonomous, and fault-tolerant dc microgrids to enable sustainable lunar surface power. Space may well be the first place we see the ultimate convergence of power and ICT technologies. Data from satellites in low orbits is already impacting our terrestrial technology. Establishing data centers on the moon is now a serious consideration for mankind. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES: Patrick Mahoney has been in the ICT industry for more than 30 years. He is a Senior Technology & Security Consultant at AECOM Technology Solutions. AECOM partners with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of BICSI’s Standards Committee, and Chair of BICSI's Healthcare Standard Subcommittee. Pat is a member of the BICSI Technical Information & Methods Committee.
of people, policy, and technology.”
Jennifer Obertino, P.E., AECOM global energy practice leader.
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POWER SURETY The number one concern for building operators, related to the convergence of power and ICT, is power surety. Few industries understand the importance of backup power like ICT. When the grid is interrupted and an emergency arises, people need the ability to communicate. Telecommunications service providers have long been prepared to provide continuous service. They are very familiar with the racks of batteries at central offices used to power telecommunications switches during a power outage. Backup power is also traditionally necessary in premise telecommunications rooms (TRs). When ICT technicians hear “UPS”, they most likely think of uninterruptible power supplies. As ICT plays an increasingly important role in smart environments and work capability, dependence on the simultaneous use of data and power is multiplied. In the past, priority consideration on power and data availability was focused only on fundamental life safety requirements. The primary code solution regarding safety was written to avoid bodily injury or fire initiation from power systems. It was commonplace to consider a complete power shutdown as an acceptable remedy to those concerns. While these basic safety requirements still exist as foundational, the practical application of shutdown is fast becoming unacceptable. In the past, the breakdown of what might have been considered critical use versus convenient use of power was simple, well-defined, and weighted heavily toward convenience. Even the notion of “smart” has been largely used to describe the provision of “intelligent con- venience.” But with the move toward the electrification of everything and the application of artificial intelligence (AI), the balance is rapidly shifting toward more critical use applications and away from the ones for convenience. A second issue related to the convergence of ICT and power involves the physical implementation concerning capability, performance, safety, and cost. Regarding capability, increasing challenges of both level and location are emerging. While the current limited/lower voltage capability has met many of these requirements, the need for more power delivered to more locations, both near and far, from primary power and data sources in buildings and on campus, continues to grow.
NEC-designated Class 2 “touch-safe” power does not always suffice. Higher currents and voltages are increasingly necessary to power larger devices. This demand is pushing the limits of PoE, USB-PD, and other established cabling technologies. As a result, there is a shift to using wireless data with wired power combinations. Additionally, newly approved higher voltage and current NEC Class 4 FMPS technologies (digital power) represent the future. The new challenges of power surety need to address outside transmission, on-premise interior distribution, cybersecurity, power storage, and distribution. As smart applications desired on premises emerge and ICT com- munications requirements fan out to greater distances, the demand for various methods of higher power delivery must keep pace, while maintaining a high level of reliability for the end user (Figure 1). Externally, power storage and distribution are being challenged at an alarming rate, limiting growth in some industries. For example, emerging AI/GI process technologies in the data center environment can require more power and reliability to enable their peak efficiencies than some electrical utilities are able to furnish. Energy distribution models now recognize the value of sustainability. ICT convergence decreases the usage of material because the same cable can be installed for both the data and power. Alternatively, Class 4 FMPSs use much smaller power conductors than traditional Data Center Portion of Uility Demand Growth in Next 10 Years All Others Data Centers 22% Data Center Portion of Utility Demand Growth in Next 10 Years
The line between the energy and communications systems industries is more blurred than ever. Determining the point at which power and data delivery converge has become more difficult due to the increasing overlap. Now more than ever, the two industries must learn to play in the same sandbox. There are ICT cabling systems that can deliver data and power to the devices simultaneously and it is becoming much easier to enable smart devices in a building that facilitates the convergence of power and ICT infrastructure. The Convergence of Power with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) By Patrick Mahoney, Brian Patterson, Todd Taylor
The lines between the limited energy and com- munications systems industries and today’s renewable energy industry are more blurred than ever. Det- ermining the point at which power and data delivery converge has become more difficult due to an increasing overlap. Now more than ever, they must learn to play in the same sandbox. New developments in the technologies for direct current (dc) power distribution have moved energy transportation into the information and communications technology (ICT) world, including:
In the beginning, ICT systems transported voice, data, and video signals to devices that required external power sources. Today, there are ICT cabling systems that can deliver these signals and concurrently power the devices. This convergence began with PoE, which limited the source energy and cable distance. Then they expanded to greater distances with SPoE and higher power with FMPS (Table 1). It is now much easier to provide smart devices in a building with the convergence of power and ICT.
Max Power Output
Max Distance
Power Distribution
• Single-pair power over Ethernet (SPoE), also called power over data line (PoDL).
100 M 1,000 M** 2000 M
PoE++ SPoE FMPS
100 W 52 W* 1000s W
• Class 2 power systems like PoE Type 4, also known as PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt).
78%
*52 watts is limited to shorter distances ** Power is limited to 20 W at 1 km
• Class 4 power, also known as fault managed power systems (FMPS).
TABLE 1: Maximum power output and distance for distribution types.
FIGURE 1: Projected data center utility growth.
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