2.2 Labor Shortages and Project Bottlenecks With ICT deployments expanding into harsh environments—and investment pouring in from both public and private sectors—a pressing question arises: Who will install these networks? The future of ICT from an installation perspective hinges on solving a growing challenge: a shortage of skilled labor. As demand for hyperscale and enterprise data centers rises, the industry faces a critical gap in qualified optical fiber technicians, especially those skilled in high-precision splicing and cabling. According to the Uptime Institute’s 2024 Global Data Center Survey, 71 percent of operators cite staffing shortages as a major concern, with over half struggling to hire optical fiber infrastructure roles. 5 This shortage is not just a matter of quantity but of specialization. In response, many are turning to pre-terminated optical fiber systems and modular infrastructure to reduce on-site labor needs and accelerate timelines. These solutions are no longer just about efficiency— they are essential to keeping pace with the scale and complexity of modern ICT installations. By simplifying deployment and reducing reliance on specialized labor, they help ensure that infrastructure projects can move forward despite workforce constraints.
The Mechanical, Ingress, Climatic/Chemical, and Electromagnetic (MICE) rating system, as defined by ISO/ICE 24702 standard, is a classification framework used to evaluate the robustness of cabling systems and components in industrial environments (Figure 1). MICE provides four levels of environmental classifications for each of these categories: 6 • Mechanical (M): This category assesses the cabling system's ability to withstand physical stressors such as shock, vibration, tensile forces, and crushing. The classifications range from M1 (least severe) to M3 (most severe). • Ingress (I): This category evaluates the protection against the ingress of dust and water. The classifications range from I1 (least severe) to I3 (most severe). • Climatic/Chemical (C): This category measures the cabling system's resistance to climatic and chemical conditions, including temperature fluctuations, humidity, chemicals, and radiation. The classifications range from C1 (least severe) to C3 (most severe). • Electromagnetic (E): This category assesses the cabling system's ability to withstand EMI, including surge, electrostatic discharge (ESD), and radiation. The classifications range from E1 (least severe) to E3 (most severe).
As demand for hyperscale and enterprise data centers rises, the industry faces a critical gap in qualified optical fiber technicians.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL CHALLENGES Physical and Electromagnetic Hazards
WHY OPTICAL FIBER IS THE FUTURE Optical Fiber vs. Copper in Harsh Environments As industrial networks evolve to support data-intensive applications, the limitations of copper and coaxial cabling in harsh environments are increasingly clear. Optical fiber cabling offers a durable, high- performance alternative that resists EMI, corrosion, and signal degradation over long distances—without requiring boosters or repeaters. Optical fiber’s ability to withstand extreme temperatures, moisture, and vibration makes it ideal for demanding settings like manufacturing floors, utility substations, and transportation systems. It delivers the high bandwidth and low latency needed for real-time monitoring, AI/ML analytics, and edge computing, while reducing maintenance costs compared to copper systems. 7 Beyond performance, optical fiber ensures long-term scalability and sustainability. Its extended lifespan and bandwidth allow networks to grow without costly upgrades. 8 In harsh or mission-critical environments, optical fiber is not just a better option—it is the only one that meets the demands of modern ICT network infrastructure. Rethinking Installation Design This is the inflection point: legacy practices should transition to optical fiber-centric, modular designs that align with the realities of industrial-scale data, edge computing, and constrained labor resources.
It is important to understand the environmental stressors that can complicate installations in harsh environments. Physical hazards include vibration, moisture, and mechanical impacts that can damage network components. 1 For instance, vibration can cause connectors to loosen, while moisture can lead to corrosion and short circuits. Electromagnetic hazards, such as EMI, can disrupt the signal integrity of the network. These all can lead to installation challenges, quality issues, and network downtime.
Network Performance Demands/Network Performance Expectations
The resilience and uptime of network infrastructure are paramount, especially in mission-critical systems. These systems must operate reliably under extreme conditions such as high temperatures, moisture, vibration, and EMI. Ensuring network uptime in these environments is vital to maintaining continuous operations and avoiding costly downtime. By understanding these environmental stressors and selecting components with appropriate MICE ratings, contractors can ensure their installations can withstand the test of time, enhancing both their reputation and building customer trust and loyalty.
FIGURE 1: An overview of ISO/IEC 11801/EN 50173/TIA-568 classification system for evaluating the environmental robustness of cabling systems and components in industrial settings. Source: Corning
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ICT TODAY
July/August/September 2025
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