Through the net at the speed of light

  

Fiber optic cabling has already started its triumphant advance

If one compares the development of data transmission with that in rail traffic, the comparison between the steam locomotive in the past and the high-speed train today becomes obvious. In the past, data was transmitted via copper cables, a proven technology that is still in use today. The disadvantage: copper has a resistance. As a result, the signals become weaker and weaker after a certain distance. With the increasing length of the lines, the speeds that can be achieved during data transmission decrease. Fiber optics, on the other hand, use light pulses for data transmission. These are hardly weakening even over long distances. The result is much higher transfer rates.

For the "Internet of Things" (IoT) or other solutions, such as autonomous driving or smart city applications and much more, fast Internet connections are essential. This also applies to private applications, such as smart home equipment in residential buildings. Therefore, optical connections are recommended to ensure faultless operation and delay-free data transmission.

Agenda between desire and reality

In its digital agenda, the German government already decided in 2014, to expand nationwide with high-performance networks. This should benefit not only private households but also the economy. So far, however, the federal government has had a hard time implementing the plan. The target of supplying fiber optics by the end of the last legislative period was not achieved. The overriding goal of a super-fast Internet with at least 50 Mbit/s throughout Germany by 2018 will probably remain a dream of the future for a while. And experts also see the coming years as black. According to the Bertelsmann Foundation, Germany is only 15th in Europe in terms of average transmission rates (30 Mbit/s), but transmission rates of up to 1,000 Mbit/s require more optical fiber than has been installed to date. In an international comparison, Germany currently ranks only at the bottom.

The public does not accept the sluggish expansion of the German fiber optic network. For example, the citizens' initiative PRO Glasfaser was founded some time ago. It bundles the nationwide demand for fiber optic connections and puts pressure on politcs. The aim is to rapidly promote the sustainable expansion of broadband across the country and to replace copper-based connection types in the medium term. The aim is fiber-to-the-home cabling throughout the building and into every flat.

Optical cabling requires specific know-how

Fiber optic cabling has already started its triumphant advance in the corporate environment, in the cabling of company premises, building complexes or data centers. This is especially true when longer distances need to be bridged. In the age of cloud computing and Hyperscale data centers, data traffic is growing dramatically. According to market analysts, volumes in the double-digit Zetabyte range can already be expected in about three years. This can only be achieved via fiber optic infrastructures.

However, the optical technology is complex and cannot be compared with the copper cabling used up to now. Fiber optic requires specific technological knowledge, not only of the technology itself, but also of standards, modes of operation and various accompanying circumstances. Examples are singlemode and multimode, wavelengths, refraction and return or attenuation and refractive index. Targeted training and continuous education of competent technicians is therefore a success criterion for fiber optic projects. Because the installation, operation and last but not least the maintenance of fiber optic cabling infrastructures requires trained personnel who always work at the latest technological level. This applies to data centers as well as to companies and the private environment.

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Quality is essential

The characteristics of fiber optic cabling are regulated by a wide range of standards, such as OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5, OS2, G.657.A1, A2, B2, B3 or G.652.D, to name a few. Technicians must master the entire range of regulations to build up a functioning fiber optic infrastructure.

The constantly increasing speeds in standardized network infrastructures are a further criterion in addition to the rapidly growing data traffic. The curve ranges from 1GBit/s, over 10GBit/s, 40GBit/s up to 100Gbit/s. Added to this is the new 802.3bs standard of December 2017, which enables speeds of 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps. This growing data throughput requires not only the appropriate cables for an installation, but also adequate connectors. The market already offers a wide range of optical connectors, some of which can accommodate up to 16 fibers.

The quality of the components is essential for the smooth operation of a fiber optic network. This applies to both, the cables and the connectors used. Here it makes sense to check whether the specifications of the selected components are exactly fulfilled. Only then it is guaranteed, that the fast data flow is not slowed down. To avoid such risks, only certified components should be installed, that ensure clean connections within a fiber optic network. This requires dedicated planning in advance and careful selection of the components used. Not to be underestimated is the importance of the technical know-how that service providers should have to ensure the installation and subsequent maintenance of an installation. Components that meet current standards, but are also already geared to future requirements, can grow with the demands of a company and its applications. This ensures scalability and protects investment.