CONNECTIONS_53-e

Trends
Cat. 8.1:
R&M is Ready
050.6530
Four times as fast. That is the next goal on the copper cabling Ethernet roadmap.
Tests carried out by R&M show that it is physically possible!
The transmission channel is ready. But are users really going to feel the benefit?
The goal has a name: Cat. 8.1. The IEEE
standard 40GBase-T is on the table. The
transmission speed in the twisted-pair copper
cable is to be increased from 10 to 40 Gbit/s,
the test frequencies to 2,000 MHz. RJ45 is
050.6531
still the format of choice for connections. But
the link has to be shortened to 30 meters
to be able to handle attenuation losses and
interfering signals. This length would be good
for data centers. They could use 40GBase-T
for many end of row and all top of rack
configurations.
That takes care of the starting conditions
for the quantum leap to Cat. 8.1! However,
the named fields of application already have
well integrated transmission technologies.
And that begs the question how well will
the solution be accepted by the market?
Surprisingly, the answer to this question may
come from the 25GBase-T protocol which
was developed by the IEEE at the same time.
This uses lower transmission frequencies
with the same coding procedure, theoretically
enabling longer transmission distances of up
to 50 meters. This would then allow the use
of 25GBase-T in around 60% of LAN cabling
and exponentiate the possible area of use
of Cat. 8.1. But as yet there has been no
final statement from IEEE on the maximum
transmission distance of 25GBase-T.
The developments of R&M show that a
Cat. 8.1 transmission channel on an RJ45
basis is feasible in accordance with the requirements
of IEEE and the cabling standards
of ISO/IEC. But to be able to move on to
Cat. 8.1, new technologies, approaches and
manufacturing procedures will have to be
developed to be able to master transmission
frequencies of up to 2,000 MHz and
reproduce them. R&M is ready to launch
a pioneering solution as soon as there is
recognizable value added for the customer
on the application side.
050.5749
Olga Matthias Tysyachnyuk Gerber | Project Manager
Synergia Market Manager SE, Ukraine LAN Cabling
olga.tysyachnuk@synergia.ua
matthias.gerber@rdm.com
32 10I2017–53 CONNECTIONS