As industries increasingly digitalise , the need for reliable data cables is critical . Mark Froggatt , Technical Director at BASEC , outlines the importance of obtaining third-party certification when it comes to data communication cables and discusses how the role of cable testing helps ensure only high-quality cable is used within the communications market .
n a world so heavily reliant on data , poor quality and
I non-compliant data cables can have a catastrophic impact on the end-user . It is crucial that structured cabling systems can accommodate data demand both now and in the future .
Data cables – when quality matters
It is becoming increasingly visible that the world is ever more reliant on digital technology . In fact , the world is in the midst of what is referred to as a ‘ Digital Transformation ’.
An IDC report revealed that today , more than 5 billion consumers interact with data every day and by 2025 this will increase to 6 billion – 75 % of the world population . In 2025 , each connected person will have at least one data transaction every 18 seconds . Many of these transactions are because of the billions of Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices connected across the globe which are expected to create over 90zB of data in 2025 .
There is great emphasis on reliable data transmission , both in respect to volume and also transfer rates . In short , consumers are demanding high-levels of data and more than ever this data is required in real time . Whether in business or leisure , there is a forever increasing number of data transactions , both with human interface and with the increasing scope of IoT . Furthermore , with the expansion of the Industrial Internet of Things ( IIoT ), these transactions will inevitably increase further .
Indicators of performance quality
Data network infrastructure quality should be carefully considered to assess whether or not it will be able to operate efficiently , both now and as technologies advance in the future . Data networks have been evolving since 1985 . This is when the first voice grade copper cabling was used to transmit data , by means of a simple unshielded twisted pair cable , which managed to transfer data at a rate of 1Mbps .
Of course , in 2020 , the transmission requirements significantly evolved and now copper structured cabling specifications have progressed further . Increases in data demand has meant a far greater emphasis on cable design
Why obtain thirdparty testing and certification on data cables ?
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