Networks Europe Jul-Aug 2019 | Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF 09 R&M launches universal solution offering up to 40 Gigabit Ethernet in the LAN and data centre R&M is launching a universal Cat. 8.1 cabling system. It supports the fastest data transmission local networks with structured copper cabling achieve today: namely up to 40 Gigabit/s Ethernet. At the same time, the Cat. 8.1 cabling system is backwards-compatible as it’s based on the standard RJ45 plug-in format. This means Cat. 6A patch cords used to date can still be deployed. Networks can still be operated with 10 Gigabit/s Ethernet which is standard today. Data centres and LAN operators do not need any additional adapters, transmission cables or fibre optic interfaces if they are soon migrating to the faster network generations 25 and 40 Gigabit/s Ethernet. After the installation of a basic Cat. 8.1 infrastructure, faster switches and servers can be integrated seamlessly. The basic Cat. 8.1 infrastructure (Permanent Link) consists of two RJ45 connection modules and a shielded Cat. 8.2/8.1 S/FTP installation cable. The system complies with both standard families: ISO/IEC 11801, Class I, and ANSI/TIA-568.2-D. The original intent of use for this system was in data centres, particularly with regard to top of rack and end of row cabling. Here, Cat. 8.1 cabling is due to transmit up to 40 Gigabit/s Ethernet (40GBase-T) in future. R&M guarantees the performance for the 24m permanent link and the up to 30m channel depending on the patch cords used. R&M bases its specification on the relevant standards of ISO/IEC and TIA. The second area of application is in buildings which require extremely fast local data networks. Here the Cat. 8.1 system supports the new performance level of 25 Gigabit/s Ethernet (25GBASE-T). The proposed 50m distance in the draft technical report ISO/IEC TR11801-9909 for this bandwidth covers roughly two-thirds of all typical link lengths in office buildings. Furthermore, the Cat. 8.1 cabling system is suitable for four-pair Power over Ethernet (4PPoE). n BT chooses Juniper Networks to underpin 5G capability and move to a cloud-driven infrastructure Juniper Networks has been chosen by British Telecommunications (BT) to deliver its Network Cloud infrastructure initiative. This deployment will pave the way for BT’s Network Cloud rollout – and to also enable a more flexible, virtualised network infrastructure that can deliver the technical requirements of various lines of business for BT from a single platform. BT will also use this platform to create new and exciting converged services bringing mobile, Wi-Fi, and fixed network services together. Furthermore, with the implementation of the Network Cloud infrastructure, BT will be able to combine a range of currently discrete network functions and deploy them on a cloud infrastructure that is built to a common framework and shared across the organisation, throughout the UK and globally. These include services across BT’s voice, mobile core and radio/access, global services, ISP, TV and IT services, as well as a host of internal applications, thereby cutting operational expenditure and significantly simplifying operations throughout the organisation. n NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals If you have any news please email James Abbott [email protected]