For Immediate Release
July 30, 2002

Recent ISO/IEC Committee Ballot for international standardization of The Siemon Company’s TERA™ Interface is overwhelmingly approved

International committee approves the Category 7/Class F Interface ballot, for use in standards-based structured cabling systems

Watertown, CT — After years of debate, the results are now in: The Siemon Company’s TERA™ connector has received committee draft approval from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). With this vote, TERA has cleared what was the largest and most difficult hurdle in the road toward international standardization. Already a publicly available specification (PAS) published earlier this year, the IEC 61076-3-104 interface has come one step closer to full international standardization. This vote of eighteen countries represents a major milestone in structured cabling. For the first time in history, a non-RJ style connector has passed the committee ballot stage, signifying international support for its use with voice, data and video applications over four-pair 100-ohm balanced cabling systems.

“This represents positive progress for Category 7 and sets a tremendous precedent for the industry.” said John Siemon, VP Engineering for The Siemon Company. “International standards approval of a single non-RJ style connector for 100-ohm balanced cabling is a significant accomplishment, setting the stage for global market acceptance in commercial premises and home cabling. Until now, category 7 cabling has demonstrated its ability to displace other “high-speed” media such as 50-ohm coaxial cable and 150-ohm Shielded Twisted Pair (STP), but has yet to prove itself capable of supporting broadband video. With independently certified reliability and transmission performance to 1.2 GHz, the TERA connector has opened the door for true broadband delivery over balanced cabling. Now, high bandwidth applications like broadband video can run over a single twisted-pair. What’s more, the TERA’s innovative design allows for up to four 1.2 GHz connections in the same space as a single keystone jack – permitting users to integrate video, voice and data services over a single cable.”

During the interface selection conducted by ISO/IEC, an independent assessment panel was chartered to rank six different non-RJ-style connector proposals. Based on forty-one separate criteria, the TERA interface was ranked the best overall choice for delivering the demanding bandwidth specified in the standard. The TERA’s unprecedented transmission performance was instrumental in securing standardization support despite competing proposals that could have derailed acceptance. Through it all, Siemon’s TERA interface has persevered as the non-RJ interface of choice for balanced cabling. TERA is positioned to revolutionize structured cabling systems both for commercial and residential applications.[1]

Siemon offers a complete line of TERA products including plugs, outlets, patch panels, modular patch cords and more. TERA is a fully shielded (SSTP) solution and offers superior immunity to ingress noise and electromagnetic interference. Thousands of TERA products have been successfully installed throughout the world. All TERA products are available for immediate shipping.

For more information on the TERA products, the IEC voting and progress of the Category 7 standard please visit: www.siemon.com/au/category7/.

[1] The Siemon TERA connector interface has been chosen by ISO/IEC as the primary interface for the Home Electronics and Multimedia outlet for the Small Office Home Office (SOHO) standard being developed by draft standard ISO/IEC 15018 (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 N708)

About Siemon
Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA Siemon has global offices and partners throughout the world. Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) and fibre cabling systems available. With over 400 active patents specific to structured cabling, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry.

Siemon’s Australian head office is located in Allambie Heights, Sydney, with offices also located in Brisbane and Melbourne.

For more information about this press release, please contact:
Alana Patton
The Siemon Company
Marketing Communications Executive
Tel : (02) 8977 7500