For Immediate Release
May 18, 2006
Cable Sharing Helps Offset Effect of Rising Copper Prices on Network Infrastructure
Siemon™ Reports: Fully-shielded category 7/class F cabling allows multiple applications to run over a single cable, potentially reducing number of copper cabling channels.
Watertown, CT — According to the London Metal Exchange (LME), the price of copper has tripled in the past four years, rising over 59% between January and May of 2006 alone. With copper prices soaring globally and showing little signs of stabilizing, network cabling companies have been forced to adjust copper cable pricing accordingly.
"Enterprises are facing difficult network infrastructure decisions." explains Bob Carlson, Siemon's VP of Global Marketing, "It is a well-established best-practice to install a future-proof cabling plant capable of supporting the next generation of application speeds. The total cost of ownership on 10Gb/s capable cabling is far better than lower performing options. While these full-lifecycle savings hold true even with increasing copper prices, the up-front costs can act as a deterrent."
Enterprises are under pressure to balance long-term costs with current expenditures. Rising copper prices have led some to explore fiber to the desk alternatives. Although fiber can provide a future-proof option, it is not capable of supporting the growing demand for Power over Ethernet applications, and the cost of fiber electronics remains prohibitively high for horizontal applications.
Fully-shielded (S/FTP) category 7/class F copper cabling, such as Siemon's TERA™, is capable of supporting application speeds well beyond 10Gb/s. This future-proof performance provides an extended cabling lifecycle, driving the total cost of ownership (TCO) well below that of category 5e, category 6 and even category 6A UTP. (Source: Cabling Lifecycles and Total Cost of Ownership, C. Higbie, 4/2006 Link: http://www.siemon.com/us/white_papers/06-05-18-tco.asp)
While long-term savings and performance capabilities beyond 10Gb/s are driving global adoption of the TERA system, its unique cable-sharing ability in support of lower speed applications can provide up-front savings through the reduction of cable counts. By combining the use of one TERA outlet dedicated for high-speed applications and another for cable sharing of lower speed voice and video applications, end-users simultaneously benefit from the highest performing and most cost effective copper solution.
Accepted by both TIA and ISO, cable sharing describes the practice of running more than one application over different pairs of a twisted-pair copper telecommunications channel. In the case of category 7/class F TERA, up to four applications can be supported with a single cable. This ability is a function of both cable and outlet construction. (Source: Cable Sharing in Commercial Building Environments: Reducing Cost, Simplifying Cable Management, and Converging Applications onto Twisted-Pair Media, V. Rybinski, 4/2006 Link: http://www.siemon.com/us/white_papers/06-05-12-cable-sharing.asp)
By virtue of individually foil-wrapped pairs and overall screen, S/FTP cable exhibits excellent internal, pair-to-pair crosstalk control. This allows separate applications to run without interference from others within the same sheath. The cable construction is further supported by the TERA 4-quandrant isolated outlet, the only non-RJ category 7 interface recognized by ISO/IEC.
Fitting within a standard RJ footprint, the combination of the TERA outlet and cord options allows extremely simple facilitation of cable sharing. As with traditional cabling channels, all four pairs of each cable are terminated in a single outlet. However, unlike an RJ interface, the TERA outlet can support up to 4 one-pair cords, 2 two-pair cords or a combination of the two, without the need for additional splitters or adapters. Using these features, many popular applications may be converged onto a single cable:
- Analog Voice, 1 pair
- VoIP, 2 pair
- Video over IP, 2 pair
- CATV, 1 pair
- CCTV, 1 pair
- 10/100BASE-T, 2 pair
Depending on the applications supported, a single TERA cable can replace up to 4 copper channels. With copper prices significantly raising the cost of cable, this reduction in total cable runs can provide an immediate cost benefit.
To learn more about the cost benefits of cable sharing using Siemon's TERA system, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, Security benefits and the ease of termination, grounding and bonding of the TERA system, visit www.siemon.com/TERA or contact your local Siemon sales person.
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- 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, with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world, Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E), augmented category 6/category 6A(Class EA) and category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode and singlemode fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 active patents specific to structured cabling, from patch cords to patch panels, 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.
- Press Contact:
- Brian Duval
- Marketing Communication Manager
- Siemon
- 101 Siemon Company Drive
- Watertown, CT 06795
- Phone : (1) 860 945-4380
- Fax : (1) 860 945-8503
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