Fibre-optic connectivity portfolio aligned with new 802.3ba standard

ADC Krone supports the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3ba standard that was ratified recently and participated in the industry task force that helped to define the new standard. This standard represents a major advancement in these emerging technologies, and is the first specification that supports both 100 GbE and 40 GbE throughput speeds over fibre-optic cables for telecom carriers and enterprise data centres.

With internet traffic volumes expected to grow by nearly 50% every year, carriers and data centres are already preparing for next-generation 100 Gbps and 40 Gbps ethernet technologies to support the surging demand for broadband applications and content. In anticipation of the new standard, ADC Krone has prepared its fibre-optic portfolio to handle the new speeds so customers can take advantage of fibre cabling solutions that are fully compatible with the new standard today.

“The move to 100 GbE technology will drive an exponential expansion in throughput capacity for carriers and data centre operators, over time replacing the existing 10 Gb and 1 Gb ethernet connections that are in place today,” said Peter Meijer, Technical Manager, ADC Krone. “With 100 GbE technology, providers will be able to move the equivalent of a full-length DVD movie in less than a second over a single channel of a single fibre-optic connection.

“As carriers and data centres plot their upgrade strategies to take advantage of the new standard in the months and years to come, ADC Krone is ready today to provide fibre-optic cabling and interface solutions that are fully compatible with 802.3ba, as well as existing 10 Gbps technology,” said Meijer. “Our advance work will help to ensure that our customers are well positioned to move to 100 GbE or 40 GbE platforms whenever their traffic needs dictate.”

As global enterprise requirements continue to evolve, the volumes of data needing to be transmitted and stored will continue to grow exponentially. According to analyst firm IDC, storage growth is continuing at a compound annual growth rate of more than 35%, and a recent Cisco Systems’ study predicts overall annual data traffic growth of 46% - a six-fold growth in traffic between 2007 and 2012.

The new technologies as a result of the standard are expected to lead to the development of new data centre ecosystems, including a common network interface, servers and other gear, to help providers more effectively and efficiently meet the demands.