R&M identifies four main trends that will have a large impact on communications
and networking in context of the ICT market in India.
Flexibility: Services like cloud computing are big drivers for the future-turning
computing power into a commodity which is widely available. This also paves the
way for new types of collaboration like tele-diagnosis or video conferencing. As a
result, information has to be exchanged over long distances with high reliability. In
order to provide computing power efficiently the demand for data centers and data
storage is increasing.
Ubiquitous computing:We're moving towards a world where data processing has
been thoroughly integrated into everyday objects and activities. Many objects and
devices already have embedded processors and sensors, and in the future they will
communicate with each other more and more without any direct user intervention.
These new connections create the possibility of new interactions and access to
enormous amounts of information.
User behaviour: The Internet is a very good indicator when it comes to monitoring
how people change their communication behavior. People produce more and more
content and share it globally - which adds up to an incredible amount of data. This is
evidenced by the growing usage of social networking, video and photo-sharing
applications online.
Convergence: Separated networks will merge together in order to reduce costs
and simplify management. Voice, video and data are transported via IP-not only
stationary but also mobile. Content is available everywhere and on different devices.
The growing demand for bandwidth and interactive multimedia applications will
drive network convergence.
Taking all this into account, we can summarize the challenges of the Indian ICT
market of the future, as follows:
- More and more data volumes are soaring as more and more information is
exchanged
- Faster and faster bandwidths are increasing, with everyone wanting high
speed further
- IP is turning the world into a global village as networks span the entire planet
available at all times: information is a highly perishable commodity, and "always
ON" is the new standard
Network communications are shaping our lives more than ever before; they are
one of the keys to the future. And it is our ambition to help shape that future, given
that the demands of the Indian IT society are increasing. R&M sees its job as making
the foundations of any network as stable as possible. The global data network
depends on efficient connectivity solutions at the physical layer of cabling. We're
confident that connectivity and cabling solutions will play an important role in
network communications - now and in the future.
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES IN CABLING
Most companies are placing increased emphasis on the quality of their Layer 1
infrastructure. With the approach to reduce costs associated with downtime, we can
see more companies investing in high-quality cabling solutions, which enable
greater performance and meet security needs.
Pre-terminated cabling solutions are also gathering significant traction. These
solutions minimize the amount of installation time and thus reduce the chance of
errors occurring during the installation.
To ensure that the network runs error free, there are newer
systems that add a layer of security and intelligence to the cabling
systems. Cabling security systems provide security at the physical
layer to avoid unauthorized disruptions and tedious fault
tracking. This involves protection in form of color-coding, plug-in
and plug-out protection. There are also intelligent cabling
solutions available that can detect a fault or breakdown in the
network's cabling more efficiently, in real-time. This reduces the
time required to identify the cause of the breakdown, rectify it and
restore the connection.
The demand for fiber-optic based solutions will continue to
grow. Fiber optic solutions are gaining more acceptance due to
pre-polished connectors, pre-terminated fiber and MPO fiber
plug and play connection systems. These, dramatically decrease
the complexity of installing fiber cabling and the risk of error.
Cloud computing, high-definition video, high-quality voice and
data services, remote storage etc. require higher bandwidths that
can be effectively met through deploying fiber-optic based
solutions. As these services gather momentum, so will the demand
for fiber-optic solutions.
MATERIALS USED
The quality of the cables and cabling components being used in the
network is a significant factor affecting the longevity, reliability
and performance of any communications network.
The materials being used to manufacture cables/components
and the manufacturing process is the first step towards
maintaining quality. In case of copper based cabling solutions, the
gauge of copper used should be consistent across the entire length
of the cable. The use of LSZH (Low Smoke, Zero Halogen) PVC is
highly prevalent. The thickness of the insulation material should
be optimum to ensure effective insulation. In case of shielded
cables, the aluminium foil used must be high-quality.
For fiber-optic cabling solutions, the material of the fiber being
used is crucial for performance. The quality of cladding material
is also vital since it is responsible for guiding the signal through
the fiber. For the outer jackets, materials used could be made of
LDPE/MDPE/HDPE or LSZH PVC.
Next, efficient logistics are essential to ensure that there is no
product damage during transport. The design of the network
should be carried out as per customer requirements and must be
flexible, easy to manage and future-proof. The installation at the
site is a crucial aspect and needs to be carried out as per best
practices and standard procedures. Testing the installation
ensures that the network is running as per benchmarks. Often
ignored, the documentation is an important part of the entire
process which ensures that the maintenance and troubleshooting
are carried out smoothly.
(About the author: Shajan George is Technical Director, R&M India.
A leading supplier of passive cabling solutions for communication
networks, R&M contributes significantly towards ensuring operational
reliability in voice, data and image transmission worldwide.)