Optical LANs Are Gaining Importance
As organizations modernize network infrastructures across buildings and hotels, priorities now extend beyond speed and capacity. IT managers are seeking solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, security, and reliability while lowering costs. Optical local area networks (OLANs) are emerging as a promising answer to these challenges.
By: Martin Kandziora, Senior Manager, Marketing EMEA, Panduit GmbH
E-mail: Martin.Kandziora@panduit.com
The traditional LAN infrastructure has proven to be very effective in integrating a growing number of Ethernet devices (cables, switches, routers, firewalls, load-balancers, wireless access points, etc.) into a standardized infrastructure. These systems are best suited when users require high bandwidth and great flexibility, and when user density is high, and interoperability for future changes is paramount. However, when the business goal is to minimize the space required for the IT infrastructure and future upgrading or reconfiguration is unlikely, and when long cable runs are present, then alternative network architectures and technologies should be considered.
Utilization of Optical LANs
The cabling infrastructure in a company or building should support both current and future Ethernet speeds and bandwidths. This is one of the most effective ways to transmit growing data volumes for faster communication, data processing, and analysis in complex decision-making environments. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, and streaming are further increasing this demand. To meet these requirements, fiber-optic-based optical network technologies are increasingly being installed. Optical networks (optical LANs) offer increased capabilities and added value without companies changing their business processes.
There are two main types of optical networks: Active Optical LANs and Passive Optical Networks (PONs). In an active optical LAN, active network components such as switches and routers are used throughout to distribute the data within the various layers of the network. This hardware amplifies and routes signals and requires an appropriate power supply to each live/powered component on the LAN. The advantage is flexibility, a longer signal range limited only by the number of amplifiers, and the opportunity to manage the whole network
A passive optical network predominantly uses passive equipment such as passive optical splitters that enable the parallel transmission of multiple channels via WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing). The data is sent via passive optical distributors that passively split and transmit the light signal in different streams. Naturally, such networks are more energy-efficient and reduce operating costs. PONs are particularly advantageous in environments with a high density of end devices, such as those found in large office buildings or facilities with long cable distances of up to 20 kilometers.
Overall, both active and passive optical networks offer advantages – depending on the operator’s requirements and application scenarios. While active systems offer more control and flexibility, passive optical networks can be more cost-effective and energy-efficient.
Optical networks eliminate numerous known IT vulnerabilities, reduce a network’s points of attack, and are ideal for a “zero trust” architecture.
Bridging the Standards Gap
Furthermore, a key advantage of optical local area networks is that the services remain unchanged during transmission between the core and the end device. Fiber optic cables are technology-independent and, additionally, fiber optic cabling provides a greater range than copper. However, neither EN 50173-1 nor ISO/IEC 11801-1 traditionally contains any references to the actual performance of transmission and installation links based on optical fibers. To remain compliant with the standard, designers must consider the maximum link length according to the intended application and selected fiber type.
DIN VDE 0800-173-100:2023-06, the updated VDE standard, closes the gap between these application-specific standards and an application-neutral cabling standard. The performance of fiber optic transmission links is divided into classes based on a maximum permissible insertion loss, measured in decibels (dB), for maximum transmission link lengths. The insertion loss of an optical link results from the attenuation of the fiber and the optical connector. The insertion loss from the connectors is assumed to be 0.75 dB at 100% of the maximum number of mating cycles. The insertion loss is specified as a function of the respective wavelength of the transmission window.
Singlemode and Multimode Fibers
With singlemode, the fiber allows the light to propagate through the fiber core on one path (mode). With multimode, the light can propagate over several paths (modes) in the core. As these differ in propagation time, there is a significantly greater pulse broadening at the end of the transmission path with multimode fibers than with singlemode fibers. The differences between singlemode and multimode fibers lie not only in the resulting difference in range but also in the fiber core diameter, the wavelengths usually used, the light sources used, and the maximum transmission bandwidth.
Classifying Fiber Optic Cables and Connectors
Fiber optic (FO) cables and connectors are classified according to two main criteria: the number of fibers and the type of fiber used. Based on the number of fibers, connectors can be simplex, containing a single fiber; duplex, featuring two fibers for transmit and receive paths; or multifiber, incorporating several parallel fibers within a single connector. Fiber optic systems are also categorized by fiber type, including glass fiber optics, plastic-clad fiber, and plastic fiber optic cables. The choice of class depends on the respective application requirements and the type of connection. As each class has its own properties and areas of application, it is important to configure the correct class according to the respective application.
The Future Is Low-Smoke and Halogen-Free
Organizational sustainability and legislative safety requirements have helped drive the development of low-smoke, halogen-free Opti-Core fiber optic cable, which is gel-free on request, water-repellent, and offers a high fiber density. It is easy to install in building ducts. OptiCore fiber optic cables from Panduit for indoor and outdoor use are equipped with high-quality OM3 and OM4 laser-optimized fibers and, depending on the fiber required, are suitable for applications with bandwidths of up to 10 Gb/s (multimode) or more, and include OM4 SignatureCore, OM5 and singlemode fiber cable. The Panduit fibers are compatible with existing 50μm multimode and 9μm singlemode systems. Standard multimode and singlemode cables for indoor/outdoor use with a fiber count of up to 24 fibers have a central tube design, while cables with up to 72 fibers have a stranded tube design. In the latter, the individual fibers are divided into several stranded tubes. This makes the fiber optic cable easier to install and handle. The tubes serve to protect the fibers from external impairment from moisture, pressure, and mechanical damage.
The latest optical fiber cable provides greater flexibility and higher reliability, providing network technicians with solutions that often require less space. The fiber optic cable from Panduit fulfills the relevant criteria of EN 60794-2-20, IEC 60794-2-20 and EN 50173. The Opti-Core series is LSZH and Euro-classified, as well as compliant with the requirements of Construction Products Regulation No. 305/2011 (EU CPR).
Panduit offers optimized connectors to match the fiber optic cables. The OptiCam LC fiber connector from Panduit is a singlemode 9/125 μm OS1/OS2 simplex design for tightly buffered direct connector assembly on 900 μm jacketed “mini-breakout” fiber optic installations. It is a simple and cost-effective alternative to fusion splicing at endpoints that are difficult to access.
LC OptiCam clamp-lock connectors are ANSI/TIA-604-FOCIS-10 compliant and include factory-pre-terminated fiber, eliminating the need for polishing and bonding in the field. LC pre-terminated connectors have a typical insertion loss value of less than 0.3dB per mated pair for multimode and singlemode fibers. The connector can be terminated professionally and efficiently on site in two minutes using the OptiCam2 tool. The connectors from Panduit do not require crimping and clamp the fiber together with the cable sheath in a single operation. This enables up to three re-terminations without any loss of performance if the objective attenuation measurement of the individual connector shows a value that is too high.
Conclusion
Optical networks offer companies and installers a modern, forward-looking way to set up and operate networks. They eliminate numerous known IT vulnerabilities, reduce a network’s points of attack, and are ideal for a “zero trust” architecture. The technology is also fully EMC-compliant. Optical networks offer flexible design options for adapting capacity and bandwidth from a few 100Mbit/s up to several 100Gigabit/s, as well as the density utilized from a few to thousands of connected users and devices.
