CommScope has opened up a new R&D lab in North Carolina to test next-generation Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications to validate the performance and safety of structured cabling systems that support them.
PoE is a technology that enables network cables to deliver both electric power and data to devices. For example, office VoIP telephones were among the first devices to utilize PoE technology.
Of particular interest at the lab in Greensboro, N.C., is thermal performance, to ensure cables don’t get too hot in different real-world installation conditions.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers recently approved the new four-pair PoE standard (4PPoE), IEEE 802.3bt, which increases the power at the PSE (Power Source Equipment) of up to about 90 watts.
CommScope says that as higher levels of power can be delivered by PoE switches, more research is needed to determine the impact of structured cabling in a variety of installation scenarios.
Some of the demos of next-gen PoE applications the lab will perform include high-definition security cameras with advanced features like zoom and facial recognition; PoE powered computers, thin client devices and digital signage; in-building wireless systems; LED lighting systems; building management systems that incorporate security, lighting, HVAC control, in-building wireless and access control; and Internet of Things networks.
CommScope says initial research in the lab will test equipment from Cisco, Signify, and ThinLabs to trial a smart office building environment with lighting, security cameras, and LAN switches connected through 4PPoE on Systimax cabling.
Cables will be installed in ceilings and throughout walls so that CommScope engineers can analyze the cables’ heat emissions in real-world settings as they run high-power applications.
“Next to the data transport itself, PoE is the most important enabler of devices that use structured cabling in enterprise buildings today, which is critical as IT managers look to drive more value out of their installed copper cabling plant and connect more devices,” says Ernie Pickens, SVP of Enterprise Solutions at CommScope, in a statement. “CommScope remains committed to ensuring the safety, reliability and superior performance of our cabling and connectivity solutions for PoE enabled devices, now and as they evolve.”