Demand for fiber drives deployable systems, media converters

Increased demand and investments into fiber network solutions are driving need for increased flexibility in fiber deployment systems. Firms are exploring new options to expedite fiber implementations, such as Hardened cable jacketing, "genderless" connectors, hybrid systems that include copper along with fiber to deliver data communications and power and reel systems that speed deployment while improving cable protection. Each of these improvements has its own uses, but the combined efforts to expedite fiber installation is making them key players in the industry at this time, according to Cabling Installation & Maintenance.

Two of the most interesting changes being brought about by this increased demand are the use of hybrid cables and genderless connectors.

Hybrid cables
The combination of fiber and copper in a single cable allows firms to optimize fiber deployment, as well as data, communications and power delivery. This allows for the "bundling" of the performance of fiber with the power and control signals of copper, and saves on labor and equipment costs as well. It is also increasing investments into "genderless" connectors to boost the deployment.

'Genderless' connectors
The idea behind "genderless," or dual-gender connectors is that users can unreel cable without having to stop and determine male and female ends. This speeds up deployment and helps maintain polarity across daisy-chained sequences. Many of the connectors being used, according to the news source, also improve environmental protection and reduce mechanical failure.

While these tools enhance deployment costs, speed and stability, firms still have to consider the integration of fiber and copper and ensure they are using the right media converters to optimize installation. These tools enhance conversion to fiber optics, but fiber to copper converters will still be essential for speed and power.

Fiber optic converters
Investing in an optimized fiber optic converter line will improve uptime of a network, ensure it is robust and reliable and optimize compatibility with other systems. Additionally, firms will be able to rely on high-quality Link-Pass Through capabilities and onboard processor support. Behaving like true copper to copper connections, this will boost the overall usability of fiber and enhance FTTH deployment across the board to ensure quality of service.

Ultimately, the improvements gained from using the right technology to both deploy and integrate fiber will pay for themselves as service enhancements and customer satisfaction grow.

Perle has an extensive range of Managed and Unmanaged Fiber Media Converters to extended copper-based Ethernet equipment over a fiber optic link, multimode to multimode and multimode to single mode fiber up to 160km.