Zone cabling is dead, long live zone cabling!
Facility Executive - Zone Cabling for Smart Offices

Zone cabling is dead, long live zone cabling!

After 20+ years in the industry you get to see and experience a lot of solutions. One such solution for me is the concept of Zone Cabling. o, what exactly is Zone Cabling? Zone cabling is a way of organizing a network's cabling infrastructure into smaller, more manageable zones. This can help to improve performance, simplify troubleshooting, and make it easier to add new devices to the network.

My first introduction to this concept took place nearly 15 years ago during my time at ADC . Even though I have been talking about enterprise networks and data centers here, it is worth noting that my background originally started in service provider realm. As a Systems Engineer supporting many wired and wireless solutions in the ADC portfolio, I was assigned the task of familiarizing myself with a new solution that utilized DWDM PON (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Network) to deliver Gigabit services over a Passive Optical Network (PON).

I know what you are asking, this is about Zone Cabling, why are we talking about PON? Well you see, dear reader, PON was the first introduction for me into the realm of zone cabling. It just so happened to be an Active Zone solution that took the form of Passive Optical LAN (POLAN). My experience with the active PON solution meant that I would be able to provide support for a new way of connecting enterprise networks. At the time the use of PON technologies in a building to enable enterprise networks was novel. But with the components in the ADC portfolio and the knowledge from deploying PON systems for service providers it was something that we were well positioned at the time to support.

Active Zone architectures involve incorporating powered electronics within the zone distribution point, as opposed to passive zone architectures where the zone distribution point only contains passive connectivity. It was easy for me to draw parallels between POLAN and applications utilizing active cabinets in service areas for service providers in the outside plant. This understanding helped me grasp the rationale behind employing PON technology within a building: a fiber-deep architecture providing a long network lifespan, reduced Intermediate Distribution Points or Telecommunication Rooms within a building, and decreased size and length of copper cabling, among other advantages.

However, there was one significant drawback: our customers at the time had concerns about power at the zone distribution point. Questions arose regarding the number of required power circuits, their placement, and how to ensure power redundancy. The approach introduced additional complexity that many were reluctant to manage.

As ADC turned into TE 中国 and subsequently into CommScope POLAN architectures and support followed me. It was at CommScope when I joined the Enterprise Strategy organization where Passive Zone cabling came into my orbit. Under the guidance of my manager Ed Solis, MBA , I was tasked with exploring passive zone architectures for the Enterprise LAN. Naturally, I turned to POLAN given my background. Countless hours were spent collaborating with my colleague Leni Thomas who held Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) responsibility over CommScope's PON solutions, as we sought to comprehend the potential of POLAN in enterprise networks. Our goal was to understand the requirements for a completely passive zone distribution, similar to the passive fiber cabinets employed in the outside plant. Eventually, we encountered the same challenges related to powering, ONUs (Optical Network Units) placement, and support for these networks, when compared to traditional network architectures.

Over time, my market research expanded to include passive copper zone distribution as well. We had observed a shift toward "ceiling-mounted" network connections. Wireless LAN was becoming "good enough" for many organizations to eliminate multiple drops for each user at their desks. In just a few years, wireless technology had the capability to match or even surpass the needs of many users, supporting their work styles effectively. Recognizing that each generation of WiFi would require more access points (APs) to support increasing bandwidth and connections, I considered what the best approach to meet evolving connectivity needs for WiFi deployments while still supporting wired connections at floor level and above the ceiling. The answer was clear: Zone cabling . was the obvious answer. Bringing connectivity to the areas where it is needed allows for quick and convenient additions, relocations, and changes. Power over Ethernet (PoE) resolves the power-related queries I encountered with an active zone solution. However, it reintroduces the challenge of managing large bundles of copper cables and necessitates overbuilding each zone, requiring higher upfront investment to accommodate network changes that may arise 2-3 years later. Additionally, it brings up issues like distance limitations of copper and the need for deploying more Telecommunication Rooms (TRs) to ensure effective network coverage.

In the cases mentioned above, Zone Cabling and Zone Architectures were not well-received by many I spoke to. Two different approaches to Zone Architectures, two different times, but both faced a lack of adoption. That is not to say that there weren't instances of success with active zone and fiber-deep architectures. Remote powering using Class 2 circuits on hybrid cables that included fiber optics allowed certain markets to embrace fiber deep architectures . However, widespread adoption remains elusive. Even with hybrid cables, there were limitations on the amount of power that could be safely delivered. Insufficient power, limitations on deployment flexibility due to power considerations, and the reluctance to depart from traditional enterprise network stacks have significantly hindered Zone Architectures.

But now, a solution has emerged that addresses the power limitations of active zones. It has the potential to realize all the possibilities I saw 15 years ago when I was first introduced to Passive Optical LAN solutions: a fiber-deep architecture, flexible network deployments, and reduced requirements for Intermediate Distribution Frames/Telecommunication Rooms (IDFs/TRs). Moreover, it enables the use of standard network components and leverages PoE to provide network connectivity and power for wireless APs, IoT devices, and numerous other devices on the network. This solution is known as #FaultManagedPower , or as designated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in the US, #Class4Power .

As I mentioned earlier, spending over 20 years in the industry provides a front-row seat to witness the emergence of new technologies. For me, Fault Managed Power and VoltServer Inc. are among those innovations. My first exposure to this solution was in conjunction with Digital Antenna System (DAS) deployments. Throughout my tenure at ADC, TE, and CommScope, I have either directly supported DAS solutions or closely monitored their ability to connect people and enterprises over the years. In the past, one of the challenges with many DAS deployments was how to cost-effectively provide power to the devices covering the respective zones. Sounds familiar right? Fault Managed Power presented a simple, cost-effective, and, most importantly, safe method of delivering power to those remote radios.

The power solution employed in DAS deployments can logically be extended to Zone Architectures as well. By securely delivering bulk power to zone distribution points, network designers gain newfound flexibility to overcome the distance limitations of Ethernet over copper. It enables the use of fiber optic cables to provide a long-term network solution that caters to the speed and latency requirements of our ever-evolving networks. Active zone architectures facilitate the rapid deployment of new devices with the ease of plugging in a patch cord. By employing fault managed power, all the questions I faced regarding power distribution, backup systems, and placement when supporting POLAN deployments find their answers. Currently, we are witnessing companies starting to embrace this approach, such as Sinclair Digital and their utilization of the technology across multiple projects, as well as CommScope with their own Constellation product line.

Using Fault Managed Power to address the limitations of Zone Architectures gives network designers and owners the flexibility to choose. They can choose the technology they deploy to meet their users' needs. They can choose where they can deploy devices while still using standard practices. They can choose the ability to use power over ethernet without worrying about power budgets at the zone distribution point. They can choose how much infrastructure to deploy ahead of time for their immediate needs but have the flexibility to deploy and expand quickly. They can choose a network architecture that has the ability to reduce the use of embodied carbon for network deployments.

While traditional Zone Cabling approaches may have faced challenges and limitations, the emergence of Fault Managed Power has revitalized the concept. This innovative solution offers the potential to overcome power-related constraints, realize the advantages of fiber-deep architectures, and provide greater flexibility in network deployments. With companies like VoltServer Inc., Sinclair Digital, and CommScope pioneering this approach, Zone Cabling is experiencing a new lease of life.




Insightful comment Jason. You are in good company as a former CommScope Employee!

Ronna E. Davis

More power; safer, smarter and more sustainable.

1 年

Great article JB!

Matthew Baldassano

Innovative Digital Infrastructure Professional | Driving Connectivity for the Future

1 年

Hi Jason - great insight and backdrop in the history of active and passive cabling and connectivity options including the push-pull between service provider and enterprise technologies. Smart devices are more mobile, connected, and capable than ever and I agree that both wired and wireless networks will be easier to design and build with technology like this. Even more interesting are smart-building "retrofits" that can now provide local network services and applications closer and more secure to their users. Let the innovation continue!

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Jason Bautista

20+ Years experience in Telecommunications | Business Development | Strategy | Solution Architect | Technologist | Making the complex simple to understand

1 年

After publishing this (and I apologize for my grammatical and formatting errors) I saw that Minnesota has adopted the 2023 NEC that includes #faultmanagedpower defining it as #class4power here is the post and my immediate thoughts: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/jasonmbautista?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAAMTND8BrPeSJXQdOdvMaG53L9HalMs0MSg&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3BZzIFdvu9Sdejg2hWizz6ZA%3D%3D

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