"A structured cabling system is essential for optimal network performance". No second thoughts on this. Mainly because for a large part of the network downtime, it is cabling which is responsible for the heavy losses. Nonetheless, it is cabling which is considered least important by the enterprises. "This story is not akin to just the Indian enterprises but is the same everywhere", says Paul Stathis, senior member of Molex Premise Networks Group, worldwide. And this, despite the fact that it is the one which has the longest life in any network. Analysts point out that while the software gets outdated in 1.5 years, the life-cycle of LAN is close to 2.5 years, intelligent work stations have a life-cycle close to 3.5 years, and mainframe have a life-cycle of about five years. But a cabling system survives for more than 15-25 years. Besides, this solution requires the lowest capital investment, too. The cabling costs anywhere from 2 to 5 percent of the exchequer, whereas LAN equipment, workstations, and software, account for over 7 percent, 34 percent, and 54 percent respectively, of the total spending.

Why is it that structured cabling in spite of being the lifeline for optimal-network performance is still side-lined? Explains Stathis lack of awareness. Several of the vendors affirm the same. Everyone has a good solution, but the itch towards outsmarting each other on the basis of technology has had its effect on addressing the core issues of—design, architecture, and installation. Everyone claims that they have a solution catering to the future needs and that also satisfies Category 6 (Cat 6) or Category 7 (Cat 7) needs. But the issue is about the approval of the standards. Their is nothing wrong with this claim, say experts. It is not that the consumer is being deceived but that standards are taking more time to get formed than the evolution of products. And the structured cabling companies have the challenge of creating awareness of solutions, standards, building the necessary installers, training them, and educating the consumers, besides promoting their products.

The pace of innovation is proceeding at a very fast pace. But industry standard bodies like the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Electrical Industry Association (TIA/EIA ) and ISO, ensure that the guidelines for structured cabling are independent of both the manufacturer and technology, and that certain, specific requirements for the proper operation of the cabling system, are met. Today, in copper, Category 5 Enhanced (Cat 5e) is the norm. But vendors are already talking of Cat 6 and Cat 7 solutions. The question is why Cat 6 and Cat 7? Explains Stathis, "Cat 6 is a full-duplex Ethernet Physical Layer specification for 1,000 Mbps, operating over Cat 6 Balanced Twisted Pair Cabling (1,000 Base-TX.)". This means additional performance parameters for rejection of noise, increased performance criteria for common parameters like channel attenuation and return loss, and extended bandwidth from the Cat 5 performance level of 100 MHz to 200 MHz.

These performance claims can be confusing to the user, especially, with regards to performance after installation. But standards ensure this to the user. Further, a total cabling solution that is tested and certified to work together as part of an end-to-end cabling system, is also the norm. TIA Cat 6’s final target approval is in the last quarter of 2001. So far, nine drafts have already been approved. These include increased cable or connector specs to 250 MHz, increase of channel or link specs to 250 MHz, alteration of attenuation specs to insertion loss, approval of field testing, and specification of patch-cord panel, among other things. The ISO Cat 6’s final ratification is expected in Q3 of 2002. This would address inter-operability, compatibility, and terminology. While the standard bodies are still ratifying the Cat 6 standards, there is already an increased talk about Cat 7.

What is Cat 7? "This is an ISO development, not even considered by TIA", says Stathis. It is a proposed ISO 11801 Class E and addresses bandwidth of up to 600 MHz, while Cat 8 is again a proposed ISO draft for 1.2 GHz. But now that the Cat 6 has enough time, and even fiber developments are happening simultaneously, are they needed? Should the customer look for these products? Experts believe and advise not to even bother beyond Cat 6, and concentrate on fiber which is better, faster, stable, and cheaper. (See table)

So with such a host of products and vendors available, selecting a consultant and a good installer is a critical business decision that can have a significant impact on any enterprise’s success. And almost all cabling players have looked at addressing this through the training and certification process, and on a regular basis, creating the necessary awareness. And standards have only armed the end-user with cabling solutions that will support even the most extreme network demands.

Srinivas Rao