Cabling Considerations for Next-Gen Wireless, IoT-Ready Applications

The IoT is often described as a conglomeration of "things" connected to and communicating with each other via some invisible network. It is wireless. It is ethereal. It is all in the air. That's because many of these devices are integrated into the IoT through Wireless Access Points (WAPs), which allow PCs, smartphones and other intelligent devices to access a shared WLAN. WAPs are an integral component of emerging IoT and digital building applications, giving users and devices mobility while also allowing network and facilities managers to control, track and optimize network usage and performance based on users' habits and needs.

In reality, these wireless access points rely on millions of feet of communications cabling to handle their data transmission. Recent advances in Power-over-Ethernet cabling standards and technologies allow WAPs to be powered via communications cabling as well. The power and data requirements of WAPs can be high - terabytes of data and up to 90 Watts of power, in some cases - and the deployment environments can be noisy and hot. For these reasons, selecting the right cable to support your wireless access points is critical for designing and deploying a reliable, high-performance network and building a complete, IoT-ready platform. 

The cabling considerations to support WAPs are two-fold. From a data perspective, the cable must be flexible enough to handle fluctuating bandwidth demands and maintain reliable performance in environments where cross talk is prevalent. In terms of power, the cable must be able to support transmission of low voltage power up to 100 Watts without generating a significant heat load that could negatively impact system performance and lifespan.

To meet these rigorous demands, Superior Essex has created a full portfolio of premises copper and optical fiber cables that are uniquely designed for a range of power and bandwidth demands, such as enabling WAPs throughout an enterprise space or campus. For high-power PoE and high-bandwidth applications, 10Gain® XP CAT 6A cable is designed with a patented Isolation Wrap that offers industry-leading AXT headroom, ensuring reliable channel performance for your evolving network. For applications requiring converged power and data transmission, PowerWise® 4PPoE and PowerWise® Fiber cables are the most efficient, versatile and comprehensive Power-over-Ethernet cable suit available, offering industry-leading energy efficiency, temperature performance and extended reach. For the materially conscious environment, Low Smoke Halogen Free CAT 6+ cable is produced without any RED-list ingredients and maintains above-standard performance and reliability throughout its life cycle. Additionally, these category cables are manufactured in a Zero Waste to Landfill facility in Hoisington, KS, and are covered by Health Product Declarations and Environmental Product Declarations as well, which allow them to contribute toward credits in green-building certifications.

So the next time you think the IoT is in the air, remember all of the high-performance cabling required to make it possible. And when you think of high-performance cabling, remember Superior Essex.