Leviton has announced its involvement in a new IEEE task force for the development of additional specifications for next-generation 40 and 100 Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet.
As a member of the IEEE 802.3bm task force, Leviton will play an active role in amending IEEE 802.3 -- the collection of IEEE standards defining the physical layer and data link layer's media access control of wired Ethernet -- to address 100 Gb/s Physical Layer (PHY) specifications and management parameters, using 4-lane electrical interface for operation on multimode and single-mode fiber-optic cables. The new task force will also develop 40 Gb/s PHY specifications and management parameters for operation and extended reach (>10km) single-mode fiber-optic cables.
“Leviton is closely involved in the development of this next generation standard, which aims to provide guidance for lowering the overall installed costs of electronics and cabling for 100 Gb/s systems,” explains Gary Bernstein, RCDD, CDCD, Leviton’s senior director of product management for fiber and data center solutions, who is a participating member on the IEEE 802.3bm task force.
Bernstein adds, “Many customers are now installing 100 Gb-ready cabling systems in order to support new 40 Gb and 100 Gb equipment architectures, so the new standard would allow them to utilize four channels of 25 Gb/s versus the current four channels of 10 Gb/s, and require fewer optical fibers.”
As part of its Network Solutions business unit, Leviton offers its Opt-X Unity 40/100G MTP fiber system, supplying 24-fiber MTP technology that supports current IEEE 802.3ba and expected IEEE 802.3bm requirements. The company says the Opt-X Unity System reduces cost of ownership and makes full utilization of fibers through the cabling channel. The system is designed to give users an easy migration path to support their network equipment architectures that follow all current and future IEEE standards.
The new IEEE 802.3bm standard is projected to be fully integrated in Q1 2015.
Related story:A 24-fiber interconnect solution: The right migration path to 40/100G
