INTELLIGENT CABLING
Time to consider passive optical LANs in your enterprise
If you need to manage a number of workstations with minimum cable connectivity and fibre speeds, passive optical LANs may be your solution, explains Matthias Gerber at R & M.
The concept of the passive optical LAN promises gigabit speed to the end device. It is being sold as a cost saving, alternative to traditional structured and application-neutral LAN cabling. Passive optical LAN promises the availability of the potential of fibre optics at every desk and every end device. The excitement is growing. Installation solutions are already available.
Surveys by manufacturers and market researchers have predicted a passive optical LAN boom. British building industry associations are expecting growth rates of 40 % to 100 % per annum until 2018. Other analysts have predicted average growth rates of over 19 % until 2020. IT system providers are investing in passive optical LAN solutions and offering corresponding portfolios.
R & M’ s market surveys would, however, suggest that the technology is actually only being used in a few cases. We therefore do not expect the imminent ousting of application-neutral cabling which is why before you start investing, there are aspects of passive optical LAN that have to be taken into consideration.
Passive optical LAN is based on fibre optic access networks of the carriers and their technologies. In a way, it is a private fibre optic access networks that works with a passive optical network resulting in passive optical network planning regulations and network topologies. The infrastructure of the passive optical LAN is essentially based on single mode fibres, distributors and passive optical splitters, outlets as well as the corresponding active components- optical network terminals and optical line terminals.
The advantages of passive optical LAN are reduced costs for setting up and operating a system. Various estimates show that passive optical LAN is up to 50 % less expensive than traditional, application-neutral office cabling. Current calculations are, however, often based on the optimal capacity utilisation of the passive optical LAN devices, something which is not always possible in practice. This is why it is recommended you check the expected or promised savings extremely carefully in each particular case as part of your planning procedure.
36 Issue 04 INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS