It’s been 37 years since Ethernet was approved as the LAN standard by the IEEE. Back then, Ethernet’s 10MB/second speed was more than adequate for the basic data transmission needs of 1985 and twisted-pair copper cabling could handle the data traffic with ease.
Almost four decades later, the limitations of copper cabling are becoming more pronounced just as fibreoptic cabling is becoming a more robust and affordable alternative. Despite advances in technology that have increased transmission rates, copper is still more susceptible to security breaches and electrical interference, while fibreoptic is faster, more reliable, and more secure. This is why the global Gigabit Passive Optical Network market is projected to grow from $12.72 billion this year to $22.65 billion in 2026.
For building engineers and network architects with decades of experience deploying and managing copper-based LANs, the switch to Passive Optical LAN (POL) technology may seem a bit daunting at first glance. But as more of them are discovering, partnerships among network equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers (VAR), global system integrators, and IT solutions providers are turning enterprise fiber LANs from “eventually” into “now.” Organizations from hospitals to college campuses are vastly increasing network capacity and speed while reducing costs by as much as 50%.
These benefits couldn’t come at a better time. The number of network-connected IoT devices is projected to nearly triple from 2020 (9.7 billion) to 2030 (29.4 billion). Much of that growth will come from systems in “smart buildings” that improve energy efficiency and emergency response – and add more traffic to the LAN. The IP telephony market is expected to expand at a CAGR of more than 14% between now and 2027, further increasing LAN traffic. Enterprise user demand will also grow. Building occupants – whether commercial tenants demanding low latency from cloud-based SaaS solutions or hospital teams supporting digital health programs – will need the speed and bandwidth that only fibre technology can deliver.
While speed and bandwidth demand may be the primary drivers of Passive Optical LAN growth in the enterprise market, the technology delivers additional vital benefits, including:
- Cost savings. As a recent analysis has shown, the total cost of fiberoptic cable is lower than copper, and the fiber solution´s ease of maintenance, scalability, and lower energy consumption ensure that the savings only grow over time.
- Increased security. Unlike copper, fiberoptic cable is resistant to eavesdropping, as well as fire, lightning, and electromagnetic interference.
- Lower energy consumption. Fiber-based networks consume seven times less energy than copper cable, not only reducing costs, but also supporting sustainability.
- Virtually unlimited scalability. To gain speeds beyond 1GB/second, facilities wired with CAT5 cable need to upgrade their cabling and add new switches. Fiber-based solutions can support throughput far beyond 10GB/second and can go decades without requiring a forklift upgrade.
- Reduced space requirements. Fiberoptic cable is thinner, lighter, more flexible, and provides higher capacity than copper. That can free up considerable space in data centers and wiring closets.
- Greater distance. Gigabit Ethernet signals over CAT5E cabling are limited to 100 meters, and higher rates, such as 10 Gigabit, require CAT6A to reach that distance. Fiberoptic cable can run thousands of meters without signal degradation. This makes fiber well suited for sprawling installations such as airports and college campuses and eliminates the need (and cost) of signal regeneration equipment.
- Longer life. Once installed, fiberoptic cable will not need to be upgraded for decades. According to the Fiber Optic Association, a fiberoptic cable should have a lifetime of approximately 40 years.
The key to accessing all these compelling benefits is partnerships. With fewer in-house POL experts available to most enterprises, there is a greater incentive among manufacturers, resellers, systems integrators, and IT solutions providers to work together to support POL design, deployment, and management training. Many of these partners include expert consultation as part of their offerings to ensure that customers get the POL solution that best meets their needs.
The following are three examples of those partnerships in action:
- In Bolivia, builders of the largest medical clinic in the country chose a passive fiber-based LAN to support the facility’s broad range of services and applications, including VoIP telephony, high-speed Internet, physical security and access control systems, fire alarm and HVAC systems, and advanced diagnostics. The design and deployment of the network was performed by a Bolivian-based systems integrator in partnership with a global telecommunications equipment provider.
- A large U.S. state university turned to a team of partners to design and install a passive fiber-based LAN in a new student housing complex. Working together, a fiber-focused value-added reseller, a telecommunications equipment manufacturer, and the state’s largest fiber Internet service provider designed and deployed an award-winning 10Gbps network that delivers reliable high-speed Internet service to students for online learning and other applications.
- In 2021, a Singapore systems integrator teamed up with a telecommunications equipment provider to deploy a passive optical LAN at one of the largest international airports in Asia. The solution will advance the airport’s digital transformation, supporting connectivity to thousands more sensors and devices as its digital capabilities are expanded.
Ultimately, the most successful Passive Optical LAN projects are the ones that fully leverage each partner’s expertise – from vertical industry solutions to digital transformation, and from configuration and installation to network management and training. When those skills are brought into play in a collaborative spirit, enterprises will gain a tailored network solution that satisfies their current needs and provides the capacity for future growth.
It’s partnerships like these that are giving enterprises a viable alternative to copper-based LANs for new construction, additions, and upgrades – one that checks all the boxes, from affordability to manageability to unbridled growth.
