Although blown optical fiber systems are helping to expand more reliable networks more quickly, one crucial element to reliability that cannot be overlooked is the importance of cleaning fiber-optic connections like splices and endfaces. For some cable installers, cleaning may not always be the focus, but it plays a vital role in ensuring the reliability and performance of fiber-optic networks.
Senko explains a specific claim by US Conec has no impact on the company’s ability to continue supplying MPO connectivity.
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Now available on demand. This one hour webinar covers multifiber connectivity with a specific focus on data center networks. Jennifer Cline (US Conec) will address VSS Multi-Fiber Connectivity; Ken Hall (CommScope) will present on Designing a Dynamic Data Center Fiber-optic Network; and Jim Davis (Fluke Networks) will discuss Testing Tools & Techniques for Multi-Fiber Cabling Systems.
Fischer Connectors has developed new high-speed data and power connectivity solutions combining Single Pair Ethernet and USB 3.2 Gen 2 high-speed protocols with the rugged, high-density and miniature features of its flagship product lines. They enable space-saving and cost-efficient integration in industrial automation and robotics, chemical plants, food processing, automotive production lines, outdoor sensing and unmanned systems.
To support emerging technologies and ever-increasing amounts of data, large hyperscale and cloud data centers like AWS, Google Cloud, Meta, Microsoft Azure, and Equinix have quickly migrated to 400 Gigabit speeds for switch-to-switch links and data center interconnects, as well as for switch-to-server breakout configurations. Now these big-name data centers are gearing up to deploy 800 Gig and looking ahead to 1.6 and 3.2 Terabit speeds, while 400 Gig starts making its way into large and even mid-sized hosted and enterprise data centers.
US Conec filed a response to a Senko Advanced Components suit that alleges US Conec violated SENKO patents on very small form factor (VSFF) fiber-optic connectors denying the allegations and contains allegations that Senko violated US Conec patents. SENKO, in a written statement to Lightwave reaffirmed that it expects to triumph in court. Both companies make VSFF connectors and associated adapters – the CS, SN, and SN-MT connectors in SENKO’s case, and the MMC and MDC connectors in US Conec’s.
NTT-Advanced Technology Research cites that 80% of network problems are due to dirty connectors, and the No. 1 cause of network failure is contaminated connectors. For MPOs, inspection and cleaning become even more critical. Given that a single dirty or damaged connector can impact 24 fibers—or more—with MPO connectors, taking critical communications lines out of service for troubleshooting will cause service interruptions for numerous customers.
How can the performance of MPO links be ensured? It all starts with testing. There are the five essential things you need to do: connector inspection, proper cleaning, polarity-type validation, continuity confirmation, and choosing the right referencing method.
Senko Advanced Components, Inc. announced that its SN Uniboot connector was awarded Platinum Cabling Innovators honors, as presented by Cabling Installation & Maintenance at the at the recent BICSI Fall Conference 2022 (Sep. 25-29) in Las Vegas.
The SN Uniboot is a connector with a revolutionary design that allows four SN duplex connectors to be patched simultaneously in one operation. As noted by Senko, unlike 8-fiber MPO connectors comprising single polymer ferrules, the SN Uniboot’s design utilizes eight ceramic 1.25 mm ferrules that deliver carrier-grade performance and reliability.
Originally designed for use in multi-channel 400G data center transceivers within spine/leaf architectures, Senko reports that “the SN is proving to be much more than just a high data-rate equipment connection. The industry is fast discovering that when deployed as a backbone trunk solution, the SN Uniboot has significant benefits compared with existing legacy solutions,” adds a company statement.
In their latest revision (September 2022), the Telecom Industry Association (TIA) added MPO test requirements and procedures to their optical fiber cabling component standard, ANSI/TIA-568.3-E.
The revision adds MPO-specific requirements referencing TIA-526-28. TIA-526-28 is an adoption of IEC 61280-4-5 and deals with attenuation measurement of MPO-terminated fiber optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces.
