Shielded or Unshielded cabling for future networks

When building a local data network or structured office cabling solution, the question ‘shielded or unshielded’ always arises. If installed correctly, both technologies offer sufficient reserves for applications up to and including 1 Gigabit Ethernet. However, shielded copper is seen as more stable and secure and it protects signal transmissions against interference. Unshielded copper cabling is easier to install and therefore less costly resulting in its widespread use worldwide. 

However, the arrival of 10 G Ethernet brings a quantum leap for data transmission as well as an incredible challenge for passive infrastructure. Concealed performance headroom implicit with 1G is no longer available with 10G. which operates in a higher frequency spectrum (500 MHz), where sensitivity to interference is one hundred times higher than with 1G. We also see higher levels of self-radiation in the relevant 250 - 500 MHz bandwidth as 10G uses higher frequencies to transmit the power. This all adds up to more crosstalk. Understandably, the question arises whether unshielded cabling can deal with this higher sensitivity to disturbances, higher transmission rates and higher frequencies.

Absolute precision

Interference sensibility can be controlled by implementing resolute cabling measures. However, that means zero tolerance regarding individual components and installation errors. With 10G, this depends on preventing or reducing crosstalk between adjacent cables (ANEXT). Of all parameters that could affect 10GB, this may be the most significant. On a 1G network, problems resulting from ANEXT might slow down operations. Over a 10G network, however, this interference could close down the system in a second.

Shielded cabling of sufficiently high quality and installed correctly, automatically curbs ANEXT. However, with traditional unshielded cabling, the distance between individual components needs to be increased as much as possible to reduce ANEXT influence to acceptable levels. Choosing the best possible quality of unshielded cable is vital. If you opt for 10 GbE-compatible class EA cabling, need the best available solution to ensure the LAN’s long term reliability. The investment should operate for 15 years or more without error. If your cabling doesn’t actually offer the performance you had hoped for when switching from 1G to 10G, it is usually too late to take corrective measures.

Future-proof your network

Cabling specified in accordance with class EA as stipulated by ISO / IEC 11801 coupled with connection technology in accordance with Cat. 6A as stipulated by IEC 60603-7-41 / 51 offers by far the best prerequisites for fulfilling the demands of 10 G. In comparison with TIA requirements, this standard has stricter regulations on transmission parameters, making it more capable of coping with future challenges. Other criteria should also be taken into consideration during evaluation, such as quality control, process security, ease of handling, extensive guarantees and low overall costs.

A high-quality network allows users to work faster and more efficiently. Systems Maintenance, Move, Add & Change can be taken care of more quickly with an easy-to-use system. Costly consequences of network interruptions and fault tracking are also avoided. Support for future applications means the network can remain in use for much longer and depreciation costs are reduced. Top-quality cabling solutions mean considerable long term savings. In large projects, physical infrastructure only accounts for some 7% of the entire IT investment. Half of this is spent on the products themselves; the other half covers the cost of installation work. Although top products may cost between 10 to 20% more, this adds up to just 0.5% of the entire investment. Looking at the service life of a LAN – 15 to 20 years – 0.38 % annual depreciation for cabling of the original IT investment is reasonable when top quality cabling has been used. If you had to replace the cabling after seven years because it no longer supported new applications, the depreciation requirements would increase to over 1%.

Lower-cost unshielded cabling can usually provide the required performance for 1G. However, with 10G, which is far more sensitive to crosstalk, it is vital to take the utmost care in implementation and use top quality products, which bring a range of additional benefits and help future-proof investments.