< Previousdigital transformation www.networkseuropemagazine.com 70Despite the pandemic, such organisations will be better placed to forge a successful path ahead, well into the future, and IT professionals can look forward to a future of positive change. After all, IT professionals confirmed in our recent annual CIO and IT Leadership Survey 2021 that organisations were already under immense pressure to increase the speed at which they deliver digital transformation before Covid-19 threw the world into disarray. Unfortunately, in many cases, progress since then has remained slow. The cost of transformation has been reason enough for many Boards, even at large and well-resourced companies, to hold back on commitment - not to mention the investment that IT staff need to execute on management initiatives. The uncertainty of assorted outcomes and the perceived risk of disruption can leave senior officials highly reluctant to support grassroots change. This has only underlined that any pause or downsizing of a digital strategy in the face of the pandemic was going to be counter-productive - if not futile. Data centre upgrades and utilisation improvements delayed or even halted are potential risks to both service uptime and resiliency. Worse, standing still in this respect can ensure that an organisation will fall behind - potentially allowing competitors to gain despite your best efforts at the coalface. Network challenges cannot be ignored; facing them head-on is the way to fix them, and the same is true of organisations as a whole. IT decision-makers in 2020 might have been forced to navigate a rapidly changing and uncertain environment, but this helped develop their abilities around working with flexible teams. In addition, when IT professionals are armed with the necessary digital tools to meet the challenges of a hybrid working model (with some working remotely, others in the office) they are actively working to future-proof the environment - boosting operational efficiencies with an eye to the challenges of future IT and business growth. In our research, we learned that half of organisations were still in the course of their digital journeys or even in the early planning stages when the pandemic began in 2020. Companies that instructed their IT teams to re-prioritise tasks were able to remain focused on operational continuity, If you're a data centre or networking professional whose organisation managed to side-step the temptation to punch the 'pause' button on digital transformation in 2020, you will no doubt have breathed a sigh of relief – and be looking forward to the chance to accelerate productivity this year and beyond. Simon Reynolds Associate Director Coeus Consulting Hitting 'pause' on digital transformation at your organisation will only delay success digital transformation www.networkseuropemagazine.com 71but this was increasingly supported and fostered by digitisation. Taking this approach, more than half (53%) of IT leaders in our survey were able, under pressure, to implement a strategic shift of their entire business operations to digital. Almost three quarters (68%) of respondents told us that accelerating that process helped digitise a larger share of their operations during this time. As a direct result, digitally immature organisations that had failed to invest in IT-driven transformation were most likely to struggle more to adapt. Organisations nearer to a 'digital first' approach typically fared best. Taking action to achieve digital transformation In our study, roughly three-quarters (78%) of IT professionals stated that the solutions implemented were essentially 'quick fixes', however, largely focused on repurposing and stripping down activities as much as possible to keep revenues flowing, reflecting a management desire to retain healthy profits. For seven of every ten (70%), their organisations did this in part by prioritising end-user solutions (EUS) including remote working. 52% said their employer was focused on operational stability and 50% prioritised cost optimisation. However, a third had prioritised initiatives that targeted customer experience, increasing revenues and developing or changing products - offering a chance for IT to drive business success. Many IT professionals in the networking, data and cybersecurity spaces were however suddenly forced to start managing distributed virtual teams. Increasingly, employees might be using their own devices and peripherals from home with little corporate oversight. So it's no surprise that over half of IT decision-makers in our survey experienced security issues and concerns related to these challenges. Governance constraints and risk aversion were also high on the list of key challenges for business operations that had morphed into sprawling networked structures, exacerbating compliance risks and cyber threats alike. A majority (63%) of respondents agreed that re-scoping, dismantling projects, renegotiating and stalling contracts, as well as redeploying resources, will likely cause ongoing business impacts. For IT professionals overseeing network challenges or the datacentre, this will include more of the same rearranging of tasks and projects, with a concomitant effect on individual staff and the teams in which they are embedded. Skills shortages, delivery bandwidth, and integration challenges increased during the year. Considerations around company culture, processes and policy, interleaved with internal and external supplier performance, reared their heads. Managers and their IT teams were forced to navigate multiple complexities - often with a view to cost control. Cost issues were a major hurdle for perhaps half of the respondents, especially when it came to new ways of working. digital transformation www.networkseuropemagazine.com 72About a third of IT decision-makers say their organisation did not receive extra funding to accelerate priority projects. Addressing digital transformation during the year caused suffering within many organisations because of the corner-cutting that was needed and the intensified rollout of key end-user and operational capabilities - with IT professionals typically the grist in the mill as organisations grappled with multiple moving parts, from remote working to schedule changes and other aspects of daily business affecting the IT department. The usual timeframes for agreeing priorities, changes, solution implementations, post-deployment analyses and more, were often reduced with little warning. The quick fixes, necessary as they were, presented numerous strategic and tactical challenges. IT professionals should encourage their organisations to re-examine their progress towards digitisation and transformation through the remainder of 2021, and for some, this task will carry through into 2022. Hastily erected structures and adaptations may in the clear light of day need shoring up, or even replacing (the plan of one leading UK supermarket to deploy store staff to do the cleaning as well, springs to mind). Many more capabilities will require augmentation and further development towards a more future- proofed solution. Transitions and migrations alike should be fully exposed and assessed as the pandemic wanes, with tactical risks identified and others mitigated or simply accepted. It should go without saying that the skilled professional at the centre of the network must play a major role in orchestrating these dynamics. Looking ahead to maximise future gains Operational stability will remain a priority for the immediate future. However, businesses cannot stand still, even amid economic uncertainties that lead to a mass battening-down of hatches. Companies that become increasingly aware of shortcomings in their 'new normal' should turn their attention now to the role of IT and IT professionals in driving future gains from the network core out to the edge. IT teams might do well to encourage the engagement of trusted professional partners, such as experienced consultancies, to deliver a highly objective viewpoint that will assist the organisation in making any required leaps. IT-led organisations that have worked through the pandemic to progress digital transformation, even in the face of increased costs and other challenges, will likely have less ground to make up than those whose actions were more conservative. n digital transformation www.networkseuropemagazine.com 735G is used everywhere from the video calls in the home office to the SMART equipment on the factory floor. From real-time data used in transport networks, to autonomous machinery in the farmer’s field. 5G connectivity allows existing applications to be carried out quicker and more reliably. Faster and more stable all-fibre 5G networks are replacing traditional coaxial or copper core cables since a new and updated network infrastructure must be in place to support the increasing traffic, numbers of devices and data. For 5G networks to effectively handle all this data and seamlessly stream the increased bandwidth, reliability is key. As 5G connectivity rolls out to more areas in Europe, network providers must ensure fibre is installed and maintained correctly with all connections kept perfectly clean for optimal performance and reliability. Without the implementation of cleaning procedures to guarantee optimal network operation, uninterrupted connectivity and high-speed operation can be affected. Don’t let contamination threaten network reliability Contamination is the number one threat to 5G network reliability. It is a removable impurity on the connector end-face and includes everything from lint and fingerprint oils, to moisture and simple dust. A contaminated cable end face can block the light through the fibre, changing the index of refraction or the path of the signal. If the contamination is severe, the refraction angle can change enough that the signal can be completely lost and a total network shut down occurs. New, faster 5G networks have a higher frequency of light making them more sensitive to changes of the refractive angle, thus, more vulnerable to contamination. Even the smallest microscopic particle can be disastrous for 5G. It has to be able to use every megawatt of power to ensure optimum connectivity and performance is met. The race to build 5G networks has never been more important. This has been highlighted as the world relied on consistent connectivity to communicate, learn and work through the COVID-19 pandemic. This fifth-generation robust wireless technology has the power to support millions of devices with superfast speeds and higher data volumes than the generations before, a must in today’s connected world. Creating reliable 5G connectivity through effective fibre Jay Tourigny Senior Vice President MicroCare, LLC 5G connectivity 74 www.networkseuropemagazine.com5G connectivity fibre cleaning 5G connectivity 75 www.networkseuropemagazine.comThe effects of dust Dust-based contamination originates from many sources. Airborne dust can come from vehicle emissions, cardboard boxes, construction dust, and even lint from clothing. Dust particles can become embedded into the ferrule surface, resulting in pitted, scratched or scarred end faces. Therefore, all fibre end faces must be thoroughly cleaned during installation or maintenance operations to prevent 5G network interference or failure. Ironically, dust particles can come from the very tools being used to clean the fibre. Poorly engineered foam swabs, lint-prone paper-based wipes, and low-purity cleaning fluids used by some installers can cause or exacerbate the problem. Another source of dust contamination is connector- wear debris caused by contact friction when connectors are mated. This is a common cause of dust-based contamination and it is the reason why cleaning brand new fibre cables straight out of the pack is so important. Jumpers and patch cords, even when new from the supplier, cannot guarantee cleanliness. The end caps used to protect the endface after manufacture and during transport are typically not cleaned. This means dust and other leftover production debris could be trapped inside the sleeve and migrate to the end face. Some cable manufacturers also use mould-release agents to help eject the end face cap or housing from their moulds during manufacture. Residual release-agent inside the end caps can transfer to the connectors. Outgassed plasticisers from the protective plugs on the end caps are well-known to leave oil on the end-faces. 5G networks require vast amounts of new fibre cables, but they are not pristine clean and ready to use straight from the box. Installers should always thoroughly clean both ends of the connector pair before they are mated to ensure clean fibre connections. A static problem Because a dust particle can be minuscule, on average just 2.5microns in diameter, it can easily be locked into place on an end-face by an electrostatic charge. Static buildup can have a huge effect on the performance of the fibre. When two different materials are rubbed together, for example, a dry paper wipe on a fibre end face, the friction causes an electrostatic charge to develop on the connector. This causes dust particles to migrate into the contact zone of the mated ferrule pair. Because fibre connectors are made with dielectric materials, they act as an electrical insulator. This means the static charge has no place to go and can remain 5G connectivity www.networkseuropemagazine.com 76indefinitely on the end face and continually attract dust particles. This is a huge reliability risk for 5G networks. To stop contamination caused by electrostatic charge it is recommended that a wet-to-dry cleaning method is used. Water or isopropyl alcohol are common choices, but they are hard to buy in high purity packaging, slow to dry and difficult to keep clean and uncontaminated during day-to-day use. An optical-grade cleaning fluid dispensed from a hermetically sealed container is a better option. It will remove the contaminant, dissipate static and eliminate triboelectric charges that attract dust particles and cause them to stick to a connector end face. Choose your tools wisely Thanks to its fast-drying properties, optical-grade fibre cleaning fluid reduces cleaning time and prevents moisture in the atmosphere from being attracted to the fluid, therefore reducing possible contamination. Furthermore, it is non-flammable and non-hazardous, making it safe to store and easy to transport. When using optical-grade cleaning fluid, insist on high- grade wipes that do not lint or generate a static charge in use. Optical-grade wipes are designed to be soft enough not to scratch the ceramic or composite ferrule end face and are highly absorbent for wiping the contamination away from the surface of the end face. It is important to ensure the wipes are in sealed packages to keep them pure and clean prior to use. When cleaning fibre, always inspect the termini on both ends of a connector pair first to visually identify the level of contamination. Then, using the wet/dry cleaning method, dispense the static-dissipative cleaning fluid onto a section of an optical-grade cleaning wipe. Wipe the connector end- face starting at the damp area and moving in one direction towards the dry area of the cleaning wipe. This removes the contamination and dissipates electro-static charges in one step. Follow this by re-inspecting to ensure the fibre is contaminant free. Stick and clicker Alternative cleaning tools include mechanical clicker style devices or sticks for use on connectors recessed in couplers. Clicker tools are quick to use and good for applications with light levels of contamination. However, they may not be ideally sized for cleaning termini in hardened connector housings. Fibre cleaning sticks on the other hand are specially developed to effectively clean heavily contaminated end faces. When used with static-dissipating cleaning fluid, they are perfect for cleaning connectors mounted in hard-to-clean alignment sleeves. Because cleaning sticks effectively make contact with the end-face configuration, they can clean the entire end-face without the need to disassemble the connector or adapter. They give the largest effective cleaning region on the entire surface eliminating problems associated with contaminants migrating into the signal path. The cleaning fluid also serves to effectively create a dissipative path removing any static charge prior to mating the connector. A cleaning stick should be engineered specifically to match the configuration and size of the end-face and be non-linting for optimal cleaning. When using the stick, it is important to only rotate in one direction; typically six rotations in one direction is enough to remove any contamination. Importantly only use one stick per end-face to avoid cross-contamination. Again, use the ‘Inspect-Clean-Inspect’ rule. If the final step of re-inspection is not followed there is a risk of leaving contaminants on the end-faces. This can reduce the 5G signal strength and cause reliability problems. The knock-on effect being time-consuming and costly rework and repairs and delays in installation. Cleaning ensures long-term 5G reliability Reliable 5G networks are critical to enabling innovation and digital transformation. ‘The future of telecommunications and computing infrastructure connecting billions of users and trillions of devices is requiring more efficient technology to be able to overcome exploding traffic and properly address security issues.’ cited the European Commission. ‘This revolution will rely on a common global definition of 5G and associated standards, and of its service characteristics. Only then can we ensure seamless optical and wireless connectivity.’ To accelerate 5G in Europe and meet the connected ‘revolution’ goal, it is essential to implement well-engineered cleaning processes and standards. Successful cleaning must be achieved not only during network deployment and upgrade, but continue during future infrastructure maintenance. Without specific cleaning processes in place reliability will be compromised and an interconnected 5G future will be at risk. By ensuring cleaning standards are met; the correct fibre optic cleaning fluids, tools and methods are used; and installers are fully trained in the required process; 5G networks can perform as they should and keep us reliably connected. n Ironically, dust particles can come from the very tools being used to clean the fibre. Poorly engineered foam swabs, lint-prone paper-based wipes, and low-purity cleaning fluids used by some installers can cause or exacerbate the problem. 5G connectivity www.networkseuropemagazine.com 77structured cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 78structured cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 79 PoE continues to become more important Market studies have predicted a doubling of the number of PoE ports over the next five years. According to Markets & Markets, the power over Ethernet solutions market was valued at US$451.1 million in 2015 and is expected to reach US$1,048.3 million by 2022. Market Research Future predicts a similar market value. Growth of this market is the result of the uptake of smart buildings, IoT, LEDs, energy and building regulations, Industry 4.0, amongst other things. Today’s Power over Ethernet (PoE) provides more than three times the level of power than the previous standard - and more than six times the level of the initial PoE standard. New generations of high-power PoE will have a considerable effect on infrastructure. PoE has a number of consequences for cabling choices and handling. Depending on cable diameter, the current 4PPoE standard can produce significant levels of heat. The higher the transmitted power, the more heat is generated. To handle increased temperatures, cable installation conditions (cable type, bundle size, cable duct properties) must be considered and the link length may have to be reduced. During connector mating cycles, connecting hardware is exposed to power discontinuation effects. Unmating a connection under load will create sparks that can damage the contacts of the connectors. The higher the transmitted power, the greater the risk of damage. Whether an RJ45 jack is affected depends on the mechanical construction. Also, the contact quality of the wire termination can have a big effect on heating up the products. In extreme cases, this can result in the destruction of the connection. Insulation piercing connection (IPC) technology, often used in patch cords, has a particular tendency to degrade over time with significant heat produced in the connection. Trends in structured cabling Matthias Gerber Market Manager LAN Cabling Reichle & De-Massari Changes in the structured cabling market are largely driven by demand for higher speeds to support increasingly demanding applications in commercial, industrial, and residential applications, as well as network convergence. Let’s take a look at a number of trends in today’s structured cabling market. What should you be taking into consideration when making structured cabling choices?Next >