Category 8 standard cable is about to be published
On January 25th, 2016, the Telecommunication Industry Association TR-42 Engineering Committee and the most important outcome from that meeting is that Category 8 cable that has been in development since 2012 under the TR 42.7 subcommittee, in charge of copper cable systems, is close to its publication.
The new copper cable standard is at what is known as the ballot stage and if the ballot returns with no negative votes, the ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 cable will be published.
This cable specifications’ are quite positive. It is specified to have a 2GHz bandwidth, which is four times faster than today’s 500MHz, so it promises a new copper speed for data centers on, basically, the same cable they already use, according to Sterling Vaden, chairman from TIA 42.7 subcommittee.
It will be entirely compatible with todays and lower standards, since it will be composed with four shielded copper twisted pairs and will use the RJ-45 connectors, it will support 40G data transmission and its channel will be limited to 30 meters, comprising a 24 meter permanent link and up to 6 meters of patch cords in total.
Category 8 cables will allow field termination and you will be able to have two 3 meters patch cords or 1 meter and 5 meters patch cords, or any combination you need that reaches 6 meters or less.
