In less than 10 years, the speed of local area networks (LAN) has gone from less than 10 Mbps to several Gigabits per second. Market specialists foresee LAN requirements accelerating and a progression in bandwidth of horizontal cabling, traditionally on copper cables. The IEEE 802.3an 10GBASE-T study group is currently working on a 10 Gigabit Ethernet standard* for twisted pair copper cabling. The new revisions of international standards** on cabling systems ISO/IEC 11801 and TIA/EIA 568B define a new class E referred to as "augmented" category 6 which offers a higher bandwidth of 500 MHz.

These developments mean that companies need to put in place a high-speed fibre optic backbone and migrate towards higher speed copper cabling in the horizontal. Many LAN administrators plan to install high performance copper cabling systems which make it possible to support both present and future applications. Volition™ Network Solutions from 3M comply fully and economically with the advances in 10 Gigabit copper applications.

** Reference standards
ISO/IEC 11801 Edition 2
ISO/IEC 60603-7-5
EN 50173-1
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B-2-1

10 Gigabit copper cabling technologies

The initial objective of the IEEE 802.3an group was to study the feasibility of 10 Gigabit cabling systems with a channel length between 55 m and 100 m. The IEEE chose a maximum frequency of 500 MHz which doubles the frequency range of the original category 6/class E which is specified as up to 250 MHz. The IEEE group has defined a new electrical parameter for the channel which is "alien cross talk" (AXTLK). AXTLK is all the noise created on a cable or an RJ45 jack by neighbouring cables and jacks.

The number one interference in 10GBASE-T is AXTLK, the effects of which disturb not only the cables, particularly in the cable routes, but also the RJ45 jacks, especially in the patching racks where there are many adjacent links.

The Volition™ 10GT is designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications on twisted copper pairs in compliance with 10 Gbit/s Ethernet standards. The new Volition™ 10GT solution is differentiated by the unequalled reduction of the effects of AXTLK over the entire channel.

The solution is comprised of a complete range of new RJ45 jacks, twisted pair copper cables, 19" patch panels and RJ45 patch cables. The Volition™ 10GT solution meets the requirements of a 10 Gbit/s local area network infrastructure.

RJ45 Volition™ OCK10S8 jack

The new RJ45 Volition™ OCK10S8 jack has been specially developed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications on twisted pairs (10GBASE-T) in compliance with the standards ISO/IEC 11801, EN 60603-7-5 and TIA/EIA 568B. With its patented design, it can be connected to Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables without any special tools. The 360° connection to the cable shield, thanks to the metallic braid of the cover, is a unique, unequalled method of cabling. The 360° shield acts like a Faraday cage around the RJ45 Volition™ OCK10S8 jack, giving unrivalled immunity against alien cross talk.

Volition™ 10 Gigabit RJ45 Jacks

Volition™ 10 Gigabit RJ45 Jacks have been specially developed for Ethernet 10Gps over twisted pairs applications (10G BASE T), according to ISO/IEC 11801, EN60603-7-5 and TIA/EAI 568B standards. Volition™ faceplates are made in ABS, white colour (RAL 9011), either 22,5x45mm or 45x45mm formats. Volition™ faceplates are delivered with white colour identifying insert. The identification can be completed by adding a plastic colour insert.

Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables

The new Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables have been specially developed to ensure excellent immunity against AXTLK up to 500 MHz. They have been developed to support the 6 around 1 test i.e. the cumulated sum (PowerSum) of the ANEXT effect generated by 6 cables (i.e. 24 pairs) on a central cable. All cables of Volition™ 10 Gigabit design have a general shield and/or screen per pair. Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables benefit from unequalled immunity to AXTLK (see Delta certificate).

Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables are easy to install and do not require any special installation precautions. Connection to the Volition™ OCK10S8 jack remains simple and familiar. Pulling in the cables is easy, due to the fact that their outer dimensions are the same as the current category Volition™ category 6 / class E cables. Volition™ 10 Gigabit cables are available in type LSOH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen).

Comparative studies show that competing 10 Gigabit UTP cables have outer diameters larger than those of current category 6 or are oval in shape. Cabling techniques to reduce AXTLK between 10 Gigabit UTP cables consist of moving the pairs further apart, strengthening the outer sheaths, and placing an insulator or separator between the pairs. The outer diameter of 10 Gigabit UTP cables is thus increased. Another technique consists of making 10 Gigabit UTP cables oval to reduce the risk in cable routes of one pair being adjacent to another pair with the same twist. This makes the cables harder to install and this technique for noise reduction remains only a statistical hypothesis!

Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch cables have been specially designed to give excellent immunity against AXTLK up to 500 MHz, in particular to reduce the effect of AXTLK in patching racks where there are many adjacent links. Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch cables have a general braid and a screen per pair. Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch cables benefit from unequalled immunity against AXTLK. Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch cables are available in LSOH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen).

Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch panels are modular and can accommodate up to 24 OCK10S8 ports in one unit of rack space (1U). Their modular design makes them easy to install on site in 19" racks.

All Volition™ 10 Gigabit patch panels have an earth which permits continuity of earth with the RJ45 10 Gigabit OCK10S8 jacks.

The new Volition™ 10GT solution has been designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet applications on twisted pair cables in compliance with 10 Gigabit Ethernet standards. The Volition™ 10GT is differentiated by the unequalled reduction of the effects of AXTLK on its entire channel. The Volition™ 10GT solution gives incomparable immunity against AXTLK. It offers double the bandwidth of the current category 6 / class E cabling.

3M Telecommunications offers an extended 20 year warranty for the entire range of components in the Volition™ 10GT system. 3M Telecommunications guarantees the electrical performance of the Volition™ 10GT solution in relation to the specifications ISO/IEC 11801 and TIA/EIA 568B for cabling systems of the new class E and category 6 augmented to 500 MHz.