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When networking professionals are considering their business' cabling requirements, one technology that should be increasingly in their thoughts is Power over Ethernet (PoE).
This is a technology that's growing in popularity around the world. According to recent figures from ResearchMoz, the market for PoE chipsets is set to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9.93 per cent between 2016 and 2020.
But what is PoE, and why is it quickly becoming the networking solution of choice for many deployments around the world?
An introduction to PoE
Essentially, PoE is a cabling solution that allows both direct current power and data to be transmitted over the same cable, eliminating the need for a device to have separate cables for these two critical requirements. Having two cables can be both expensive and difficult to achieve for some deployments, particularly where space is limited or it is impractical to run power lines, so being able to combine these into a single solution makes for cheaper and easier installation.
Standards for this technology are governed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), whose latest requirements for the technology are set out in its IEEE 802.3at standards, which replaced the earlier 802.3af standard.
What uses it?
Current PoE technologies using the 802.3at standard are capable of delivering around 30 W of electrical power in addition to the data connection, though as the length of the cable increases, some of this will be lost, so the minimum guaranteed power is around 25 W.
This makes it useful for low-powered items that also depend on a data connection, such as VoIP phones, IP surveillance cameras, Wi-Fi access points and some Internet of Things devices. Transparency Market Research (TMR) notes these are all categories that are in high demand at the current time, and so are key drivers for PoE's growth.
"Introduction of industrial Ethernet PoE solutions is expected to contribute significantly toward the expansion of the market," the firm stated. "The overall market has an opportunity to grow in the near future, with the rising popularity of PoE for digital signage."
TMR also observed that increasing costs for energy have pushed energy-efficient PoE solutions into the spotlight, while the introduction of upgraded PoE standards is expected to boost the deployments of PoE applications in higher-power devices.
The benefits of PoE
One of the key benefits of PoE is it cuts requirements for lengthy cabling solutions in half, as well as eliminating the need for both networking professionals and electricians to be involved in the deployment of devices. It also makes businesses more flexible, as devices no longer need to be tethered to a power outlet and so can be easily moved to where they are needed most.
This can be particularly useful for applications such as wireless access points, which can therefore be placed wherever they would be most effective, without having to worry about rerouting electrical cables, and for outdoor applications such as security cameras that would otherwise need specialised outlets.
They can also offer greater reliability, as all power comes from a central, universally-accepted source rather than a collection of separate and potentially different wall adapters. The technology is also highly safe, as it is designed to protect network equipment from overload, underpowering, or incorrect installation.
