Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1107553
May/June 2019 I 5 From the President, Jeff Beavers, RCDD, OSP, CFHP THINK TWICE BEFORE SNIPPING A CORD Central Offices Re-purposing as Data Centers on the Rise Anyone who has a pair of snips (i.e., electrician's scissors) has examples of them being used in ways other than their intended purpose of cutting or snipping conductors. In fact, they cannot be held like scissors to effectively snip conductors. Snips can be used to lengthen a conductor to complete a splice and establish continuity. The conductor can be stretched by using the snips in a back and forth motion. They also can be used for sheath removal, as substitutes for common tools (e.g., wrenches, bottle openers), and even for precision work like removing small screws on a pair of glasses. Additional uses for snips include opening: • A pedestal or terminal. • A meal ready to eat (MRE) or other canned foods. • A can of paint — I've done this recently with a home remodeling project. • A gift — Along with opening gift boxes, I've cut wrapping paper to wrap a Christmas gift. It is worth noting that snips become scissors when held as such but, when held in manner to cut through conductors of various thickness or the metallic shield of a cable, are ineffective for cutting paper. Much like duct tape, the uses for snips are innumerable. I keep a pair in my truck, tackle box, and even our kitchen junk drawer. NOTE: While I've observed and performed these alternate applications, using a pair of snips for anything other than their intended purpose is not recommended. On a much larger scale, we're experiencing another repurposing in our industry—the repurposing of central offices (COs) as data centers. Major service providers like AT&T, Verizon, SK Telecom (Korea), and NTT Communications (Japan) are early supporters of central office re-architected as a data center (CORD). As reported in Fierce Telecom, a recent "IHS Markit survey found that 7 out of 10 respondents plan to deploy CORD in smart COs. Furthermore, service providers expect that 44% of their COs will have mini data centers (or smart COs) by 2023, and they plan to deploy CORD in half of those COs." 1 This activity opens up opportunities for BICSI credentialed Data Center Design Consultants (DCDCs); Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDDs); Registered Telecommunications Project Managers (RTPMs); OSP Designers (OSPs) and our many BICSI member installation companies and consultant firms. "The emergence of edge data centers (EDCs) is forecasted to serve a huge increase in network traffic from mobile devices, IoT, and streaming media. Content and applications that are frequently accessed are cached on servers located closer to end users. This improves the quality of high-bandwidth applications and reduces the amount of backbone traffic, leaving them free for other valued services. EDCs also support low-latency next-generation services, and can provide network bypass terminating mobile internet traffic. 5G will drive numerous use cases and business models, since MEC (multi-access edge computing) is an essential enabler for more intelligent applications delivered with lower latency. Locating data centers closer to users improves the customer experience; it can also save significant amounts of money in transport bandwidth costs and enable new latency-sensitive revenue services." 2 The new IHS Markit study, created through conversations with Tier 1 service providers, also revealed that "in 2018, 85% of respondents said they plan to create or will have already deployed smart COs. A smart CO consists of a service provider installing servers, storage and switching to create mini data centers in selected existing COs. The smart CO is the new location of the IP edge." It makes sense. In the U.S. alone there are hundreds (if not thousands) of COs that already exist. They include mission-critical features like route diversity, dc power, batteries and generators. Hearken back to the days when your telephone worked even when your power was out. Large footprint space vacated from the removal of analog switches and associated cabling, wire wrap protector terminals, frames and, in some cases, where migration to optical fiber has occurred, reclaimed even more space. There are countless non-traditional uses for a pair of snips, but this repurposing of COs is worthy of endorsement and is a CORD that you should think twice about snipping. Be safe; someone is counting on you. REFERENCES: 1. https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/smart-central-of- fices-to-be-85-provider-networks-year-says-analyst 2. https://www.commscope.com/SiteSearch/?q=How CORD will impact your central office&sayt=1