Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1219491
10 I ICT TODAY ease-of-installation, and its configurability makes today's flexible ribbon solutions a critical foundational piece to the high-speed highways that comprise the floor of a modern data center. Inside the data center, managing this level of fiber can be a daunting challenge; it starts at the entry point and the transition from the outside fiber plant. Multiple cables, each with thousands of fibers, need to be patched or spliced. Pre-terminated cables allow for a faster overall installation, but they are not always an option. Often, the duct work leading up to the facility does not support the ability to pull through pre-terminated cabling. Therefore, another solution is needed. One approach is through high-density splice enclosures and cabinets (Figure 4). High-Density Connectivity and Saving Data Center Space Achieving a high level of density in connectivity is not trivial and manufacturers, who specialize in this space, spend significant engineering investments focused on innovating how best to support not only routing and containment of thousands of fibers, but also in easing the dressing and preparation of the fiber in the splice trays. When both the fiber technology advancements referenced earlier are brought together with companion high-density fiber management platforms, a true end- to-end solution emerges. These connectivity solutions, which are typically MPO or duplex-LC depending on the client's architecture and preference, provide a bridge from the outside fiber plant to the inside trunks. This is often done through patching frames. If not working with pre-terminated cabling, then field-installable splice-on/ fuse-on connectors can provide a fast and convenient way to achieve factory-level connectivity (Figure 5). The primary currency inside the data center is floor space. A lead network engineer with one of the largest hyperscalers said "All I care about is floor space and how I can extract the maximum amount of business per-square- FIGURE 4: High-density splice patch cabinets and panels. 6,912F Wall/Rack Mount Splice Panel 18,432F Splice Cabinet Dedicated Patch and Splice Terminated Panels – Splice at Entry Point FIGURE 5: The field installable splice-on connectors have pre- polished ferrules that eliminate the need for polishing, adhesives, and crimping in the field, which minimizes the potential for operator error and expensive connector scrap, while providing fast and convenient factory- level connectivity.