We’ve noticed simultaneous progress in small business adoption of unified communications (UC) and the Ethernet over Copper (EoC) build-out, and it is no coincidence — the growing availability of affordable Ethernet services is a definite UC enabler. Part of the growing demand for Ethernet is also driven by the need for symmetrical connectivity and the need for tiers that are fast enough to serve other bandwidth intensive requirements including video conferencing.
While Metro-E connections may deliver sufficient speeds to a building, small businesses must still address the need for faster connectivity in their offices. Recent advances are also enabling affordable Ethernet over standard phone cable, alleviating some need to rewire an office with Cat 5 cable.
ANALYSIS: What if Ethernet failed?
We recently sat down to talk with Adtran, who has released one solution that addresses this requirement. According to their calculations, baseline costs to wire an office are about $120 to $150 per drop of Cat5/6 Ethernet cabling. Costs may grow quickly when runs are more than 50 feet or when the drop has to go up a riser or through a concrete wall.
Although wireless connectivity is also an option in some cases to extend IP connectivity, a Wi-Fi alternative isn’t always ideal in some buildings or with certain security-intensive apps, so a wired solution is preferred.
With its ActiveReach now featured on the NetVanta 1535P, Adtran supports 10/100Mbps Ethernet connectivity across all grades of wiring — including CAT6, CAT5e, CAT5, CAT3 or even legacy voice-grade copper. Ethernet reach is supported at up to 365 meters (1,200 feet) from the switch, and power over Ethernet (PoE) is also available.
Our observations: We’re aware of some cases where a small business wanted to replace its existing phone lines with an all-IP solution, but building re-wiring costs killed the ROI (return on investment) thresholds. For those who want or who need a wired Ethernet solution but can’t afford to re-wire their work site, it is good to know that it isn’t just the wide area network (WAN) technology that is evolving — affordable options that use legacy wiring are also available to improve the LAN.
