The popularity of many industry topics last year will continue in 2019. The development of data and Internet of Things, wireless connection and mobile edge computing (MEC) and cabling technology and standards will become the three major factors driving the reform in the field of smart buildings. The development of smart buildings has laid the foundation for smart parks and smart cities, and the aforementioned driving forces are also promoting integration and corresponding preparations.
As the Internet of Things continues to evolve and generate data, manufacturers and suppliers have also achieved basic connectivity, data collection, and technological integration by providing a large number of various devices. Some of the devices that have successfully achieved ultra-low latency through wireless and wired networks will increasingly adopt MEC, and their computing and storage functions will also be closer to the edge of the network. In addition, although many IoT devices (such as sensors) may not require high bandwidth, all devices need to be connected to the network. Therefore, the demand for wireless connections in buildings, whether from WiFi networks or cellular networks, will continue to grow, and the upcoming 5G will further promote this trend. Taking the actual use of 5G as an example, to support an increase in throughput per unit of user from 1Gbps to 8Gbps, commercial building owners must upgrade their current Cat5e Ethernet infrastructure to Cat6A. This is because using higher frequency band 5G technology cannot penetrate walls well, so building owners need to deploy Cat6A infrastructure to enable indoor wireless systems to support 5G.
Power consumption is another qualitative factor. In September 2018, the IEEE802.3bt standard was defined as the latest four pair Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, which introduced two additional power types simultaneously: Type3 up to 55W and Type4 up to 90W. Therefore, we can predict that compared to the increase in bandwidth, there will be more devices powered by structured cabling. Globalization standards such as these will become increasingly important in increasingly globalized markets.
Many operators are already pushing for the integration of wireless and wired, and this trend will continue. With the increasing popularity of wireless networks, they require corresponding wired infrastructure to implement technologies such as backhaul. This type of solution is usually connected through proprietary links, but it is expected to see more shifts towards Ethernet based connections in the future, whether wired or wireless.
To cope with the impact of various development trends in the fields of data and the Internet of Things, as well as wireless and wired, the industry needs to make full preparations for infrastructure in 2019. We are expected to see further integration of infrastructure and technology in smart buildings, smart parks, and smart cities.
