Powered Fiber in the Great Outdoors

When you take a walk in the woods, do you feel a connection with nature? Does your mind take in the scenery – trees, plants, animals. During a stroll like this, being connected to the outside world might not be a priority unless you get lost or have an unfortunate wildlife mishap. However, your expectations drastically change if you step outside the office for some fresh air or visit a college campus.

On a corporate or college campus, we rely on the campus network for productivity, safety and security. But when we step outside for a breath of fresh or just to take a break, we might need to carry a laptop or tablet to quickly respond to urgent requests. When outside the campus buildings, we also rely on the network for smart lighting and security cameras to keep us safe.

CLICK TO TWEET: When designing a campus network, CommScope's Jennifer Duits explains why you should consider a powered fiber cabling system.

From the sensors in a parking ramp to the Wi-Fi, we rely on these connections. And though they may serve different functions, they have two things in common: they require a consistent network connection and power.

These two needs can be satisfied with one element, fiber. There is the traditional fiber backbone which runs throughout the campus. The other type is one that isn’t always thought about when designing a campus network--powered fiber.

Powered fiber has many applications. If you have a device like a Wi-Fi hotspot or a security camera which needs both a power source and access to the network, both can be run over the same cable. This eliminates the need for a separate power cable that needs to be run and decreases the device’s installation time. Now imagine if that Wi-Fi device or security camera is located at a remote spot on campus where local power is not available. Powered fiber can be installed without a conversation with the local power company or the need for an electrical contractor. This reduces the cost and time to install service in remote locations.

Another benefit to powered fiber is that is can be set up with a back-up battery or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This can be an additional security feature in outdoor spaces during a power outage. If the power were to go out on a corporate campus in the evening, during winter, the parking lot would be dark, and the security cameras would not be functioning. Powered fiber on a UPS could provide employees leaving work the security the need.

There are many applications for powered fiber where it can add value to a new or existing campus network.

So, if you are out for a walk in the woods trying to think of a solution on how to add a security camera on your campus, don’t stress about the power, think fiber.