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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Short Wavelength Fast Ethernet Alliance Demonstrates 100BASE-SX Draft Standard at NetWorld+Interop Booth #7374
100 Mbps Fast Ethernet (100BASE-SX) specification uses 850 nm wavelength optics
to provide a clear, simple and inexpensive upgrade strategy from 10 Mbps
Elizabeth Goldsmith
Goldsmith PR
(781) 259-8584
liz@goldsmithpr.com
Arlington, Va., October 19, 1998: The Short Wavelength Fast Ethernet Alliance is staging the first demonstration of its proposed 100BASE-SX Fast Ethernet standard in Atlanta at NetWorld+Interop booth #7374. The demonstration features electronic and passive equipment from: 3M, Allied Telesyn International, AMP, Corning, IMC Networks, JET Networks, LANart, LANCAST, Lucent Technologies, Ortronics, Siecor and Transition Networks. The demonstration network runs over 300 meters of multimode fiber cable.
"The Fiber Optics LAN Section believes that the lack of a standard for short wavelength 100 Megabits per Seconds (Mbps) Fast Ethernet transmission over glass optical fiber is one of the factors delaying users' migration to fiber in horizontal cabling subsystems," said Allen Dixon, Section Chair. "To help users experience the advantages of fiber, we would like to provide a clear, simple and inexpensive upgrade path from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The standard will help reduce the cost of deploying 100 Mbps fiber solutions in horizontal cabling subsystems."
To accomplish these joint goals, the Fiber Optics LAN Section sponsored the formation of the Short Wavelength Fast Ethernet Alliance in January of this year to investigate and create an interoperability specification for 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet using 850 nm wavelength optics. The Alliance's goals for this specification are:
- Guaranteed interoperability to a distance of 300 m (full duplex)
- Interoperability with the installed base of 10BASE-FL up to 300 m (full duplex)
- Minimized electronics expense
- Fiber PMD based on FDDI where possible to fit into 802.3u
- Utilize cost-effective LED devices
- Connector independence
- The foundation for an easy upgrade path to 1000 Mbps
The auto-negotiation techniques are designed to:
- Minimize implementation costs
- Auto-negotiate between current 10BASE-FL and new 100BASE-SX 100Mbps systems
- Parallel detect non-negotiating devices
- Support full duplex operating modes
- Optional implementation
Companies participating in the development of the standard include: 3M, Allied Telesyn International, Allayer, AMD, AMP, BATM, Berk-Tek, Belden Wire & Cable, Canary Communications, Commscope, Connectronix, Corning, Digi/Milan, Honeywell, IMC Networks, JET Networks, LANart, LANCAST, Lucent Technologies, Micro Linear, Microcosm Communications, Mitel Semiconductor, Ortronics, Siecor, SpecTran, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Sundance Technology, and Transition Networks
For a copy of the draft 100BASE-SX standard or to find more information about the Short Wavelength Fast Ethernet Alliance, please stop by the Alliance's booth at NetWorld+Interop, #7374, or visit our web site, www.fols.org.
The Fiber Optic LAN Section (FOLS) of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is a consortium of leading fiber optic cable, component and electronics manufacturers. The FOLS focuses on educating end users and influencers about the technical advantages and affordability that optical transmission brings to local area networks and fiber-to-the-desk applications. Member companies of the FOLS include 3M, AMP, Allied Telesyn, Berk-Tek, Belden Wire & Cable, CommScope Inc., Corning, Lucent Technologies, Siecor, SpecTran, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave and Transition Networks.
TIA is a full-service national trade organization with membership of 900 large and small companies that provide communications and information technology products, materials, systems, distribution services and professional services in the United States and around the world. The association's member companies manufacture or supply virtually all of the products used in global communication networks. TIA represents the telecommunications industry with its subsidiary, the MultiMedia Telecommunications Association, in association with the Electronic Industries Alliance. (EIA).
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