Energy expenses with data transmission can decrease by up to 9 times

Specialist from Furukawa Electric, a global manufacturer of solutions for Communication and Energy Networks infrastructure, explains that the modernization of telecommunications, using optical fiber cables to replace those of copper, can mean important savings in energy consumption and in controlling recyclable products.

World Energy Efficiency Day was recently commemorated. The initiative, which was launched in Austria during the First International Energy Efficiency Conference, aims to raise people's awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption through its reasonable and sustainable use.

In this context, modernization of the telecommunications infrastructure, using Fiber Optic technologies, replacing those of copper, can mean important savings in energy consumption and in the control of recyclable products.

For Lucas Samyn, Technical Coordinator at Furukawa Electric, the use of optical technologies provides various energy efficiency benefits.

"Fiber Optic networks, in addition to increasing performance, offer various benefits in terms of energy efficiency. Given its light-based transmission technology, it consumes much less electrical energy than copper wired network installations. This reduction means reaching a consumption of 1 Watt (per 300 meters), compared to 3.5 Watts in copper networks (per 100 meters), which means 9 times less", explains the company's engineer, part of the Japanese industrial group Furukawa.

Other savings are also obtained in the wiring, since by means of a single fiber and with the help of optical splitters, it is possible to distribute a signal to up to 64 users, achieving an approximate saving of 80% in wiring, since the only totally dedicated cable is the "last mile", that reaches a length of between 50mts. up to 150mts.

In addition, Optical fiber cables are immune to electromagnetic interference, unlike their copper counterparts, which implies that the latter must use signal regenerating equipment that increases the energy consumption of the network. 

Along with this, another advantage of using optical solutions is related to the strength of its materials. The glass wires that make up the inside of the cable, despite having the thickness of a strand of hair, have a useful life of several years, while the copper cables are exposed to oxidation and overheating due to the changes in temperature that this metal undergoes.

Laserway: ecology and energy efficiency

One of the innovations developed in the R&D laboratories of Furukawa Electric LatAm, which stands out for its ecological approach and its benefits in energy savings, is Laserway. Optimizations of up to 70% in cable savings; 35% in rack savings; 95% in port savings; 70% in space savings; 80% in plastic savings and 70% in energy savings can be achieved by using it. In short, it can generate savings in CAPEX of up to 50% and 70% in OPEX.

"To develop and produce Laserway connectivity technologies, we have prioritized environmentally friendly standards, which are essential to satisfy programs that encourage the use of efficient resources; contributing to the reduction of energy consumption, in refrigeration systems and in the amount of material used in cabling," adds Engineer Lucas Samyn.

Ultimately, the use of optical networks, in addition to increasing data transmission performance and speed, ensures telecommunications providers with an efficient and sustainable solution to reduce the costs associated with energy consumption.