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Fiber Infrastructure Necessary For Tomorrow's Data Centers

As enterprises accelerate digital initiatives, advanced network infrastructure is becoming increasingly more mission critical. Reliable, high-capacity connectivity has never been more important for powering modern, distributed operations. At the forefront is fiber optic technology, which is emerging as the universal backbone for connecting the digital world.

Fiber enables smart buildings to integrate in-building systems, workspaces and IoT applications through a single integrated network. It provides the bandwidth and low-latency transport required for digital building management, all-IP networks and smart facilities. Leading organizations recognize fiber as the strategic platform to future-proof building infrastructure for emerging technologies. However, total cost of ownership must be reduced to make fiber deployment practical for wider adoption.

Data centers also rely on fiber for the performance and scalability demands of colocation, edge computing and hybrid cloud models. Interconnecting on-premises, virtual and public cloud platforms require a high-capacity optical transport layer. Emerging architectures like micro data centers depend on fiber-based access and backbone networks for connectivity to end users and between facilities. As data gravity increases, fiber will be essential for data-intensive workloads and distributed computing architectures. 

Beyond buildings and data centers, fiber is the preferred medium for 5G backhaul and front-haul applications. It delivers the throughput, low latency and reliability required for advanced cellular connectivity. Government stimulus programs recognize fiber's role in enabling smart communities through high-speed broadband access and connectivity for transportation infrastructure. 

As digitalization accelerates across industries, ubiquitous fiber infrastructure will be necessary to power the bandwidth-hungry applications of tomorrow. Those positioning fiber at the core of network strategies today will be best prepared to support next-generation technologies and the increasingly connected world.
 

About the Author

Manja Thessin, RCDD/RTPM serves as Enterprise Market Manager for AFL, leading strategic planning and market analysis initiatives. Manja has 21 years of ICT experience in the field, design and engineering, and project management. She has managed complex initiatives in data center, education, industrial/manufacturing and healthcare. Manja earned a master’s certificate from Michigan State University in strategic leadership and holds RCDD and RTPM certifications with BICSI®.

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