Optical cable development direction

Here are six cable trend developments that will influence cable design in 2025.

1: Shrinking Cables

Miniaturization continues to influence every aspect of electronic design. Smaller cables are easier to install in tighter spaces, enable size and weight reductions, and keep systems cooler. Smaller cables make electronic systems fit in vehicles, enabling electrification and automation. They reduce the heat and footprint of data centers. They enable aircraft and spacecraft to use less fuel through reduced payload. Trends will continue to prioritize miniaturization and innovations in cable materials and design are making this possible without loss of performance. 

2: Increased Safety

The significant cable content in buildings, vehicles, and other enclosed spaces presents a growing hazard in the event of a fire; burning cable jacketing emits toxic gases and smoke that impairs visibility for people who may be combating the fire or evacuating the area. 

3: Material Innovations

New materials, driven by size and weight requirements, environmental concerns, and performance needs, will continue to expand cable potential. Aluminum, copper magnesium, copper silver, copper tin, copper-clad steel and brass conductors reinvigorate the potential of metal while optical cable continues to refine and extend its reach. New substrates for cable jacketing enable more flexibility (bend radius), more stability under extreme conditions (including fire and space), and longevity in the field. 

4: New Standards and Specifications 

HD-PLC

In late 2021, the IEEE Standards Association approved the new HD-PLC technology with the IEEE 802.1X authentication function as the IEEE 1901b standard. Power Line Communication (PLC) is a data transmission technology that uses existing cables such as power lines, coaxial cables, or twisted pair cables as a transmission medium, making it possible to quickly build a network at a low cost. 

5: HDMI 2.0

The HDMI forum announced its update to the HDMI 2 cable standard in late 2021, and new high-speed cable options for displays are now hitting the market. HDMI 2.0 cables support high-speed video resolutions and refresh rates, including 8K60 and 4K120, and resolutions up to 10K. Dynamic HDR formats are also supported, and bandwidth capability now reaches up to 48 Gb/s.

 6: Ethernet-APL

Ethernet-APL is an extension of the specification for single-pair Ethernet (SPE) based on 10BASET-1L designed to bring high-speed Ethernet-enabled instrumentation to harsh industrial environments, including hazardous process automation facilities, through a two-wire, loop-powered solution. Ethernet-APL provides the ability to directly connect and power up to 50 field devices with up to 500 mW each using established cable infrastructures, with the benefits of improved communication speed, hazardous area reach, power to field instrumentation, and long cable runs. FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International (PI) form the Ethernet-APL group.