Overview:

Bishop & Associates has just released a new 14 chapter research report exploring the technology of both electrical and optic communication links, and compares the relative advantages and disadvantages of each in I/O applications. Connector sales data is provided for the years 2006, 2007, 2012 forecast, and five-year CAGRs.

Copper cables have historically been the primary media that allowed electronic systems to communicate. Copper cabling systems have evolved over the years to enable increasing bandwidth as system speeds increased. Cable constructions including coaxial, and shielded twisted pair along with advanced signaling devices have pushed the performance capabilities of copper Input / output cables to multigigabit speeds. Prediction of copper bandwidth limitations has consistently proven inaccurate as designers find ways to enable copper links to satisfy their performance requirements. Copper cable assemblies are an established technology that permits easy repair in the field using common tools. A variety of industry standards define copper interfaces that enable equipment connectivity, an essential feature of many of today’s electronic products.

The elements of optic communication technology have been developing over a long period of time, but the ability to fabricate optic links became practical in the 1960’s. Copper cables have been in a continuous process of evolving to higher speed performance, while fiber was born with bandwidth capability far beyond the limitations of copper. Glass fiber was quickly adopted as the media of choice for long distance communication links that spanned the earth. Low cost, high bandwidth optic cables have enabled global telecom and Internet communications that have reshaped the world. In addition to exceptional bandwidth, fiber links offers excellent signal integrity, electrical isolation, noise immunity and the ability to transmit over long distances without the need for amplifiers or repeaters.

A primary impediment to the implementation of fiber is the fact that signals produced by electronic equipment must be converted to optic pulses before they can be transmitted over fiber cables. This has been an expensive process that could only be justified in long distance applications. Improvements in the performance of optic cables together with the introduction of lower cost electro-optic conversion devices have allowed fiber to become competitive in shorter reach applications.

Market demand for higher speed links is putting pressure on copper cables that must incorporate more exotic features to keep pace. Increasing data rates can limit the effective length of copper cable assemblies opening the door to optic alternatives. System designers now have the option of choosing optic or copper media in many I/O applications of less than 10 meters.

The report is organized into 14 chapters plus a glossary of terms and definitions. 

Some of the issues addressed include:

What technical and economic factors may be changing the copper vs. fiber I/O selection process?

What are the primary applications for high-speed communication links in current telecom and computing equipment? How may these change in the next five years?

What signal loss and distortion factors influence the performance of high-speed copper and fiber optic links?

What are the factors that make pluggable small form-factor modules an attractive option?

How do formal and defacto industry standards influence the copper vs. fiber link decision?

How do the manufacturing and repair processes of copper and fiber optic cables compare?

What are the fastest growing markets for high-speed I/O cables?

At what distance and data rate do fiber links become a more practical choice over copper?

Are “active fiber cable assemblies” a long-term solution to bandwidth and cable bulk problems?

Where do small form factor pluggable interfaces offer the best alternative to solutions in high-speed I/O applications?

What are the market values of high-speed copper and fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies by region of the world?

What are the dollar and percent growth forecasts for high-speed copper and fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies through 2012?

What emerging technologies now in development may allow fiber to become the preferred media for the majority of high-speed I/O communication?

Will the cost of advanced high-speed copper cables tip the advantage to fiber optic links?

Will 10 Gb/s Ethernet drive a movement toward greater use of fiber optic links?

Chapter 1 - Report Scope and Methodology

Methodology and Approach
Report Objectives Study Methodology
Data Collection Forms

Chapter 2 - Introduction

Introduction / History
Copper Interconnect Technology
Optic Interconnect Technology
Basic Principals of Optical Transmission
Optical Fiber Types
Fiber Optic Connector Less Characteristics
Optical Connector Types
Copper Connector Termination Process
Optic Connector Termination Process
Advantages / Disadvantages of Copper Connectors
Advantages of Copper Connectors
Disadvantages of Copper Connectors
Advantages of Fiber Optic Interconnects
Disadvantages of Fiber Optic Interconnects

Chapter 3 - Overview of High-Speed Copper Cable Assemblies

USB  2.0 / 3.0
MicroGiGaCN, CX4
IPass
HSSDC-2
High-Speed Backplane Cable Connectors
DensiShield
Display Port, HDMI
Enhanced RJ-45
Active cables

Chapter 4 - Overview of Common Fiber Optic Connectors

Single Fiber Connectors
ST Connectors
FC-PC Connectors
SC Connectors
LC Connectors
MU Connectors
VF-45 Connectors
Multi-Fiber Connectors
FDDI Connectors
ESCON Connectors
MT Connectors
MR-RJ Connectors
MTP Connectors
Lightray MPX
Fiber Optic Adapters / Special Purpose Intefaces
Circular MT Connectors
HD-OPTY Fiber Optic Backplane Interconnect

Chapter 5 - The Small Form Factor Pluggable Option

Gigabit Interface Adapter
Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP)
XFP
QSFP
SFP+

Chapter 6 - Active Optical Cables

Tyco Electronics
Emcore
Zarlink
Fujitsu
Luxtera
Finisar

Chapter 7 - The Interface Selection Process

Chapter 8 - Fiber Optic and Copper Connector and Cable Assembly Suppliers

Optic Interface Manufacturers
Molex, USConec, Timbercon, Stratos Lightwave, Sabritec
Yazaki, Sumitomo Electric, Corning, Sanmina SCI, NTT
Copper Interface Manufacturer
Amphenol, Molex, FCI Electronics, Tyco Electronics, Samtec, Gore
Meritic, Sanmana, SCI

Chapter 9 - Optic Interconnect Industry Standards

FOCIS Standards.
TIA / EIA Standards
SONET

Chapter 10 - High-Speed Copper and Fiber Cable Applications

History.
Networking.
PCI Express
Infiniband
Ethernet

Chapter 11 - The Copper or Fiber Decision

Traditional Copper and Fiber Applications
Advances in Fiber to Address Shorter Reach
Selection Criteria
Data Rate/Distance/Density Trends
Copper / Fiber 10 Gb/s Performance Comparisons

Chapter 12 - Advances in Copper and Fiber Interconnects

Technology Drivers
40 / 100 Gb Ethernet
Fiber to the Home
Optical Connector Roadmap
Optical Backplanes
Silicon Nanophotonics

Chapter 13 - Copper and Fiber Market Estimates and Forecast

Introduction
World Fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, 2006-2007
World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, 2006-2007
World fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2006 2007
World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2006-2007
World Fiber Optic Cable Terminated Connector Market, Computing Applications, 2006-2007
World High-Speed Copper Cable Terminated Connector Market, Computing Applications, 2006-2007
World fiber Optic Cable Assembly Market, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2006-2007
World High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Market, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2006-2007
World Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Market, Computing Applications, 2006-2007
World High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Market, Computing Applications, 2006-2007
Fiber Optic Connector Forecast, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2007-2012
High-Speed Copper Connector Forecast, Telecom / Datacom, Applications 2007-2012
Fiber Optic Connector Forecast, Computing Applications,2007-2012
High-Speed Copper Connector Forecast, Computing Applications, 2007-2012
Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Forecast, Telecom / Datacom, Applications, 2007-2012
High-speed Copper Cable Assembly Forecast, Telecom / Datacom Applications, 2007-2012
Fiber Optic Cable Assembly Forecast, Computing Applications, 2007-2012
High-Speed Copper Cable Assembly Forecast, Computing Applications, 2007-2012

Chapter 14 - Major Findings and Conclusions