The rapid rise of generative AI and its versatile applications presents an equal number of opportunities and challenges for the data center industry, and beyond.

AI brings with it multiple data sources that require additional infrastructure. This presents key timing, coordination, and overall project management difficulties to those looking to keep up with the advancing technology.

It’s vital that data centers have access to essential components that support scalability, and enable operators to keep up with the shifting landscape. When it comes to cabling, availability of compact solutions that are fast and easy to install, while delivering on performance, is a key piece of the puzzle.

Extensive experience with early adopters of generative AI makes CommScope ideally positioned to help data center operators navigate emerging network cabling challenges, by focusing on addressing future issues now, and providing users with the right tools to speed up and simplify operational growth.

Ken Hall, RCDD NTS-certified solutions architect for cloud-scale data centers at CommScope reveals how cabling technology is evolving to meet these challenges. He explores the critical need for flexibility, scalability, and redundancy to keep pace with the ever-changing environment of data centers, as well as how new developments in connector and cabling technologies are poised to transform the industry.

Designing for flexibility

As data centers scale up, traditional infrastructure designs are becoming outdated. In the face of rapid technological advancements and shifting requirements, the need for systems that offer flexibility and speed in the face of constant upgrades and reconfigurations is clear.

“The landscape of data center design has changed. Historically, you built systems with the idea that the network would last for years, but now it’s all about rapid evolution,” says Hall. “We’re seeing the need for infrastructure solutions that can easily adapt, with much shorter lifecycle management for cabling and fiber systems.”

This shift has meant that manufacturers must look at cabling solutions that are not only capable of supporting current technology, but with built-in flexibility for future operations.

With each new wave of technology, data centers must figure out how to scale infrastructure without disrupting ongoing operations. This challenge is particularly pronounced in hyperscale data centers, where speeds are increasing and energy demands are higher than ever before.

The key to addressing these challenges is designing modular systems that are capable of rapid expansion and upgrading. By using pre-terminated fiber assemblies, manufacturers can allow for a much faster turnaround time during installations.

CommScope’s pre-terminated assemblies, with handy color-coding and clear labeling, help technicians efficiently connect devices without making manual terminations on-site – speeding up installation and helping to reduce errors.

“One of the key challenges we're facing today is figuring out how to design systems that allow for growth and capacity migration while minimizing downtime,” explains Hall.

“There’s a lot of change happening very quickly. With each new generation of technology, we have to ask: When is it worth the jump in terms of power reduction, capacity improvements, and other efficiencies? And how do we make that process as flexible and easy as possible?”

Scaling up: The fiber revolution

At the heart of the modern data center is fiber optic cabling. As the need for higher-speed data transmission continues to grow, fiber networks are being deployed on an even larger scale.

The sheer volume of fiber required, coupled with the need for space-efficient solutions, has created an ongoing challenge. The demand is largely driven by the increasing need for higher speeds.

This growth is compounded by the push for more power-efficient solutions. Yet, despite the increasing fiber count, the physical space in data centers has not kept up with these requirements. Hall notes:

“We've gone from hundreds of fiber cables to thousands and tens of thousands in a very short period. And while cabinets have gotten deeper to accommodate more equipment, pathway space is still incredibly limited. The challenge lies in managing this increasing fiber demand within the physical constraints of the data center infrastructure.”

In addressing this challenge, CommScope has developed modular pre-terminated fiber assemblies. These components come pre-configured with the necessary fiber count, allowing them to be plugged directly into the infrastructure without the need for on-site termination.

This reduces the overall installation time and helps avoid potential mistakes or misconfigurations, which are especially critical when dealing with tens of thousands of fiber strands in large data centers.

Another crucial development is the integration of smaller form-factor connectors, which take up less space while offering higher fiber density. For example, MPO connectors, typically used for high-speed applications, are evolving into new smaller variants, such as the MMC16 and SN-MT VSFF (very small form factor) connectors.

These connectors are approximately one-third the size of a traditional MPO, enabling data centers to pack in more fibers without taking up additional space. “Space efficiency is crucial. We’re now able to fit three smaller connectors in the space of one MPO, which means more fiber in less space – without disrupting the existing infrastructure,” says Hall.

This shift toward smaller form-factor connectors represents the industry's ongoing push to maximize density while maintaining and improving performance, further accelerating the scaling of fiber-optic infrastructure.

Redundancy and reliability: Keeping the network online

As data centers become more critical to global operations, redundancy has emerged as a key focus. Network reliability is no longer just about having a backup, it’s about ensuring that failure in one part of the system doesn’t bring down the entire operation.

To meet this need, advanced redundancy systems are now integrated directly into the cabling infrastructure. Hall explains:

“Redundancy used to be about having a backup line with simple A/B network routes, but now we’ve evolved, even if part of the connection fails, the system continues to operate. We are creating cable assemblies that help ensure the system stays operational, even when individual components fail.”

One example of this is the development of shuffle cable assemblies, which take multiple ports on one side and split them into lanes, sharing across the same number of ports on the far side, so that if one port goes down, the signal degradation is limited.

Instead of causing a complete loss of signal, the redundancy design allows the system to operate at a reduced capacity but still remain functional. For example, if a 400Gb 8-fiber port (in a 4-port group) between devices fails on one end, the port group still operates at 300Gb at each end device. Replacement of the failed device can be scheduled instead of forcing immediate repair. This type of cable-level redundancy enhances the overall resilience of the network.

With the ability to seamlessly handle failures, these new systems ensure that data centers are far less vulnerable to downtime, even as they grow in size and complexity.

Meeting the challenge of faster installations

The need to meet tight deadlines for installations is an ongoing challenge that's only expected to accelerate with the growing adoption of generative AI. Hall explains:

“Every data center is built with a tight deadline. When a data hall is under construction, it needs to be ready in a very short period – often within weeks. This makes on-site efficiency critical. The faster we can get the cables in and connected, the faster the system can go live.”

Pre-terminated fiber assemblies have become a critical part of solving this problem. These assemblies, which arrive on-site fully configured and ready to be installed, help eliminate a lot of the time-consuming processes traditionally required for fiber network installations.

Instead of cutting, stripping, and terminating fibers on site, technicians can simply install pre-assembled cables, significantly reducing the installation timeline on-site. Hall continues:

“By packaging everything in advance and making it as simple as possible on site, we can significantly reduce the time spent on installation. It’s like having a puzzle where all the pieces are labeled and ready to be put together. It speeds everything up.”

Gen AI clusters lend themselves to cabinet-specific assemblies, pre-labeled and color-coded for applications minimizing time on-site. Similarly, those assemblies can be installed in cabinets off-site reducing time required on-site even further. Install or upgrade cabinets can be rolled in and connected for efficiency.

This shift is particularly beneficial in environments where technicians may have varying levels of experience. By making the installation process easier and more standardized, manufacturers are helping to streamline data center builds while also ensuring that workers can install systems efficiently, without requiring extensive training.

Looking ahead

The rapid pace of technological advancement shows no signs of slowing down, and as such, the cabling industry must continue to evolve. The future of cabling technology lies in not only keeping up with the pace of growth, but also managing the increased fiber density in a more compact, efficient footprint.

The push for smaller connectors goes hand-in-hand with the need for higher-density, higher-performance systems that can handle massive data throughput without compromising on space efficiency. These small-form connectors are revolutionizing the way fiber optic systems are designed and installed in data centers.

“We’re also seeing the evolution of ganged VSFF connectors, where multiple connectors are grouped together to maximize fiber density. Instead of a single 16-fiber connector, you’ll see multiple VSFF connectors stacked in a single row,” explains Hall. This innovative approach offers improved performance and faster deployment times.

As data centers continue to evolve and grow, cabling infrastructure must keep up with the higher speeds, increased fiber density, and the constant need for flexibility. The industry is moving away from traditional, point-to-point cabling for back-end networks and toward more dynamic, scalable systems that allow for faster deployments, easier upgrades, and the ability to accommodate future technologies with minimal disruption.

The future is clear: The demand for data will only continue to rise, and as such, the cabling industry must innovate to meet these needs. By embracing modular, flexible, and redundant designs, manufacturers are helping data centers become faster, more reliable, and better equipped to handle the increasing demands of tomorrow’s world.

Learn more about Generative AI and Network Infrastructure here.