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We live in the age of data. Big Data—and lots of it. The U.S. Chamber of Congress Foundation reported that 90 percent of the world’s data has been produced in just the last two years alone—and it’s only going to increase. This data explosion is affecting just about every task we perform in just about every industry.

Accompanying this dramatic increase in the volume of data is the need to process it at higher speeds using more advanced components and infrastructures with greater efficiency, precision and economy. Now that Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) are connecting all these systems, the technology and application needs for connecting a faster, more complex world are becoming greater and greater.

To better understand the issues and opportunities that higher-speed connectivity presents, let’s go back and take a brief look at how we got where we are today and then see what the future looks like.

From the Beginning and Breaking the 10Gbps Barrier

In the 1880s, early experiments with high-speed transmission used coaxial cables. By the 1920s, they were the backbone of the telecommunications network, capable of signal speeds required for voice and text communication and were the obvious choice as computer networks developed.

The continued rise of data rates and the demand for more connections sparked the move from coaxial to twisted pair cables. Ethernet networks moved to a structured wiring solution, twisted pairs became standard and BNC connectors gave way to multi-pin modular connectors. Data transfer rates up to 100Mbps were still considered high.

But in the era of high-speed internet, wireless communications and video streaming, 100Mbps is low speed and data rates of 6Gbps are commonplace. 5G cellular networks now enable hand-held devices to communicate more than 10Gbps. Wireless networks are capable of the same communication speeds as traditional wired networks.

Connectors are the Key to High-Speed Communications

Today’s IoT solutions allow devices to share data with each other, providing real-time monitoring and the ability to control remote equipment. High-speed connectors and their associated cabling are the nervous system of this network, providing pathways for the massive volume of signals. These connectors deliver high-speed performance on the devices themselves and in the data centers and base stations that are crucial to the modern communications network. 

Every aspect of modern technology benefits from the high-speed revolution using these high-speed connectors. Smartphones dominate the consumer world in both telecommunications and personal computing, aided by the introduction of 5G technology. More importantly, the industrial market has embraced high-speed communications to create the smart factory and new ways to organize the manufacturing environment.

Beyond the factory floor, high-speed communications systems are being deployed into every field imaginable, from healthcare to oil and gas to automotive to aerospace and defense—where this technology for navigation, communications and data-sharing is subject to the most demanding environments and conditions.

High-Speed Connectivity Challenges

As the demand for more data at higher speeds increases, the quality, accuracy and long-term dependability of the data transmitted becomes vital and connector designers must work hard to ensure that signal integrity (SI) is maintained. As electrical signals are transmitted over cable and through connectors, comparing signal loss from origin to target gives a measure of SI. Many factors, both internal and external, can affect SI. For instance, engineers need to be aware of the effects of electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the quality of signals carried through the connector system.

This expanding requirement of data volume and efficiency also creates the need for smaller connections with higher pin counts, so a finer pitch is needed. The signal trace length on printed circuit boards and the design of the cables become crucial issues. Increased pin counts and reduced spacing increase the risk of crosstalk, the interference of a signal within one conductor from its neighbor. Designers need connectors that are manufactured to preserve the signal integrity of high-speed signals.

Many high-speed connectors employed in fixed installations such as data centers and mobile base stations are not designed with the reliability needed for field use. Creating connectors for these demanding applications requires an in-depth understanding of harsh environments.

Future Technology and Solutions

The new generation of high-speed connectors will use established features for preserving signal integrity—such as differential pairs, shielding and ground-planes—but will employ advanced manufacturing techniques. Machined contacts are common in connectors for high-vibration applications, giving excellent conductivity and mechanical stability. Connector housings use high-performance polymers for superior strength.

An example of new advances in high-speed connectivity technology is Harwin’s high-quality multi-pole connectors, used in many different applications across the world. Industry-known for its rugged and reliable products, Harwin has applied its expertise in high-performance design to create Harwin Archer Board-to-Board Connectors, a small and lightweight high-speed connector family for the next generation of equipment. Further expansion in this area of connectivity is already scheduled, so keep watching for more additions to the range.

Get Faster With the Right Products and Partners

The explosion of data and the need for high-speed communications are here to stay as companies, cities and consumers rely on them to run their businesses and lives with greater efficiency, productivity and reliability. Traditional connectivity solutions will not be able to meet the data rate requirements needed in today’s demanding applications.