Optical Fibre Cabling LAN Application Support Guide Released 6 June 2001 The latest publication from the Fibreoptic Industry Association is the LAN Application Support Guide, a comprehensive overview of all elements that should be considered when designing a fibre media LAN. The choice of fibre cable type, optical power and loss budgeting, maximum distances in different types of cable and at different wavelengths and bandwidths and overall system design rules are all covered. The LAN Guide is set to become the definitive publication for anyone involved in designing, installing, testing or extending a fibre media LAN network. The demand for additional bandwidth shows no sign of reducing. LAN data rates have increased dramatically and are still doing so; network protocols have moved from loss- or attenuation-limited applications such as Token Ring and FDDI to bandwidth-limited applications such as 1000BASE-SX/LX and the emerging IEEE 802.3ae 10 Gigabit Ethernet. This evolution has brought with it new design rules and enhanced performance options for multimode optical fibre cabling, together with an increased emphasis on singlemode technology in the LAN environment. The objective of the LAN Application Support Guide is to provide an understanding of both the "old" and "new" design issues. For new installations, the key issues addressed are the specification of optical fibre performance, the selection of optical fibre type and the design of optical fibre cabling channels. FIA membership costs are only a few hundred pounds per year for the largest companies, less for smaller; in addition to other benefits, members receive all publications free. The cost of the LAN Guide to non-members is £150: to order, or to apply for membership, telephone the FIA secretariat on 01763 273039 or visit the FIA website www.fibreoptic.org.uk *** Ends 261 words *** Notes to Editors. For further information: FIA commercial contact: Andrew Watson Commercial Director c/o Molex Premise Networks tel: 01489 572111 fax: 01489 559130 arwatson@molex.com FIA administrative contact: Jane Morrison Fibreoptic Industry Association The Manor House Buntingford SG9 9AB tel: 01763 273039 fax: 01763 273255 jane@fiasec.demon.co.uk www.fibreoptic.org.uk Agency contact: Nigel May Parkfield Parkfield House Damerham SP6 3HQ tel: 01725 518321 fax: 01725 518378 Nigel_May@parkfield.co.uk www.parkfield.co.uk The Fibreoptic Industry Association represents more than 80% of UK companies involved in the manufacture or installation of fibre optic components and systems for voice and data communications. The Association provides advice to end-users, runs training and qualification services for its members, contributes to the development of national and international standards and generally represents the interests of the fibre industry. Its web site, www.fibreoptic.org.uk provides a free online reference service to all visitors.