Higher-current PoE moves towards standardisation

The creation of a new IEEE802.3at Task Force maintains the momentum created during the PoEPlus Study Group and is a big step towards making PoEPlus into a new IEEE standard.

The IEEE has officially created a new Task Force, based on the objectives outlined by its PoEPlus Study Group.

The new IEEE 802.3at Task Force will be responsible for creating an enhanced PoE standard, dubbed PoEPlus, that will provide increased power of at least 30W to powered devices, such as voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless LAN (WLAN) access points (APs), and network security cameras.

The existing 802.3af PoE standard, which was adopted by the IEEE in June 2003, enables powered devices to receive as much as 12.95W of power.

The creation of the new IEEE802.3at Task Force maintains the momentum created during the PoEPlus Study Group and is a big step towards making PoEPlus into a new IEEE standard.

Since the ratification of the 802.3af standard, PoE has become the preferred power source for numerous network devices.

The power requirements of Ethernet devices that can benefit from safe and reliable PoE powering have increased.

Next-generation devices, such as multichannel and outdoor WLAN APs, videoscreen VoIP phones, network cameras and even laptop PCs, require more than the current power limit defined in the 802.3af PoE standard.

"With the increased penetration of the 802.3af standard, and the widespread adoption of Cat5 Ethernet cabling, it became clear that there should be a standard way to supply more power over the existing cabling infrastructure", said Igal Rotem, CEO of PowerDsine.

"We are proud to be an initiator and leader in the formulation of this global standard which will define a higher power PoE capacity, will continue to be a cost effective and reliable way to provide power to next-generation IP phones, wireless LAN access points and security cameras, as well as higher power devices such as laptop PCs and thin clients".

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