With nearly two-thirds of the global population predicted to have internet access by 2023, telecom data centers have high expectations to live up to. As new innovative 5G applications and connected industries come onto the market, data centers must provide reliable and fast communications that stay ahead of advancements in technology. 

Step 1: build a fiber set-up that will support your growth

Gartner expects more than 15 billion IoT (Internet of Things) devices will connect to the enterprise infrastructure by 2029. The rise of both devices and applications in a network needs various subsystems converged or integrated over the data center, such as telephone and mobile services, distributed content, video delivery and cloud infrastructure. Extensive amounts of fiber within the data centers are needed to ensure these devices and services are delivered at high-speed with high throughput. It is therefore essential that the fiber set-up is ready to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

Step 2: make end-to-end connectivity a reality

From an edge data center or central office to a core data center, fast and efficient end-to-end connectivity is essential. This begins with a high-density physical fiber layer which maximises on space to reduce the need to invest in more infrastructure. Modular fiber optic solutions can help data centers do more in less space which, combined with a structured fiber management system, can support growing fiber needs.

Step 3: automate for an easier life  

To provide real-time connectivity, advanced all-optical switching technology is needed to automate connections remotely. It also allows for the data center to be controlled and monitored from any location. In an increasingly complex network, which has hyperscale data centers and edge data centers positioned across vast locations, remote control is essential to maintain a reliable network. Solutions which are designed for small, compact edge data centers that process data closer to the end-user will also play a significant role in the deployment of 5G infrastructure. As more services move closer to the end-user, central offices re-architected as data centers (CORD) need structured fiber optic infrastructure solutions. 

Step 4: stay ahead of technology 

Advancements in technology and 5G applications require a flexible and agile approach when building data centers to be future-ready. Alongside a fiber set-up that maximises all existing space, having options to expand bandwidth alongside existing infrastructure is essential to scale to meet growing network traffic. Investing in structured and modular fiber optic solutions, that are compatible with existing and rising technologies, will reduce the need to invest in new infrastructure in the future too.