The next stage of ethernet cables is predicted to handle between 400 gigabits per second and 1 terabit per second. Currently, you would be getting maybe a hundred megabits per second, and if you’re lucky maybe even a gigabit per second. This is of course if your laptop has an ethernet port (newer ultrabooks are tending to not have them and rely on wireless instead). These speeds will generally suffice for home uses due to the fact bottlenecking occurs, mainly that being internet download speed, but there is still a need for more bandwidth for some people.

The higher speeds are needed for the big companies. I mean real big ones. Can you image what would happen to Google if their connection speeds were too slow? These companies are growing, and data usage is skyrocketing. Engineers from IEEE concluded that it seems to be that bandwidth associated with core networking is doubling every 18 months.

IEEE have decided to form a new group to look into this new need for raised bandwidths. Part of what this group will be doing is working out which is more of a viable option for businesses, 400Gbps or 1Tbps.

Currently, people agree that 400Gbps is technically feasible, as well as economically, however they are not sure about the terabit option. Obviously, the more bandwidth the better, however the technicalities and economics behind the terabit ethernet are questionable. Whatever direction people choose to go, it is most likely that they will end up bundling the connections together to allow for more bandwidth, however there are costs involved in doing this.

The other issue is that of copper connections. Copper cables are much thicker than fibre optic, and they don’t allow the distance of fibre either (5m maximum for 100Gbps with copper). The cables can get so thick in fact that some supercomputer centres have apparently had to reinforce the centres because the copper gets incredibly heavy! Cables at 2 inches thick is getting ridiculously thick and expensive, whereas a fibre cable can have a much smaller diameter and allow for the same bandwidth and transmit information further.

This new group looking into the feasibility are going to try to work out what speed the next gen of ethernet will be. The fact of the matter is that terabit would be nice, but it comes down to what you are willing to pay for it.

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