Exclusive: CommScope’s Russell Julius dives into GigaReach XL

CommScope's new GigaReach XL is changing the rules for structured cabling, according to Account Manager, Russell Julius.

Speaking with TechDay during a recent interview, he explained that the product was developed in "direct response to client feedback."

"For a long time now, our clients have been telling us that the 100 metre limit of structured cabling has created challenges," he said.

Julius explained that larger facilities such as data centres, hospitals, airports and warehouses demanded connectivity solutions capable of greater distances.

"Everything we do now is bigger, and as a result, we need to run our cables and connect things further away than normal," he said.

To overcome these barriers, many organisations had been using workarounds.

"We have seen the creation of a lot of workarounds to get past that 100 metres, whether that's through special electronics, protocol changes or media conversion to fibre," Julius said. However, using fibre created another issue - the inability to transmit power alongside data.

"With traditional cabling, you get to do Power over Ethernet on a single cable," he explained.

GigaReach XL fundamentally shifts this limitation. Julius said, "What we are able to do is push that out to 250 metres. That's a really big difference."

He pointed to a recent warehouse project where GigaReach XL proved its value. "The contractor suggested to the client that using GigaReach XL would simplify the installation," he said. Instead of four security cabinets being installed, as had been the case in a similar warehouse project without GigaReach XL, only one cabinet was needed.

"This ability to use one cabinet instead of four means better port utilisation in switches," Julius said. He explained that instead of spreading cameras, Wi-Fi access points and access control devices across multiple cabinets and switches, they could all be consolidated into a single point.

The benefits extend beyond warehousing. Julius discussed the Client Warehouse Project, where GigaReach XL made a significant difference compared to traditional solutions like fibre or extenders.

"We are reducing the number of devices, the power requirement, and environmental controls, and we are improving manageability," he said.

Julius added that previously, installations often faced a four-to-one ratio in terms of cabinet reduction when switching to GigaReach XL. "It is a significant advantage, and that's what we have seen when we introduce this - our clients, consultants and installers immediately grasp the value," he said.

One of the technical challenges they faced in the warehouse deployment in Melbourne was the height of the ceilings.

"The ceilings are really, really high, in excess of 10 metres," Julius said. He noted that cabling had to run metres up, across, and then metres down to accommodate large racking and vehicle movements below.

GigaReach XL's design improvements made a crucial difference. "One of the key technical improvements is the size of the conductors is much larger, which means we drop the loop resistance significantly - somewhere around about 40 percent lower than a standard Cat 6A cable," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of maximising space in warehouses. "Every square inch of warehouse space costs money, so the higher you can make those shelves, the better the return on investment," he said.

As warehouses increasingly adopt automation and robotics, Julius sees greater demand for enhanced connectivity. "We are going to see more connectivity requirements and a lot more wireless requirements," he said.

When discussing cost savings, Julius pointed to the elimination of media converters and protocol adapters, but said the most significant savings came from infrastructure.

"The hidden, real cost savings are in reducing cabinets or reducing comms rooms," he said.

He explained that in buildings like airports or convention centres, it could be the difference between needing to construct a new comms room or not. "There are significant costs involved - air conditioning, UPS power, real estate - and we are reducing all of that," Julius said.

Another major advantage was simplifying long-term management. "Because everything is centralised, you have centralised points of management, and the total cost of ownership over time is lower as well," he said.

Julius praised Lanec, CommScope's elite business partner, for their role in the warehouse project.

"Lanec are a very, very good partner. The quality of their work is high, but more importantly, the quality of their thought processes and design processes," he said.

He credited Lanec with suggesting GigaReach XL for the warehouse project. "They were the ones who suggested GigaReach XL, saving time and money for the client," Julius said.

Importantly, CommScope's authorised installation by a partner like Lanec means clients receive a 25-year product and application warranty. "We reverse the risk from the client," Julius said.

On future-proofing facilities, Julius explained that GigaReach XL ensures organisations are ready for expansion. "All they need to do is run an additional cable from the existing cabinet," he said. Even if new wireless or monitoring devices are added, they are covered.

Sustainability is another major benefit. "We are using less hardware, less power, less backup power, and less environmental control," Julius said. He added that the simplicity of running a single cable for power and data meant less packaging, less waste and faster installation.

Client feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "People like the simplicity, they like the speed of installation, and they like the centralised management," Julius said.

He said GigaReach XL's flexibility also allowed it to integrate seamlessly with traditional structured cabling for office devices, such as PCs and phones.

"This is one of the special products that we have delivered over many decades where the clients, consultants and installers immediately grasp the value," Julius said.

When asked what sets CommScope apart from competitors, Julius was clear. "We are an end-to-end supplier. We make everything in the channel that makes it work," he said.

That vertical integration, he explained, ensures accountability and builds client trust. "We think about long-term relationships, we think about trust relationships, and we reverse the risk from the client," Julius said.

Looking ahead, Julius sees GigaReach XL making its biggest impact in security, Wi-Fi access and IoT devices.

"When we provide extended reach and extended bandwidth, the marketplace exploits that to best advantage," he said.

CommScope is already preparing for future developments. "One of the things that CommScope has released is a thing called Systemax 2.0," Julius said.