IEEE forms 4-pair PoE study group

USA: IEEE, the world's largest professional organization advancing technology for humanity, announced the formation of a new study group to consider initiating a formal project to standardize 4-pair Power over Ethernet (PoE).

The IEEE 802.3 4-pair Power over Ethernet Study Group will consider a 4-pair solution’s capability to enhance energy efficiency and provide greater than 25.5 Watts of power in improving PoE, which has become the preferred method to power networked devices, such as IP phones, access points and other network devices.

“The formation of this study group will allow collaboration on a proposal for the development of a 4-pair PoE standard, which would allow support of new PoE applications in the areas of IPTV, industrial Ethernet and more,” said David Law, chair of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group and distinguished engineer with HP Networking. “A 4-pair approach would result in increased efficiency, since the use of additional pairs results in lower channel resistance.”

Individuals interested in the future of PoE standards are invited to contribute to the IEEE 802.3 4-pair Power over Ethernet Study Group, which is scheduled to meet during the IEEE 802.3 Interim Meeting, 14-17 May 2013 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

"PoE has become the dominant powering method in many Ethernet-based products—access points and IP phones, for example—demonstrating that customers will migrate towards convenience,” said Chad Jones, chair of the IEEE 802.3 4-pair Power over Ethernet Study Group.

“Enabling applications beyond 25.5 Watts will extend this convenience to other products. An additional benefit is the reduction of power lost in the delivery channel by at least half. This benefit can be extended to existing powered products by moving from a 2-pair powering system to a new 4-pair powering system."