The annual BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Service International) Winter Conference took place from February 2-6 in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1977, BICSI is a professional association dedicated to establishing standards and providing education for those involved in the design and installation of information and communications technology (ICT) systems, including cabling infrastructure within various buildings, such as data centers.

 

BICSI offers a range of educational resources and credentials for professionals, from Technicians who install cabling infrastructure to Designers who determine the optimal infrastructure based on industry standards for specific customer applications. One such credential is the R.C.D.D. (Registered Communications Distribution Designer). Additionally, BICSI develops industry standards, including the ANSI/BICSI 002-2024, which outlines guidelines for data center design.

 

All BICSI members with Registered Credentials (e.g., Technician, R.C.D.D.) must earn continuing education credits. Attending one of the two annual conferences is a valuable way to gain these credits, as they provide numerous educational opportunities.

 

During the BICSI Winter Conference, my Manager, Corey Lacaire, and I had the privilege of co-presenting a session titled “Even Artificial Intelligence Relies on the Physical Layer.” Our presentation focused on the evolving landscape due to AI advancements. We noted that cabinets are becoming deeper to house direct-cooling distribution units, and noted the increased power demands from AI servers, which significantly consume more electricity.

 

We also discussed the introduction of new AI transceivers for 400G and 800G applications along with their fiber requirements.

Finally, we highlighted the progress made in Datacenter Interconnects (DCI), particularly the innovative approach of using IP over DWDM. This method enables direct connections between 400G ZR/ZR+ transceivers and routers, eliminating the requirement for Transponders or Muxponders. For more information, refer to our article titled High-Capacity IPoDWDM Networks with 400G ZR and ZR+.

We had engaging discussions about Legrand’s solutions, including Overhead Bus Power, PDUs, Cabinets, Management Racks, fiber connectivity solutions, and a variety of optical transceivers, DACs, and AOCs. To learn more about how our integrated solutions collaborate to enhance your data center's speed and bandwidth capacity, visit https://www.legrand.us/markets/data-center.

 

Feel free to contact an Approved Networks representative with any questions you may have to help you save time and money on your upcoming projects: https://approvednetworks.com/contact-us/.