Proposed Standard for Gigabit Ethernet Over Copper Sent to Official Ballot; Ballot for 1000BASE-T Ethernet Specification Begins

Business Wire, July 28, 1998

SAN DIEGO---(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 1998--Members of the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance announced today that the balloting process for the Gigabit Ethernet over copper proposed standard (also known as 1000BASE-T) has formally begun.

During an IEEE Plenary meeting in La Jolla, CA, held July 6-10, the IEEE 802.3ab Task Force (which developed the 1000BASE-T draft standard) resolved all outstanding technical issues. Additionally the Task Force along with the IEEE 802.3 Working Group (which oversees Ethernet Standards) voted unanimously to initiate a Working Group ballot for 1000BASE-T. The 1000BASE-T draft standard will enable Gigabit Ethernet to extend to distances of up to 100 meters over Unshielded Twisted Pair Category 5 copper wiring, which constitutes the majority of the cabling inside buildings. This progress is in keeping with the schedule for standard ratification of Gigabit Ethernet over 1000BASE-T in March of 1999.

"The progress toward a Gigabit Ethernet standard for copper is a reflection of all the excellent work completed by the 802.3ab Task Force," said Colin Mick, technical editor of the IEEE 802.3ab committee. "Approval for Working Group ballot process marks a major milestone and we are well on our way toward a scheduled March 1999 completion of the 1000BASE-T standard."

In the recently ratified Gigabit Ethernet Standard (IEEE 802.3z), operation, testing and usage requirements for Gigabit Ethernet over fiber were specified. The new 1000BASE-T specifications will outline operation, testing and usage requirements of Gigabit Ethernet for the installed base of Category 5 (CAT-5) copper wiring, which includes most of the cabling within buildings. The 1000BASE-T specification is designed to work with the installed base of CAT-5 cable without any need for enhanced CAT-5 or Category 6 copper wiring.

"Users of applications such as CAD (computer-aided design), multimedia, medical imaging and other applications will greatly benefit from the speed and reliability of Gigabit Ethernet technology," explained Willem Wery, Technical Marketing Manager, Intel's Network Products Division and Gigabit Ethernet Alliance Vice Chair of Marketing. "Businesses will, in turn, benefit from the affordability of supplying this technology directly to end-users through existing copper wiring infrastructure."

The Gigabit Ethernet Alliance was organized around common objectives that support the Gigabit Ethernet standards activities. This multi-vendor effort is committed to providing customers with open, cost-effective and interoperable Gigabit Ethernet solutions for both fiber and copper cabling environments. Representatives from approximately 120 networking, computer, component and test equipment companies participate in the Alliance. For more information about the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, visit the web site at: www.gigabit-ethernet.org.

    CONTACT:  Gigabit Ethernet Alliance
               Marilyn Callaghan, 650-342-6087
               mcallagh@pacbell.net