Ethernet is approaching its golden jubilee and has changed drastically as computer technology has evolved throughout the years. It was standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1984 under standard 802.3 and, since then, its capabilities have advanced significantly. In fact, nowadays, ethernet is the most common network technology globally.  

What is Ethernet?

Ethernet is a type of network that enables you to send and receive data in the form of electrical signals or pulses. The way it works is actually pretty simple: Ethernet cables pair up with your electronic equipment to create what’s called a local area network (LAN). But, while all of the devices on your LAN can talk to each other, they can’t communicate with any devices that are outside of your LAN.

Ethernet is used in a wide variety of applications, from linking computers within a building to connecting cities across continents. Today, it serves as the backbone for most modern networks and provides reliable, high-speed connectivity for organizations worldwide.

Benefits of Ethernet:

Ethernet quickly became popular and is still in use in many places today due to its:

· Speed

The speed offered by ethernet is much faster than wireless connections. This is because ethernet provides a one-to-one connection, which makes a speed of 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps) easily achievable.

· High-Quality Data Transfer

Noise doesn’t easily interfere with an ethernet connection, thereby ensuring that the quality of information doesn’t degrade upon transfer.

· Security

An ethernet connection’s security level is much higher than a wireless connection. Specifically, an ethernet connection typically provides control over who is using the network, which ensures that any information is not easily available to hackers.

· Reliability

Ethernet connections are one of the most reliable connections because there are no interruptions from radio frequencies. Consequently, disconnection and slowdown issues are minimized and there’s never a shortage of bandwidth.

Reinventing Ethernet for New Capabilities

Ethernet systems have been reinvented time and time again. In doing so, they can now provide more flexible and reliable cabling; accommodate the rapid increase in network traffic with higher speeds; and power connected devices through network switches that support power over ethernet (PoE) technology, such as

PoE lighting, to provide additional capabilities for today’s increasingly complex network systems. Undoubtedly, the outstanding success of ethernet has been dependent upon the capability of the system to adapt and adjust to meet the increasing needs of the networking industry.

Although ethernet has been around for decades, it’s still one of the best data transmission connections. And, because technology developers understand the importance and reliability of ethernet, they continue to develop and upgrade its functionality. As an internationally recognized technology, ethernet continues to demonstrate its value. And its continual evolution indicates that it’s here to stay.