Ethernet Speeds, Standards, and the Road Ahead

In this episode of Inside Electronics, host Alix Paultre interviews Jeff Kring, Product Manager for Integrated Connector Modules at Bel, about Ethernet’s evolution. They discuss Base-T Ethernet’s ubiquity, how Power over Ethernet has extended its life, and the roles of cabling standards and IEEE speed standards.

Kring explains why 2.5G and 5G emerged as practical “fill-in” speeds that let buildings with Cat5e and Cat6 cabling gain more bandwidth without costly rewiring. He also covers PoE’s growing power needs for Wi-Fi base stations and security cameras, the importance of magnetics qualification, and how reference designs help ensure performance, emissions compliance, and interoperability.

The conversation closes with a look at future speeds like 25G and 40G Base-T, which exist as standards but lack market-ready chips.