Harting has been at the forefront of single-pair Ethernet (SPE) and T1 Industrial connectors, a new transmission technology that enables end-to-end Ethernet connectivity via only a pair of twisted pairs.

In order to create a unified ecosystem covering all necessary infrastructure components, Harting works closely with the relevant standards committees. For industrial SPE applications, Harting offers the first and only internationally standardized interface according to IEC 63171-6, which came into effect at the end of 2019.

In general, fast Ethernet requires two pairs of wires, Gigabit Ethernet requires four pairs of wires, and the new single pair Ethernet (SPE) technology enables the transmission of TCP/ IP-based data streams over only one pair of wires. Within this development framework, not only the PHY and magnetic components of these devices need new components, but also the infrastructure of connectors and cables needs to be updated.

CC-TDOB11 51308373-175

CC-TDOB11 51308373-175

In order to enable all users to enjoy the benefits of SPEs, Harting submitted the first draft IEC SC 48B standard back in 2016, which includes a single pair of transmission connector surfaces designed for industrial applications. The draft is named IEC 61076-3-125 and has been released as a CD file. In 2017, the draft was incorporated into the newly created IEC 63171-x and renamed IEC 63171-6. IEC 63171-6 is a complete standards document containing all the necessary specifications and test sequences, with the final version published at the end of 2019.

Harting has long worked closely with the SPE-related Infrastructure Component Standards Committee to develop an international standard for connector surfaces. It has not only promoted the publication and implementation of the IEC 63171-6 international standard, but also been recognized by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 3 and TIA 42 as the recommended SPE device interface for M2I2C2E2/M3I3C3E3 applications. In addition, IEEE 802.3 includes this SPE interface as a recommended medium independent interface (MDI) in IEEE 802.3CG.

The ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 3 Committee plays a central role in the standardization process, and Harting created and updated the SPE cabling standard based on ISO/IEC 11801, based on the IEEE 802.3 standard. SPE cabling standards and their standardized connectors have been incorporated into existing cabling standards. At the international level, this involves a series of structured cabling standards that comply with ISO/IEC 11801, and a series of European standards published by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization that comply with EN 50173.