New Hospitality Technology Starts with Optical LANs and Class 4 Powering
Hospitality technology is no longer something to bolt on to existing guest amenities and experiences. Instead, it has become a strategic and fundamental part of boosting guest and employee satisfaction, as well as improving revenue and streamlining operations.
But it’s not the technology itself that impresses employees and guests—it’s the capabilities it enables. For example, integrating hospitality technology into operational processes and workflows can support everything from the automation of routine, mundane tasks to personalized guest interactions for better service.
And hoteliers are paying attention to the possibilities. According to a report from Oracle Hospitality and Skift, more than 60% of hospitality executives plan to adopt a fully contactless experience for basic hotel transactions, such as check-in/out and food and beverage ordering. Nearly 74% of travelers say they want hotels to use AI to analyze their travel information—if it leads to better customer service during their trip.
Optical Networking and Class 4 on Display at The Hospitality Show
These innovations are exactly what The Hospitality Show, held Oct. 28-30, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, will focus on. Belden, along with Tellabs, will be there to talk about the complete connection solutions required to support new hospitality technology capabilities.
In environments where fiber is being used, optical LANs are becoming a practical way to untether hotel networks from traditional power limitations, support increasing numbers of people and devices, and enable endpoint connections across long distances.
As hotels become increasingly reliant on connected devices, they’ll also need efficient and high-performance power solutions. Fault-managed power (FMP) systems, also known as Class 4 systems, can provide the data and power backbone that delivers the connectivity guests and employees demand.
Where Optical Networking Fits in Hospitality
Optical LANs converge internet, video, security, sound, and other services through a single, fiber-based network. This can offer several benefits:
- Reduces telecommunications closets or switches every 100 m to save space
- Eliminates distance limitations associated with twisted-pair networks, allowing devices to be installed wherever they’re most useful
- Lowers installation and maintenance costs by reducing cable requirements and the number of connections
- Optimizes energy consumption since these networks consume less power than traditional switch-based LANs
Instead of managing individual and complex networks for different functions, hotels can use a single optical LAN to support everything from guest Wi-Fi to facility-wide security cameras and smart room technologies.
As hotels continue to introduce new technologies to elevate interactions with travelers, optical networks can easily scale to meet these new demands without expensive and disruptive rip-and-replace upgrades.
Is an optical LAN right for your hotel venue? These networks often make sense for hospitality environments when:
- The 100 m distance limitations of a traditional LAN are a problem
- Cabling space is limited
- Many connected devices require more bandwidth
- Separate networks call for convergence
- You need easier network support and management
Where Class 4 Fits in Hospitality
In an era where technology permeates every aspect of hospitality, reliable power distribution is critical. Class 4 power distribution is a good fit to meet the industry’s evolving demands.
FMP systems were included in the National Electrical Code for the first time in 2023 as a safe alternative to AC power.
While Class 4 circuits provide the safety and convenience of Power over Ethernet (PoE), they can also offer close to 20 times the power of PoE across hundreds or thousands of meters.
The systems limit the power available during a fault event, with a transmitter and receiver monitoring for faults and controlling power delivery. If someone touches exposed wires or splashes water onto circuits during operation, the system automatically and immediately shuts off, making Class 4 systems just as safe as—if not safer than—Class 2 systems while offering more power availability.
Like Class 2, Class 4 power can be delivered through technology that unites power and data in a single cable run.
FMP systems allow hotels to power a wide range of devices and applications, such as lighting, HVAC, and in-room entertainment, without extensive rewiring. This reduces the risk of electrical fires and other hazards.
Because these systems are highly adaptable, upgrades or expansions to hotel infrastructure with FMP are simple to accomplish as new technologies or more square feet are needed.
Get Ready to Experience the Future of Hospitality Technology
Hospitality leaders can learn more about optical LANs and Class 4 power as complementary solutions by visiting Belden and Tellabs at The Hospitality Show this month. Booth 2126 will be a must-visit destination where you can see first-hand how these innovations work together to help hospitality venues create more connected, efficient, and future-forward properties.
Our experts will also be there to answer your questions, talk through real-world use cases, and explain how these technologies can be implemented in your own properties.
If you like what you see at our booth, don’t miss our education session:
Session Info
Title: Enhancing Hospitality Design: Advanced Network Solutions and Strategic Partnerships
Date: Oct 29, 2024
Time: 2:30-2:50pm (CT)
Location: Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center, Satellite Stage
Speakers:
- Ron Tellas, Senior Solution Architect, Enterprise Solutions, Belden
- Tim Spurgeon, VP of Enterprise Sales, Tellabs
- Jeff Van Horne, CEO and President, UberData Networks
Belden and Tellabs are working together to help you implement solutions that will make a difference in your facility. Whether it’s ensuring that guests have access to uninterrupted Wi-Fi or enabling you to manage operations more effectively, we can help your hotel thrive in a competitive, technology-driven landscape.
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About the Author
Ron Tellas is a subject-matter expert in RF design and Electromagnetic Propagation and joined Belden in 2016 to help define the roadmap of technology and applications in the Smart Building. He now takes these experiences to incorporate systems, equipment and connectivity into network solutions. Ron represents Belden in several standards organizations, committees of the National Electrical Code and as a board member of the FMP Alliance. He has a master and bachelor degrees in electrical engineering, a master in business administration and the inventor of 17 US patents. Ron is a proud recipient of the 2024 Harry J. Pfister award for his outstanding and impactful contributions to the Telecommunications Industry.