Horizontal cable

Some applications may require optical fiber cable between the distribution panel and the work area. IBM® recommends that such cabling be installed in addition to copper cable for data transmission and that the cable installed should follow the recommendations of the EIA/TIA-568 Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring Standard. Horizontal cabling with optical fiber generally requires no more than four strands of fiber (often only two) and may effectively be placed as part of a hybrid or composite cable that may consist of other transmission media.

IBM recommends that a duplex optical fiber connector be used in the work area and at the distribution panel to assist in maintaining polarity.