The glass revolution
For decades, copper-based structured cabling has been the reliable workhorse of the typical enterprise/industrial LAN (Local Area Network), bringing internet connectivity to your desktop, Wi-Fi access point, or a multitude of other connected devices. But as we move deeper into the 2020’s has the "copper ceiling" finally been reached?
Fibre to the Home( FTTH) is now available to 70% of UK homes, with an adoption rate at circa 50%, so the residential love-in with optical fibre networks is secure. But step into many public or private buildings and the likelihood is that the wired / wireless LAN is powered by copper, which has its limitations.
Active Vs passive
Traditional LAN’s rely on "active" architecture: a networked web of switches tucked into air-conditioned computer rooms/cupboards on every floor of a building, often less than 50m apart. It’s worked well so far, but the drawbacks are now all too apparent.
Active switches create heat, use power, take up space, and need maintenance. Compounding this is the efficacy of copper as a telecommunications medium. The relentless drive of Wi-Fi standards, and AI place more strain on the capacity and speeds capable via copper, in turn driving the continual, expensive upgrade of structured cabling, from Category 5, (Cat-5), to Cat-5e, Cat-6 and now Cat-8. Upgrading cabling in an operational environment is no small task. Apply this to a hospital, manufacturing plant, or university, and the knock-on implications for the building occupants isn’t pleasant.
Furthermore, the forthcoming launch of Wi-Fi-8 will cause significant problems for those on legacy cabling which can’t be remedied by a simple access-point/switch upgrade, and even then, the latest cabling still cannot match the reach or capacity capable over fibre – which is exactly why FTTH adopted the technology.
Enter Optical LAN
So what’s the alternative to copper? Glass. Enter Optical LAN (often referred to as Passive Optical LAN or POL) - a technology that is no longer a niche alternative but a viable necessity. In replacing those bulky, power-hungry copper switches with a clean, green fibre-optic architecture, many organisations are discovering a "glass revolution" that delivers more than just technology benefits.
With Optical LAN, a single strand of single-mode fibre runs from a central terminal to unpowered (passive) optical splitters. These splitters can serve up to 64 or even 128 end-users/end-points, delivering data over distances of up to 20km without a single mid-span switch. Compare this to Cat-8 cabling which has a span of <50 meters before it needs ‘repeating’ by an active switch.
Further advantages include:
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Speed and capacity: 25G PON (Passive Optical Network) is now commonplace, and 50G PON is available, with 100G PON on the roadmap. PON technology splits a single fibre optic in multiple connectivity ‘strands’, making it very efficient at delivering huge amounts of connectivity capacity, at super-high speeds.
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Energy efficiency: Nokia reports that Optical LAN delivers up to 40% less power consumption than copper-based networks. As architects and engineers consider new building design, the use of efficient technology can help developers meet tough regulatory standards such as BREEAM and support long-term ESG goals.
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Space reclamation: Optical LAN can reduce networking rack space requirements by a staggering 90%. In high-rent global cities, reclaiming "comms rooms" for revenue-generating space (hotels, retail, leisure) is a major financial win.
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Cabling reduction: By using thin, lightweight fibre, businesses see a 50–70% reduction in total cabling volume, with a fibre lifespan of circa 50 years.
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PON technology can also be applied in our data centres, carrying auxiliary services, (building management, security, fire safety) as well as Out of Band Management – the last resort to manage DC infrastructure in the event of serious technical faults.
Legislation is also driving the change. With the EU’s Gigabit Infrastructure Act 2025 (GIA) newly inked, the future of in-building preference for fibre over copper is secure for new buildings and significant refurbishments, including beyond residential developments.
Further afield, the UK is lagging Asia/Pac and North America where new builds are typically deploying optical LAN into upwards of 30% of all developments. In the UK, build to rent, and student dwellings are the key adopters, but legislation is less stringent than the EU.
So why the slower adoption curve in the UK? Some may argue a higher initial cost for Optical LAN, which is debatable on a per case basis, but without question a longer-term total cost of ownership clearly favours fibre over copper. PoE (Power over Ethernet), can be negated as electrical wiring is typically plentiful, and copper/fibre blends are also available. Skills are abundant, especially as the FTTH growth spurt has plateaued, leaving well-skilled engineers available to deploy.
The real blockers are apathy, willingness, and clear direction from the market to specify optical solutions in networking. Stronger legislative support and active lobbying on standards can only drive this higher up the agenda of the construction industry, combined with application of ESG policies by end customers and tenants.
So, the market is ready. According to recent 2026 market analysis, the global Passive Optical LAN sector is estimated at $44bn, with the UK identified as one of the key growth countries in Europe.
Nokia is a global leader in Optical technology, and stands ready to drive PON technology adoption beyond the home, and into our offices, factories, Universities, stadia and beyond. Its time to increase the debate about the utilisation of fibre in our modern buildings, and deliver high-speed, high-capacity, future-proofed networks with strongest ESG credentials.
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Meet the team
Tales Gaspar
Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
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- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar
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Sophie Greaves
Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Telecoms Programme, the Data Centres Programme, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie leads our work across telecoms networks, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres - bringing these areas together into a dedicated Digital Infrastructure unit. She was previously Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
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- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 0207 331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
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Josh Turpin
Programme Manager, Telecoms and Net Zero, techUK
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
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- [email protected]
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- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
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Authors
Lee Hargadon
Director, Enterprise & Public Sector, UK & Ireland, Nokia
