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Single-pair Ethernet

Empower Industry 4.0 with seamless data, connecting the last frontier for a truly unified industrial network

What Is Single-pair Ethernet?

A diagram comparing SPE to other Ethernet standards in the physical layer.

Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a new physical layer technology aimed at simplifying Ethernet connectivity by using a single twisted pair cable to transmit both data and power. Compared to traditional multi-pair cabling, SPE reduces cabling requirements and streamlines installations. Additionally, SPE covers various standards such as IEEE 802.3cg, 802.3bw, 802.3bp, and 802.3ch, to enable transmissions at different speeds across different distances. These features make SPE highly suitable for a wide range of industrial applications, connecting field devices at the edge to upper-level networks for a truly unified industrial network.

Key Features of Single-pair Ethernet

Two-wire Ethernet
Two-wire Ethernet

The single twisted pair cable design of SPE reduces material costs and simplifies installations, saving precious time and resources.

Extended Reach
Extended Reach

SPE supports various transmission speeds over distances of up to 1,000 meters (10BASE-T1L), catering to diverse industrial applications.

Power and Data
Power and Data

By providing power and data over a single twisted pair cable, a feature known as Power over Data Line (PoDL), SPE eliminates the need for dedicated power in lines in industrial settings.

Single-pair Ethernet Is Driving Digital Transformation

In today's rapidly evolving industrial landscape, single-pair Ethernet is pivotal in driving digital transformation and evolving the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). SPE seamlessly blends digital technologies into industrial networking, revolutionizing efficiency, flexibility, and scalability.

A pyramid diagram contrasting two industrial network architectures: complex connections with proprietary protocols (Before) and a fully unified, streamlined system using single-pair Ethernet (After).

Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is transforming Industry 4.0 by extending traditional Ethernet's reach and flexibility through the use of single twisted pair cabling and longer-distance connectivity. This innovation not only connects industrial edge devices like process instruments, but also allows seamless integration of digital technologies into manufacturing processes.


Besides offering better connectivity, SPE helps create unified networks that support a variety of industrial Ethernet protocols, ensuring broad compatibility and fulfillment of specific communication needs. By enabling Ethernet to connect industrial devices from the edge to upper-level Ethernet networks, SPE allows for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision making in industrial operations.

Single-pair Ethernet Applications

Enabling more efficient and reliable communication, single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is an emerging technology that is pivotal in transforming industrial processes. With a range of benefits, from enhanced monitoring to streamlined control, SPE offers significant advantages for industrial applications. Here are some examples of how SPE can transform industrial networks.

Automotive

Automotive

The fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing faces numerous challenges, including rising costs, increasing vehicle weight, growing connectivity demands, and the need for better safety and reliability. Single-pair Ethernet is a game-changer by simplifying cabling, reducing weight, improving data transmissions, and ensuring system stability, all over a single twisted pair cable. This innovative technology helps manufacturers streamline operations, improve efficiency, and integrate advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving features.

Process Automation

Process Automation

Single-pair Ethernet revolutionizes process automation with robust, high-speed data transmissions up to 1,000 meters based on 10BASE-T1L over a single twisted pair cable. Sometimes, these industrial applications operate in hazardous environments or in areas with high electromagnetic interference (EMI). For those cases, it’s important to consider appropriate shielding and grounding techniques to ensure optimal performance. Advanced Physical Layer (Ethernet-APL), a robust physical layer technology for SPE, meets stringent safety standards, providing reliable and secure communication in challenging and hazardous environments.

For more information, visit the Ethernet-APL.

Building Automation

Building Automation

Building automation systems often suffer from complex cabling, scalability limitations, integration difficulties, data management issues, energy inefficiency, and security concerns. SPE addresses these issues by integrating diverse applications into a unified network that seamlessly connects the edge to the cloud, including HVAC systems, security networks, and IoT devices such as sensors and controllers for data collection. This makes SPE an invaluable solution for modernizing building automation and achieving greater efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability.

Factory Automation

Factory Automation

Limited scalability, integration difficulties, and complex cabling are common obstacles in factory automation environments. By using a single twisted pair cable design, SPE reduces cabling complexity and costs while providing reliable, high-speed communications. This technology ensures real-time monitoring and control, essential for maintaining product quality and guaranteeing regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Single-pair Ethernet

As the adoption rate of single-pair Ethernet technology keeps growing, many questions arise about its capabilities, applications, and benefits. This FAQ section aims to answer some of the most common questions about SPE.

Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) is a new, emerging Ethernet physical layer technology with a single twisted pair wiring design, capable of multi-Gigabit speeds and long-distance connections of up to 1,000 meters.

Traditional copper Ethernet uses multiple pairs (4 or 8 wires), offering higher speeds but over a shorter maximum distance of 100 meters.

SPE's lightweight design and extended reach make it a cost-effective choice for industrial applications, while traditional copper Ethernet provides higher bandwidth, making it well-suited for office networks and data centers.

Fieldbuses have proven reliable for traditional tasks but are grappling with challenges like limited interoperability, high costs, and low data rates, creating digital barriers with upper-level IT networks. They also have limited potential to meet future demands. Single-pair Ethernet, as a physical layer technology, integrates Ethernet directly into industrial applications. With the advantages of protocol-independency, real-time data transmissions, ease of use, and cost-efficiency, single-pair Ethernet can leverage the full potential of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 applications.

Hazardous environments are areas with potentially explosive atmospheres, where flammable gases, vapors, or dust can ignite under certain conditions. Networks deployed in this type of environment require specialized equipment to prevent ignition and ensure operational safety.

Ethernet-APL is an advanced physical layer that allows single-pair Ethernet to be deployed in hazardous environments. Based on the 10BASE-T1L standard, Ethernet-APL transmits both data and power over a single twisted pair cable that is reinforced with explosion protection. These features make Ethernet-APL highly suitable for use in hazardous locations.

For more information about Ethernet-APL, visit the Ethernet-APL.

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Time-sensitive Networking
Ethernet-APL
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