80% of users face challenges in PoE deployment

Four out of five users experience challenges when deploying Power over Ethernet (PoE), according to a new survey of nearly 800 Ethernet engineers, manufacturers, resellers, system integrators, network operators and others.

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The study, conducted in January by the Ethernet Alliance, found some key PoE insights, including:

• Four out of five users experienced issues including support, reliability or connectivity challenges.
• The top three PoE installations are cameras and phones, along with computing and storage devices.
• 63% of customers planning to implement PoE said they need 30W; 47% need between 30-60W, and 27% need more than 60W.

With the global market expected to grow to $2 billion by 2025, PoE remains a lucrative source for system integrators and solution providers, said David Tremblay, chair of the alliance’s PoE subcommittee and a systems architect at Aruba. “Despite this good news, the growing adoption of PoE faces significant challenges.”

According to the survey, the main challenges in deploying PoE include: vendor support, unreliable power or operation, long repair times and initial connection problems.

The Alliance reports that while 78% of respondents have experienced challenges with PoE deployment, 72% expect improvements in products certified through the Ethernet Alliance’s PoE Certification Program. The study found that 84% said they expect certified PoE devices to be more likely to work the first time, while 85% expect the devices to be more reliable.

“Lacking a registered trademark, the use of the term ‘PoE’ is not formally regulated, so any vendor is free to describe products and solutions as PoE-enabled. Additionally, terminology such as ‘PoE+’ and non-standard PoE implementations cause confusion regarding device interoperability among technicians, engineers, and end users.

Experts say the biggest challenge in deploying PoE is ensuring interoperability. Multi-vendor interoperability is a hallmark of Ethernet and is an important consideration for users who want to know if the device will work, while industry players need a way to find new opportunities to work with companies that provide certified equipment, Dell'Oro Group said.