Copper Cables in Data Center

The two primary competing types of cable in the data center are copper (such as twisted pair and twin axial) and fiber (with some coaxial cable still in use). Although fiber cabling (which uses a dielectric material) is more expensive, twisted pair cabling uses copper: a commodity that has in recent years seen wildly fluctuating prices. 

According to price graphs at the London Metal Exchange, the price of copper was relatively flat in the years leading up to 2003 and 2004, when prices began skyrocketing. A substantial dip followed in the midst of the recession in 2008 and 2009, which was in turn followed by a historic high. Copper prices remain near pre-recession levels.

All this translates to higher costs for copper cabling. Although the cost of the metal is not the sole factor in pricing cables, it is a major one—particularly given its relative high price. Furthermore, the price of copper may not make fiber an appealing alternative to twisted pair or twin-axial cable on price concerns alone, but within the realm of copper cabling, it can be a source of some strain on a data center budget.

In addition, the high price of copper (and its prevalence in everyday applications) has brought many an enterprising criminal out of the woodwork. Most data centers, owing to their relatively high security, need not worry about someone cleaning out their copper cabling, but attacks on power cabling outside the company facility are of some concern (both to the company and the criminal risking his life).

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