American Telecommunications Industry Association Publishes Position Paper on Future Building Facilities Utilizing High Voltage Direct Current Power Supply Systems

High voltage direct current (HVDC) power supply systems, which are being promoted for use in telecommunication and data-center buildings in the NTT group, are mentioned in a position paper by the American Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). That paper consolidates concepts regarding the fundamental aspects of building facilities such as air conditioning, power supplies, and fire protection to transform a traditional central office into a data center for future networks. It was written by authors from AT&T, CenturyLink, CommScope, Ericsson, NTT, and TIA.

The paper proposes a new power supply system for ICT equipment in telecommunications facilities that uses 380 V direct current (HVDC) in addition to the conventional alternating-current (100 to 200 VAC) and 48 V DC power supplies. HVDC power supply systems are considered to be suitable for a future network that will require much more electricity to increase communications traffic, because they allow the current used to be reduced relative to conventional 48 V DC power supply systems and thus also reduce the size of power supply cables.

NTT is continuing to promote the introduction of this new power supply system* and is planning to accelerate promotion of HVDC in the future, since this paper will be used as a reference in standardization efforts at the IEEE and other organizations, and in activities such as setting equipment procurement requirements for carriers.

* Related NTT Corporation press release
"Publication of World's first Technical Requirements for the Next-generation Power supply Interface" (NTT Press Release, August 4, 2014.)