Telecommunications is a multi-billion-pound industry in the UK and around the world. With customers expecting high performance from their phones, wi-fi networks, and other telecom infrastructure, it’s essential that all components operate at optimal efficiency.
Busbars play a vital role in the industry, being used to distribute power and connect key systems and equipment. In this article, we will take a look at how busbars are used within the telecommunications sector and how high-quality busbar plating can improve performance.
Busbars in Telecommunications
Power Distribution
Busbars are used to distribute power to telecommunications equipment, such as switches, routers, and servers. They are typically connected to a power source, from which they distribute electricity through the telecom system via a series of connectors.
Grounding
Busbars also provide a path to ground for electrical currents in these systems, helping to limit the risk of electrical shock and damage to equipment.
Connectors
Busbars are use to join systems and equipment together. This ensures the electrical flow between key components, including oscillators, antennae, signal generators, and more.
How busbar plating can benefit the telecommunications industry
To ensure maximum performance, busbars must be plated to a high standard. These are just some of the ways that busbar plating can improve efficiency.
Improved Conductivity
Like any electrical system, telecommunications networks rely on highly conductive materials to deliver exceptional performance. While the core materials of most busbars (typically copper and aluminium) offer good conductivity, they can be improved with a variety of plating techniques, including gold and silver, both of which provide measurably better performance.
Corrosion Resistance
Telecommunications towers are installed all over the world, often in inhospitable environments where they are exposed to the elements. These towers are essential to ensure maximum service coverage for residents and businesses, so any components must be protected against corrosion and rust. Our electroless nickel plating technique applies a hard-wearing sacrificial layer to the busbar that is highly resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for coastal towers, oil rigs, sea-going vessels, and more.
Durability
Outdoor telecommunications equipment does not just need to be corrosion-resistant; it also needs to be durable. A break in one of the busbars can result in reduced performance at best and a complete failure of the system at worst. Electroless nickel plating allows us to strengthen the busbar substrate, making the components more reliable for longer periods of time.