TIA 2026 and The Biggest Changes You Need to Prepare For | TEK TALK with Dan Barrera

In this episode of TEK TALK, Gordon is joined by Dan Barrera Product Innovation Director at TREND and an active member of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), to discuss the latest developments in telecommunications standards and what they mean for the future of network infrastructure. Drawing on insights gained from regular TIA standards meetings, Dan provides a unique insider perspective on the technologies and specifications shaping the next generation of fiber optic and structured cabling systems.For installers, consultants, manufacturers, ICT teams, and network professionals, staying up to date with standards is essential. As bandwidth demand increases, data centres become denser, and fiber networks continue to evolve, industry standards help guide how infrastructure should be designed, installed, tested, and prepared for future applications.Dan explains why TIA standards are never standing still. They continue to develop in response to new technologies, changing performance requirements, and the need to move more data through increasingly efficient infrastructure. This makes standards activity especially important for anyone working across telecommunications, commercial networks, fiber installation, structured cabling, or field testing.A key focus of the episode is the evolution of fiber connectivity. The discussion explores emerging higher-density connector options and smaller connector concepts designed to support greater flexibility in space-limited environments. As data centres continue to increase port density and demand more scalable designs, these developments could help infrastructure teams deploy and manage fiber systems more efficiently.The conversation also covers the work being done around APC multimode connectors. Traditionally, APC connectors have been associated with singlemode fiber because of their ability to help reduce back reflection. The fact that APC is now being considered in multimode and data centre applications shows how standards are adapting to meet more advanced network requirements and emerging performance expectations.Another important topic is OM5 fiber and why it was introduced. Dan explains how OM5 supports the 980nm wavelength, alongside the more common 850nm and 1300nm wavelengths used in multimode fiber. While 980nm is not yet widely used, its inclusion shows how standards development often looks ahead, preparing the industry for future applications before they become mainstream.This episode gives viewers a clear and useful overview of how TIA activity influences network infrastructure today and how it may shape tomorrow’s fiber systems. Whether you are designing, installing, testing, specifying, or maintaining cabling infrastructure, understanding these standards developments can help you make better decisions, plan for future requirements, and support long-term network performance.Watch now to hear Dan explain the latest TIA developments and what they could mean for fiber connectivity, data centre design, and the wider network infrastructure industry.Website: https://www.trend-networks.com/YouTube: www.youtube.com/@trendnetworks#TEKTALK #TRENDNetworks #TIA #NetworkInfrastructure #StructuredCabling #FiberOptics #DataCentre #DataCenter #OM5 #MultimodeFiber #CableTesting #CableCertification #ICT