CommScope’s new GigaREACH XL and Constellation platform upgrades

Is your network infrastructure holding you back?

Network infrastructure should keep businesses connected, productive and scalable. Yet, as demands grow and technology advances, many legacy setups struggle to keep pace.

The limitations of traditional cabling – namely restricted reach, costly expansions and inefficiencies in power distribution – can leave IT teams frustrated and searching for better solutions.

Until now.

CommScope’s latest innovations – the GigaREACH XL option and enhancements to the Constellation platform – are designed to eliminate these constraints. These advancements extend the limits of structured cabling and introduce a smarter, more efficient way to power and connect devices, without the need for costly infrastructure overhauls.

The challenges of traditional cabling

Old network infrastructure presents major hurdles that impact everything from performance to cost to your ability to scale:

100-meter distance limitation: Standard twisted-pair Ethernet reaches only 100 meters before requiring additional hardware, creating costly bottlenecks for large facilities.
Excessive equipment needs: Intermediate telecom rooms, extenders and additional power sources add complexity and cost to network expansions.
Scalability issues: Connecting devices across massive spaces – think campuses, warehouses and office buildings – requires expensive fiber deployments or multiple distribution points.

These limits make it difficult to extend networks efficiently, making it feel like you’re stuck in the past (which you are!) and leading to higher installation costs, wasted energy and limited flexibility when upgrading or expanding.

(Re)introducing GigaREACH XL: Extended Ethernet

So what exactly is GigaREACH XL?

It’s an advanced cabling solution that shatters the 100-meter Ethernet barrier, allowing long-distance data and power transmission over standard twisted-pair copper cables.

There’s a reason this was a CI&M Cabling Innovators Award Gold Honoree and why CommScope demoed it at BICSI 2024.

In practical terms, GigaREACH XL means:

150 meters of 1 Gb/s + 90W Power over Ethernet (PoE) – 50% farther than standard Cat 6 cabling
200 meters of 100 Mb/s + 90W PoE – doubling traditional reach without fiber or extra power supplies

Simple, cost-effective deployment – no need for extra switches, fiber conversions, or costly telecom closets

With GigaREACH XL, IT teams can connect edge devices – security cameras, Wi-Fi access points, smart lighting controllers, etc. – without additional infrastructure, saving money while enhancing network performance.

Constellation platform improvements: Powering the hyper-connected Edge

Alongside extended-reach cabling, CommScope has upgraded the Constellation platform, a power and data distribution system designed for large-scale network deployments.

The latest enhancements bring:

Massive power and bandwidth capacity – Up to 1000 Watts of power and 10 Gbps of data eliminating the need for multiple cabling runs.
Distributed star topology – Instead of separate power and data cabling, Constellation Points in the ceiling distribute network resources directly where they’re needed, simplifying installations and reducing materials by up to 60%.
Future-proof scalability – Supports more devices, across longer distances, with fewer components, making it ideal for smart buildings, campuses and enterprise networks.

The advantages of upgrading with CommScope

If you’re on the fence about upgrading your infrastructure, consider this:

Lower installation and expansion costs – Extend networks further without additional telecom rooms or fiber installations.

Reduced complexity – Fewer cables, fewer closets and no extra power sources simplify design and maintenance.

Future scalability without limits – Easily expand networks across large campuses, industrial spaces and commercial buildings without excessive equipment today AND tomorrow.

More efficient power management – Deliver more power over greater distances, reducing energy waste and operational costs.

Ready to future proof your network?

CommScope’s GigaREACH XL and Constellation platform upgrades offer a smarter, more cost-effective way to scale your network, improve efficiency and support high-power devices without infrastructure headaches.

If you’re looking for a way to eliminate reach limitations, cut costs and optimize power distribution, these solutions could be exactly what your business needs.

Want to learn more?