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Enabling the Next Generation of Harsh Environment Interconnects SINGLE-PAIR ETHERNET AT SCALE:
Winchester Interconnect Clint Schlosser Sr Product Manager
Lynden Bajus Sr Product Manager
As aircraft, spacecraft, and advanced industrial systems continue to evolve, the demands placed on electrical interconnects are changing rapidly. Designers are expected to deliver higher data rates, greater power density, and improved electromagnetic performance while also reducing weight, complexity, and total system cost. Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) has emerged as a key en - abler of this shift, and when paired with a purpose-built modular connector system, it provides a practical path forward for aerospace-grade applications. Why single-pair Ethernet matters Traditional Ethernet architectures rely on four twist- ed pairs, or eight conductors, to transmit data. While effective, this approach adds weight, increases cable diameter, and drives larger connector interfaces that are difficult to integrate into space-constrained platforms. SPE fundamentally rethinks this model by transmitting Ethernet data over a single twisted pair. Depending on distance and wire construction, SPE supports data rates ranging from 10 Mb/s up to 10 Gb/s. For aircraft and other weight-sensitive platforms, the benefits are immediate: • Reduced cable mass and diameter that support aggressive SWaP targets
• Smaller connector interfaces that simplify routing and installation • Less copper content and fewer materials, driving lower system cost • Simplified harness architectures that reduce labor and rework Equally important, SPE was developed to operate reli- ably in electrically noisy environments. The standards account for EMI, vibration, and temperature exposure, making SPE well suited for aerospace, defense, and industrial systems.
Winchester Interconnect’s LiteSPEed Cable supports high- speed data rates ranging from 10 Mb/s up to 10 Gb/s in a smaller, lighter interface.
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