Driven by the wave of "new infrastructure" (new-type infrastructure construction), projects such as 5G base stations, data centers, rail transit, smart grids, and charging piles are accelerating their deployment. As a crucial interface component in electronic systems, connectors have received increasing attention for their specifications, reliability, and the trend towards localization. This article will combine the product characteristics of SP International brand and the background of domestic substitution to explore their application trends in the new infrastructure.
Part 1: Features of SP International Brand and Its Connector ProductsSP International is a service provider for the electronic components market, offering distribution, customized cable assemblies, and connector solutions, with over 50 years of industry experience.
In its product catalog, "Connectors" is listed as one of the key categories, including IP level connectors, power/signaling connectors, terminal blocks, industrial connectors, etc.
These connectors have a variety of specifications: from small terminals for signal transmission to high current/high protection level industrial products, they are compatible with various system requirements.
As can be seen, connectors with SP International as the reference specification have higher reference value in terms of reliability, specification richness, and global supply chain.
Three driving factors for connector applications in the context of new infrastructure constructionIn the research on China's connector industry, it is pointed out:
China's connector market has grown rapidly in recent years, with its market share rising from about 23% in 2011 to over 32% in 2021.
Parallel to this, "high frequency, high speed, and intelligence" have become the transformation direction of the connector industry.
In the new infrastructure fields such as data centers, 5G base stations, and smart grids, higher requirements are put forward for the protection level, miniaturization, tolerance accuracy, and reliability of connectors.
In summary, the driving factors can be summarized as:
●Large-scale infrastructure construction - expansion of facilities such as 5G and data centers brings massive demand for connectors.
● Technical upgrade requirements – higher requirements for high-speed signal transmission, miniature interfaces, and modularization.
●Domestic replacement and localization trend - responding to the needs of supply chain security, cost control, and increased localization rate.
Three, Application Trend of Domestic SP International Specification Connectors in the New Infrastructure ConstructionBased on brand specification references and the background of domestic substitution, the following trends are worthy of close attention:
High-protection-grade connectors become the preferred choice for infrastructure.
In many infrastructure scenarios (such as outdoor communication base stations, rail transit control cabinets, and outdoor charging pile ports), there is a very high requirement for environmental adaptability. The SP International catalog already has a "IP Rated Connectors (Protection Level Connectors)" category.
Domestic substitute manufacturers can launch connectors with IP65, IP67, or even higher protection ratings for outdoor or harsh environment scenarios, and refer to the SP specifications for design verification.
High-speed/high-frequency connector demand increases in data centers and 5G networks
In the new infrastructure, scenarios such as data center card connections, high-speed links, and 5G base station RF connections have higher requirements for connector signal stability, crosstalk control, and miniaturization. Industry reports indicate that connectors are developing towards "high frequency and high speed."
The domestic solution should refer to the specifications of signal connectors in the SP category, combine domesticization process improvement, and can be marked in selection: Refer to SP International specification.
Modularization, replaceability, and supply chain localization are becoming trends.
New infrastructure projects generally emphasize construction efficiency, maintenance convenience, and localization of the supply chain. Taking SP International as a reference, domestically produced alternative products will be more easily adopted by project parties if they can achieve compatibility with brand specifications in terms of connectors, lock扣 structures, and module interchangeability.
In addition, with the improvement of domestic connector manufacturing capabilities, domestic substitute manufacturers have the opportunity to form advantages in terms of cost, delivery time, and local services.
In engineering projects, "domestic substitution" will become the mainstream choice.
Under the national push for "domestic substitution of chips and components," connectors are also gradually being included in the category of domestic alternatives. The domestic market is seeing an increased demand for domestic connectors that adopt or replace the specifications of branded connectors (such as SP International). The project parties tend to adopt the "benchmarking with brand specifications and independent procurement or cooperative production" model.
Thus, "domestic SP International specification connector" will become a procurement keyword for many new infrastructure projects.
Four, application scenario examplesThe following are some typical new infrastructure scenarios, demonstrating the possible role of domestic SP International specification connectors:
5G Base Station Construction: RF connections, high-density interfaces, vibration and dust-proof connectors in outdoor cabinets, meet the requirements that align with the "IP Rated Connectors" category of SP International.
Data center machine room and network equipment: high-speed transmission card interconnection, modular cabinets, replaceable connector modules, using cable components and connectors comparable to SP specifications.
● Rail transit and smart grid: High requirements for connector reliability and environmental adaptability, shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof connectors can be used, refer to the industrial connector categories listed in SP.
● Charging stations/new energy infrastructure: power connection, high current tolerance, outdoor harsh environments, modular maintenance scenarios, connector domestic substitution according to brand specifications is also an entry point.
Under the background of the large-scale advancement of new infrastructure in our country, as a key interface component of electronic systems, connectors are experiencing unprecedented market opportunities. Referring to the specifications of SP International brand connectors, domestically produced alternative products have significant development potential in terms of protection level, high-speed signals, and modularization and localization.
For connector suppliers, project engineering parties, and procurement decision-makers: following the path of "reference brand specifications → localization of production → engineering application verification" will help to achieve the steady penetration of domestically produced connectors in the new infrastructure construction.
If you are interested in the domestic substitute products of SP International brand connectors or have procurement needs, or if you have production or sales channels for these brand connector domestic substitutes and wish to engage in in-depth cooperation or communication, please contact us through the following contact information:
Manager Zhang (186 6538 3950, WeChat number the same)Contact us, we look forward to working together with more industry partners.
