When you set up a new business network, one question always comes up: which network cable should I choose? Cat6, Cat6A or Cat7? It looks like a detail, but it is a decision you will live with for the next 10 to 15 years. In this article we explain the differences in plain language: speed, distance, shielding, PoE and price.
The basics: what does a category actually mean?
The "Cat" (category) of a cable indicates the bandwidth and speed the cable can reliably handle. The higher the number, the more megahertz and the more gigabit the cable supports. Important: a network is only as fast as its weakest link. A Cat6A cable with a Cat6 patch panel or a cheap patch cord will never reach full performance. The entire chain, from outlet to patch cabinet, must be the same category.
Cat6: fine for 1 Gigabit
Cat6 was the office standard for years. The cable supports 1 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100 metres without issues. 10 Gigabit is possible with Cat6 too, but only up to roughly 37 to 55 metres and only under favourable conditions (few cables bundled together, little interference). For a typical workstation where 1 Gbps is plenty, Cat6 does the job. It is cheaper and slightly thinner and more flexible than Cat6A, which makes pulling it through tight conduits easier.
Cat6A: 10 Gigabit over the full 100 metres
Cat6A (the A stands for "augmented") is currently the smart default for new business cabling. It supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100 metres, with bandwidth up to 500 MHz. Cat6A has a thicker jacket and often a separator (spline) between the pairs to counter alien crosstalk (interference from neighbouring cables). That makes it future-proof: even if you run at 1 Gbps today, the cabling is ready to grow to 10 Gbps without opening the walls again. Read more about having Cat6A cabling installed.
Cat7: shielded and industrial
Cat7 goes a step further with full shielding (S/FTP: each pair individually shielded plus an overall screen). It supports 10 Gigabit up to 100 metres with bandwidth up to 600 MHz. Worth knowing: Cat7 is not an official TIA/EIA category like Cat6 and Cat6A, but an ISO/IEC class (Class F). Classic Cat7 cable also often uses GG45 or TERA connectors instead of the standard RJ45, which is awkward in practice. For most offices Cat7 is overkill. Where it does make sense: environments with heavy electromagnetic interference, such as factory halls, machine parks or rooms with heavy equipment.
Shielding: UTP, FTP, S/FTP
Besides the category, shielding matters:
- UTP (Unshielded): no shielding. Cheap and fine for normal office environments.
- FTP / F/UTP (Foiled): a foil around all pairs together. Extra protection against interference.
- S/FTP (Shielded/Foiled): each pair individually shielded plus an overall screen. Maximum protection, used with Cat7.
Shielded cable must be properly earthed, otherwise the shield works against you like an antenna. That is a job for a professional.
PoE: do not forget the heat
More and more devices are powered over the network cable: access points, IP cameras, VoIP phones and even lighting via Power over Ethernet (PoE, PoE+ and PoE++ up to 90 watts). At high PoE power levels a bundle of cables heats up. That heat increases attenuation and can lower performance. Cat6A has a larger conductor diameter (often AWG 23) and dissipates heat better than Cat6 (often AWG 24). For a network with lots of PoE devices, Cat6A is therefore not only faster but also more stable.
The price difference
The difference in cable price between Cat6 and Cat6A is real but smaller than many people think: a few tens of euros per 100 metres. The biggest cost in cabling is not the cable itself, but labour: pulling, terminating, testing and certifying. And that work is the same whether you lay Cat6 or Cat6A. That is exactly why it is a shame to save on the cable: for a few percent extra on the total you lay cabling that is 10x faster and lasts years longer. Read more about the network cabling we install.
Which cable when?
- Cat6: tight budgets, temporary situations or workstations where 1 Gbps is enough for now.
- Cat6A: the recommendation for virtually all new office and business cabling. Future-proof, 10 Gbps, suitable for heavy PoE.
- Cat7: industrial environments with heavy interference or specific shielding requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect Cat6A cable to Cat6 equipment? Yes, everything is backward compatible with RJ45. Your network then runs at the speed of the weakest link, but the cable is ready for the future.
Is Cat7 faster than Cat6A? In practice not for most businesses: both do 10 Gbps up to 100 metres. Cat7 offers more shielding, not higher speed on a standard RJ45 connection.
What do you usually recommend? For 9 out of 10 offices: Cat6A. The best balance of price, speed and future-proofing.
Not sure which category fits your building and plans? Get in touch or request a no-obligation quote straight away. We are happy to advise.