BlogInfrastructure & networking
Cat6 or Cat6A: choosing the right cable
By Vicky Ogola, Senior ICT Consultant 1 min read
Cat6 suits most desks today; Cat6A gives full-distance 10 Gb/s and better PoE heat handling for access points and cameras.
Cabling is installed once and used for many years, so the category matters.
Cat6
Supports gigabit to every desk comfortably and 10 Gb/s over shorter runs (up to about 55 metres). It is thinner and less expensive.
Cat6A
Supports 10 Gb/s over the full 100-metre channel and dissipates heat better when carrying higher-power PoE. It is thicker, which affects pathway sizing.
A practical approach
Many organisations use Cat6 for desk outlets and Cat6A for wireless access points, cameras and backbone links within a floor.
What matters as much as category
- Quality installation and terminations.
- Testing and certification of every link.
- Labelling and documentation.
A poorly installed Cat6A link can perform worse than a well-installed Cat6 one.
See our structured cabling services.
About the author
Vicky Ogola
Senior ICT Consultant
Vicky Ogola writes about network design, connectivity, data centres and the infrastructure that business systems depend on.