Contact Us
What Cabling Mobile

What cabling is right for my business?

It all depends on what you need your structured cabling to deliver.

Cabling can get in quite the tangle if you’re not careful and we mean that in more ways than one!

That’s why it’s important you know which cabling is right for you and that depends on what your cabling is being used for. Your cabling infrastructure must match your business needs if you are going to get the best outcome for your business. So, how do you decide what cabling is right for your business?

Well first and foremost, you need to know what the different categories of cabling are…

We’re here to detangle your cabling requirements…

Whether you’re moving into a new office or simply re-organising an old one, we can help. As well as handling all of your cabling requirements, we can also ensure that your networking and infrastructure is cost effective and futureproof so that you get the best long-term return on your investment. Our input doesn’t need to end their either, we also specialise in fibre-optic cabling, telephone cabling, wireless networks and electrical cabling. Interested?

Let's Talk
Backhaul Wireless Mobile

Category 5e (CAT-5e) Cabling

Category 5e (CAT-5e) cabling is the accepted minimum standard for connecting computers, Ethernet switches and network devices including telephones together. It provides a maximum speed of 100Mbps and a maximum bandwidth of 100MHz over a distance of 100 metres. As an alternative to plugging PCs directly into Ethernet switches, CAT-5e structured cabling provides an easier, neater and more flexible option for network and telecoms management.

Cat 5 Mobile

Category 6 (Cat6)

Category 6 (Cat6) cables are primarily used for networks looking to run faster than Cat5e. It delivers a max speed of 10,000Mbps and a max bandwidth of 250MHz over 55 metres. A Cat6 cable is composed of four pairs of wires, similar to Cat5 cable. The primary difference between the two is that, Cat6 makes full use of all four pairs. This is why Cat6 can support communications at more than twice the speed of Cat5e.

Yellow Wires Mobile

Category 6a (CAT – 6a)

Category 6a (Cat6a) cabling system is higher performance than Cat6 and is designed to support 10GBase-T over the full 100 metre, 4 connector channels. In other words, it delivered a maximum speed of 10,000Mbps just like Cat6 cabling however, it offers a maximum bandwidth of 500MHz over a distance of 100 meters.

Wire2 Mobile

Start with a site survey

Generally speaking, the higher the category of cabling, the higher the price however, making your cabling decision on price alone is unlikely to give you the best long-term return on your investment. What will help ensure you get the best return on your cabling investment is getting the experts in to conduct a site survey.

Every cabling installation we do always starts with a survey. It means we can assess the current network cabling in place at your premises so we can advise on how much new cabling work will be required and what that work is, what it will cost and how long it will take to implement. This means you know the scale of the task at hand before committing to the work. Sound good?

Generally speaking, the higher the category of cabling, the higher the price however, making your cabling decision on price alone is unlikely to give you the best long-term return on your investment. What will help ensure you get the best return on your cabling investment is getting the experts in to conduct a site survey.

Every cabling installation we do always starts with a survey. It means we can assess the current network cabling in place at your premises so we can advise on how much new cabling work will be required and what that work is, what it will cost and how long it will take to implement. This means you know the scale of the task at hand before committing to the work. Sound good?

Book in your site survey today

Cabling Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of cables?

Network cables typically come in three main types: coaxial cables, fibre-optic cables and twisted pair cables. Which one is used depends on a number of factors such as the network’s size.

What is structured network cabling?

Structured cabling or network cabling as it is sometimes known, basically refers to the complete system of cables, components and hardware that is needed to deliver a comprehensive infrastructure for telecommunications. In other words, your structured network cabling provides the sockets at your required desk positions for computers, telephones, printers, CCTV cameras, door entry systems and so on. A properly designed and installed structured cabling system also delivers predictable performance as well as the flexibility to accommodate changes, additions and upgrades in the future.

What are the benefits of structured network cabling for offices?

There are five main benefits to investing in structured network cabling for your business. These are:

  1. Simplicity
  2. Speed
  3. Flexibility
  4. Growth
  5. Cost


Structured cabling is simple because it reduces the overall quantity of wiring systems needed to support your business meaning the overall IT infrastructure is easier to manager. Speed is a benefit of structure cabling because it delivers faster transmissions. Structured cabling in flexible and therefor allows your business to grow because changes and upgrades can be implemented with minimal impact to the day to day operations of your businesses. When all these benefits are combined, a structured cabling network is often therefore very cost effective.

Which cabling is right for my business?

This is all about costs, future proofing and what network speeds your business needs. For example, Cat5e cabling will typically provide the lowest cost option, however, installing cat6 cabling specification will enable faster network speeds in the future. We always recommend investing in a site survey before embarking on any cabling work so you can make sure you are investing in the right cabling for your business.