6a Cabling, Progressive Office Cabling
Written by Stu Kushner

Upgrade to Cat6a to Future Proof Your Business – Part 1

Selecting the proper Ethernet cable will ensure your network will be capable of providing high-speed Internet, which is essential for every modern business. Your company may need to upgrade its network infrastructure by installing Category 6a (Cat6a) cabling. These high-tech cables are capable of performance superior to previous categories.
For example, we are now in the era of PoE (Power over Ethernet), and Cat6a cables are better suited for delivering electricity to devices than older cables.

Choose Cabling Wisely

Selecting the wrong type of cabling may force you to re-cable in the very near future, costing your company additional money and time. Re-cabling will disrupt your operations, and this may severely affect the ability of your business to make money for an extended period.

Less expensive than Cat6a, both Cat5e and Cat6 cables remain in wide use and are still being newly installed by some companies. However, trying to economize by installing a lower category cable may not save money, but rather waste money as the cheaper cabling may not be able to handle the rapidly growing demands of technology.

The following will cover several reasons that explain why Cat6a cables are currently the right solution for companies that are considering upgrading their network infrastructures.

Emergency Data Transfers

When large data files that contain HD video and graphics need to be quickly transferred at speeds up to 1000Mb/s, Cat6a cabling will be required. If your infrastructure currently uses Cat5e or Cat6 cables, those transfers may overload your system and take too much time. In contrast, Cat6a cables offer speeds of up to 10Gpbs.

Higher Speeds

Cat5e cables are capable of transmitting data up to 1Gbps for distances up to 100 meters/328 feet. They are twisted pair cables measuring 24 gauge. In comparison, Cat6a cables are also twisted pair, but they are 23 gauge, which are thicker, and they are capable of transmitting data up to 10Gbps for distances up to 100 meters/328 feet.

Part 2 will discuss Distance, HDBaseT, IP Convergence, Shielding, and Wave 2 Wi-Fi.

Progressive Office Cabling

Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking cost-effective solutions. Working together, Progressive teams are committed to getting your data cabling, access control, and telecom systems installed and operating while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

About Stu Kushner

Stu Kushner earned an Engineering Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. From there he worked at Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Hexcel Corporation and Case-Rixon as a computer design engineer and systems manager. He now works as the marketing director and project manager here at Progressive Office since its founding in 1986.