Why businesses should be planning their Cat6a upgrade now

With 10Gbps becoming the baseline for modern networks, we look at why structured cabling upgrades should not wait - and how to plan them without disrupting your operations.

Most businesses are still running on Cat5e or Cat6 cabling. For many, that's been perfectly adequate - Cat5e supports gigabit Ethernet, and Cat6 handles it more reliably over longer runs. But the landscape is changing.

WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 access points need multi-gigabit backhaul. Video conferencing, cloud applications, and large file transfers are pushing bandwidth requirements higher every year. And if you're planning to keep your cabling infrastructure for the next 10-15 years (which you should be), Cat6a is the sensible choice.

Cat6a supports 10Gbps over the full 100-metre run, and it handles PoE++ better than lower categories - which matters when you're powering modern access points and IP cameras. The cable is slightly thicker and the termination requires more care, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the marginal extra cost.

The key to a successful upgrade is planning. You don't have to rip everything out at once. We often work with businesses to phase their cabling upgrades floor by floor, or wing by wing, with minimal disruption. We can even run new Cat6a alongside your existing cabling and switch over gradually.

If you're thinking about a cabling upgrade, or if you're planning an office move or refurbishment, now is the time to consider Cat6a. Get in touch and we'll assess your current infrastructure and put together a plan.