If you're fitting out a new office or upgrading an old one, your cabling is one of the few decisions you make once and live with for the next 15 to 20 years. The short version: for most Irish offices today, Cat6 cabling is the sensible default and Cat6a is the future-proof choice, while older Cat5e is now really only a budget option with a short runway.
This guide explains what Cat6 cabling is, how it compares to Cat6a, and how to choose without overpaying.
Cat6 is a type of network cable that carries data between your computers, phones, Wi-Fi and the internet. It sits inside a wider system called structured cabling: the fixed network of cables, wall outlets and patch panels running through your building. When you plug a device into an RJ45 outlet on the wall, that cable runs back to a patch panel in a comms room, where it connects to your switches and broadband.
Cat6 handles Gigabit speeds comfortably and can manage 10 Gigabit over shorter runs. It's the current practical minimum for new office installations, having largely replaced the older Cat5e standard.
Cat6 and Cat6a are both twisted-pair copper cables ending in the same RJ45 connector, and they're backward compatible with your existing equipment. The difference comes down to speed over distance and how well they cope with heavy demands.
Cat6 carries 10 Gigabit only over shorter distances of around 55 metres, and Gigabit across the full 100 metre run. Cat6a carries the full 10 Gigabit across 100 metres and handles the power demands of modern Power-over-Ethernet kit, such as Wi-Fi access points, IP cameras and door access, far better, especially where cables are bundled tightly and heat builds up.
Here's how they compare at a glance:
| Cat5e | Cat6 | Cat6a | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max speed (full 100m run) | 1 Gigabit | 1 Gigabit | 10 Gigabit |
| 10 Gigabit range | Not supported | ~55 metres | 100 metres |
| Best for | Basic legacy use | Typical office | Future-proofing, heavy PoE |
| Status for new installs | Budget only | Practical minimum | Recommended standard |
It depends on what's plugging in and how long you want the cabling to last. As a rough guide:
Here's the bit most people get wrong. When you compare quotes, the price gap between Cat6 and Cat6a looks like it's all about the cable. It isn't. On a modern install, the labour is around 70 to 80 percent of the total cost, and the cable itself is a small fraction. Saving 20 percent on the cheaper cable is a tiny saving on the overall job.
And the expensive part isn't pulling the cable in, it's pulling it out and doing it again. If you under-spec now and outgrow it in a few years, you're paying that big labour cost twice. That's why the honest question isn't "which cable is cheapest?" but "how long do I want this to last?" For most businesses, the small extra for Cat6a buys years of headroom.
The best time to sort your cabling is during a fit-out or refurbishment, while ceilings and walls are open and the electrical work is already happening. Running the data cabling alongside the power, lighting, fire alarm and security systems means it's all planned as one job, properly routed and tested, rather than retrofitted awkwardly later.
At TAM Services we handle structured cabling as part of our commercial electrical fit-outs, so the network infrastructure is designed and installed together with everything else in the building. It's also something we look after on an ongoing basis through our facilities management service, for businesses that need moves, adds and changes handled as their team grows.
Planning an office fit-out or network upgrade? Talk to TAM Services about Cat6 cabling done right the first time. Get in touch for a quote.
