Cat 6 vs Cat 6A: Choosing Office Network Cable
Cat 6 and Cat 6A are categories of twisted-pair network cable. Cat 6 is specified to 250 MHz and supports 10 Gbps only over shorter runs, around 55 metres; Cat 6A is specified to 500 MHz and supports 10 Gbps over the full 100-metre channel.
By Dhruv Agarwal · · 1 min read
Why it matters
Network equipment is replaced every few years; the cable is expected to last the fit-out. Choosing its category is a decision about what the office can support a decade from now.
How it works in practice
| Cat 6 | Cat 6A | |
|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| 10 Gbps distance | ~55 m | 100 m |
| Cable size | Thinner | Thicker |
| Best for | General desk points | APs, backbone, high PoE |
Common mistakes
- Sizing containment for Cat 6, then installing Cat 6A. It does not fit.
- Skipping certification. A link that connects is not proven to perform.
- Mixing categories in one channel. The link performs at the lowest grade.
Standards referenced
Generic cabling under ISO/IEC 11801. Commercial cabling under TIA-568.
Standards referenced
- ISO/IEC 11801 — Generic cabling for customer premises (ISO)
- TIA-568 — Commercial building telecommunications cabling (Telecommunications Industry Association)
Frequently asked
For most desks Cat 6 is still adequate. Cat 6A is the safer choice for wireless access points, backbone links and anything drawing higher power-over-ethernet, and for fit-outs expected to last many years, because the cable in the ceiling is the part that is expensive to replace.
It is thicker and stiffer, so containment has to be sized for it and bend radius respected. That is a design point, not an obstacle — trays sized for Cat 6 may not fit the same number of Cat 6A cables.
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