In the ever—twisting and evolving world of network cabling, a debate has raged over the merit of Category 6 vs Category 6A. While the majority of cabling contractors will tell you Category 6A is the de facto king of Middlesex County, NJ, we think about the needs of our clients before making any such declarations.
What’s So Special About 6A?
Though it’s been ten years since the debut of 6A cabling, adoption is still happening, albeit at an increasing pace with each year. Within healthcare and educational facilities, 6A’s been consistently recommended because of the need for high—performance connectivity—wired and wireless, alike. By utilizing 6A, businesses can support their 10GBASE-T connections up to 100 meters. As 10 gigabit applications became more and more prevalent in workplaces, it’s more relevant than ever to ponder the copper cabling woven throughout your building.
10G on the Horizon
In a similar vein, the more that 10G is adopted in the professional and technical world, the cheaper it becomes. 10G is not only becoming more economical—it’s also increasing in its efficiency per gigabit. Whether a company is staying wired, or going purely wireless, 10G is making LAN technology faster than it’s ever been. Category 6A ensures that those systems support multi—operators and multi-technologies as well.
Delving Into the Past
Once upon a time, it was conventional wisdom that Category 6A was essentially mandatory to guarantee transmission rates over a gigabit. The arrival of 2.5GBASE—T and 5GBASE—T did a number on cabling manufacturers, eager as they were to profit from the sale of Category 6A cabling. Thanks to these technologies, network speeds are increasing by up to five times what they once were on Category 6.
The Buzzword of Business: ROI
Regardless of the industry in which they’re situated, businesses are constantly weighing the ROI of, frankly, everything. Where cabling is concerned, clients have to consider the costs of recabling versus investing in new protocols and equipment. Instead of sweating over what’s available and how to implement it, you can always contact your local cabling contractors of Monmouth County, NJ, and the surrounding area. We’ll consult with your IT department as we plan out the fastest, and most efficient cabling solution for your business—be it 6 or 6A.