Choosing the right LAN cabling for your business can seem like a minefield. As network convergence, IT/OT, and power/data accelerate, enterprise network infrastructure is facing increasing pressure from external stakeholders to expand their networks. It’s more important than ever to have a future-proof infrastructure platform that can handle expanding business needs.

How to choose a structured cabling system?

When shopping for new products online, many consumers like to research comparison offers and look for recommendations. It’s easy to find a lot of guidance online. However, when it comes to choosing a structured cabling system (SCS), there is little detailed information on the subject.

When choosing the best LAN cabling for your business, the best place to start is to consider “What does the customer need?”

What is the estimated service life of the installation?

For temporary sites, high-end solutions are not recommended, but reliability is essential, so it is recommended to choose Cat 5e copper cables from a reputable supplier. For installations where service life cannot be foreseen, Cat 6A would be the wisest choice.

What is the size of the building?

In small buildings, one or a few telecommunications rooms (TR) may be sufficient to serve all areas. Typically, fiber optics are used to connect each TR to the main telecommunications room (MTR), but this is not a fixed rule.

However, in a multi-story building or multi-building campus, the situation is different and the "campus backbone" must communicate with the building (usually using outdoor plant fiber cabling) and the building backbone to connect the TR to the MTR. It is recommended to use OM3 level or higher (OM4, OM5) to provide support for longer distances and future preparations. Single-mode fiber is becoming popular, but inside buildings it is rarely worth the additional investment in associated electronics.

What industry does the building belong to?

Some industry-specific standards include more stringent performance specifications. For example, to support distributed building services, ISO/IEC11801.6 requires Cat 6A performance. Likewise, healthcare or educational facilities may have their own requirements, depending on the country.

Do I need to support advanced wireless access points such as 5G DAS or WiFi 6 or higher?

Two suggestions if needed: design a zoned layout and choose Cat 6A for horizontal copper cabling. Any other solution is not flexible or scalable enough and lacks bandwidth.

Are there plans to converge IT and OT networks? Is cabling also required to carry power (PoE)?

Zoned service areas are necessary. When it comes to basic IoT devices on the ceiling (sensors, lighting), these devices may not require the best performing solutions, but other devices such as 4K PTZ surveillance cameras or wireless APs do. In any case, you want your system to serve multiple generations of devices for as long as possible, so it's important not to underestimate future needs.

PoE is another aspect to consider. The higher the category, the more power it can provide to the end device and the less heat it generates. If the answer to both of the above questions is yes, then 6A is the best choice.

What kind of support network is needed?

When purchasing any new product, expect top-notch after-sales support. The choice of supplier and installation partner will certainly have an impact on this consideration.

Likewise, the performance of the system should be guaranteed and supported by thorough documentation of how each application will operate during the life of the system. If anything happens, it's best to have service to fix the problem covered by the warranty.

Is sustainability a consideration when choosing LAN cabling?

Regardless of which system is chosen, the cabling elements will be made of copper or other metals, plastic or glass (fiber optics), but best practice is to ensure that your new system will last for decades. Prevent the need for replacement or expansion, making the solution more sustainable.