Network Cable Selection Guide: Cat6 vs Cat6A, Screening and Jackets
Choosing network cable for a project comes down to four decisions: the category (Cat6 or Cat6A), the screening (U/UTP, F/UTP or S/FTP), the jacket (PVC, LSZH or PE) and the packaging and accessories that go with it. Get these right at design stage and the network will run at full speed for 15 years or more; get them wrong and you pay for it in failed tests, re-pulls or a cabling system that cannot carry the next generation of equipment.
This guide explains each decision in plain terms, with the questions consultants and contractors in the UAE usually ask, and links to the matching TMT Global network cables.
1. Category: Cat6 or Cat6A?
The category tells you how much bandwidth the cable is designed to carry.
| Cat5e | Cat6 | Cat6A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandwidth | 100 MHz | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| 1 Gb Ethernet | 100 m | 100 m | 100 m |
| 10 Gb Ethernet (10GBASE-T) | Not supported | Up to about 55 m | Full 100 m |
| Typical use | Voice, simple CCTV, upgrades of old sites | Desks, CCTV, general office | Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, new office floors, data rooms, long-life projects |
Rule of thumb: if the building will be in use for more than 10 years, or if it will have Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, choose Cat6A. For cost-sensitive fit-outs where every link is short and 1 Gb is enough, Cat6 is still a sound choice. Cat5e is best kept for repairs and extensions of existing Cat5e systems.
Keep the whole channel the same category: Cat6A cable needs Cat6A keystone jacks, patch panels and patch cords, otherwise the link only performs to the lowest-rated part.
2. Screening: U/UTP, F/UTP or S/FTP?
The letters before the slash describe the overall screen; the letters after describe what is around each pair.
- U/UTP – no screen at all. Lightest, most flexible and quickest to terminate. The normal choice for offices, schools and homes where cables do not run next to heavy electrical loads. See Cat6 U/UTP and Cat6A U/UTP.
- F/UTP – one foil screen around all four pairs. Adds protection where cables share routes with lighting circuits, lift motors or power cables. See Cat6 F/UTP and Cat6A F/UTP.
- S/FTP – each pair individually foiled plus an overall braid. The highest noise immunity, used in data centres, industrial sites, broadcast and dense 10 Gb bundles. See Cat6 S/FTP and Cat6A S/FTP.
Important: a screened cable only works as a screened system. Use shielded keystone jacks and patch panels, and bond the panels to the cabinet earth. A screened cable terminated on unshielded jacks gives you the cost of screening without the benefit.
3. Jacket: PVC, LSZH or PE?
- LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) – gives off little smoke and no corrosive halogen gas in a fire. This is what consultants commonly specify for offices, hospitals, schools, malls, hotels and other buildings where people need to escape safely. When in doubt for an indoor public building, choose LSZH and confirm with the project specification.
- PVC – flexible and economical for general indoor use where the specification does not ask for low-smoke cable, such as some warehouses, villas and back-of-house areas.
- PE (outdoor) – black polyethylene that resists UV and moisture, for external walls, underground ducts and links between buildings. PE is not a fire-performance jacket, so bring it into the building only as far as the first termination point.
4. Conductor size, packaging and accessories
Most installation cable is 23 AWG solid copper on 305 m reels or boxes. Solid conductors are for fixed runs between the patch panel and the outlet; stranded patch cords are for the short, flexible connections at each end. For patch cords, 23 AWG has lower loss for longer cords and PoE devices, while 24 AWG is thinner and easier to manage in crowded racks.
Plan the rest of the channel at the same time: faceplates at the desk, keystone jacks, patch panels and cable management in the rack, and a wall-mount or floor-standing cabinet sized with room to grow.
Quick selection table
| Project | Suggested cable |
|---|---|
| New office floor, Wi-Fi 6/7 | Cat6A U/UTP or F/UTP, LSZH |
| Hospital, school, mall, hotel | Cat6A, LSZH (screening per specification) |
| Data centre or server room | Cat6A S/FTP, LSZH, plus fibre backbone |
| Factory, plant room, near drives and motors | Cat6A S/FTP |
| CCTV cameras on a building or car park | Cat6 U/UTP indoors; Cat6/Cat6A PE outdoor for external runs |
| Villa or small office, budget-sensitive | Cat6 U/UTP, PVC or LSZH |
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix Cat6 and Cat6A in one link?
It will work, but the link performs only to the lower category. For a certified Cat6A channel, every part must be Cat6A.
Is shielded cable always better?
No. It is better where there is electrical noise and only when the whole system is shielded and earthed. In a normal office, a well-installed U/UTP system performs very well and is easier to install.
How far can I run a network cable?
The standard channel is 100 m in total: up to 90 m of fixed cable plus up to 10 m of patch cords. For longer distances, use fibre optic cable.
Do you supply datasheets for consultant approval?
Yes. Every TMT Global product page has its specification, and our team can provide datasheets and project quotations for consultant submittals.
Related TMT Global guides
Get a project quotation
Send us your drawings or bill of quantities and we will propose the cable, connectivity and cabinets for each area, with datasheets for approval. Contact TMT Global.