Data cabling installation for businesses and commercial sites
Data cabling is the fixed network cabling behind every desk, access point and phone in a commercial building. We install it for businesses, offices, landlords and facilities managers across London, Brighton and the South East.
The service
Fixed cabling that the rest of the network depends on
Almost everything on a business network relies on the cable in the walls. Desktops, phones, printers and wireless access points all connect back to a patch panel in a cabinet, and the quality of that fixed cabling decides how well they perform.
Most Ethernet cabling installation uses twisted pair copper, either Cat6 or Cat6A. Both support gigabit Ethernet up to the standard channel length of 100 metres. For 10 gigabit Ethernet, Cat6A runs the full 100 metres. On Cat6 the commonly cited guidance is about 55 metres at most, and only under favourable conditions. That is guidance, not a promise for any particular run, so testing the installed cabling is what shows what it supports. The guide Cat6 vs Cat6A: which cabling should an office install? goes through the choice.
| Measure | Cat6 | Cat6A |
|---|---|---|
| Specified to | 250 MHz | 500 MHz |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 100 mstandard channel length | 100 mstandard channel length |
| 10 gigabit Ethernet | About 55 m at mostonly under favourable conditions | Full 100 m |
| Channel limit | 100 mup to 90 m permanent link plus up to 10 m of patch cords | 100 mup to 90 m permanent link plus up to 10 m of patch cords |
The 55 metre figure is the commonly cited guidance from the TIA technical bulletin TSB-155. It is guidance, not a promise for any particular run. Testing the installed cabling shows what it supports.
Related services and guides
This page covers network cabling installation for commercial buildings of any size.
For a whole building designed as one system, with backbone links between floors, see structured cabling.
For links longer than 100 metres or between buildings, see fibre optic cabling.
For the switches, routers and firewalls that sit on the cabling, see network installation.
For the cabinets the cabling connects back to, see comms and server rooms.
What is included
What is included
Site survey
A cabling survey of the site, cable routes and equipment positions before a plan is agreed.
Cable installation
Cable run to the agreed plan, routed and secured, with cable tray installation where the route needs it.
Termination and patching
Termination at outlets and patch panels, with the cabinet kept tidy.
Testing and labelling
Each link tested and every outlet and port labelled.
Handover documentation
Test results and a record of what was installed.
Support after handover
Your cabling can be covered by IT maintenance contracts and IT support once the work is complete.
Our engineers hold
Qualifications held by our engineers
Between them, our engineers hold Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and fibre optic certifications, plus CSCS and ECS cards.
- CompTIA Network+Networking
- CSCS cardConstruction site skills
- ECS cardElectrotechnical skills
Held by individual engineers. Not every engineer holds every qualification.
Tell us about your site and what you need.
Number of points
How many outlets, links or devices a network points installation covers.
Building and routes
Floors, ceiling and riser access, and the length of each route.
Cable type and standard
Cat6, Cat6A or another specification, and the level of testing required.
Access and timing
Working hours, phasing and any out of hours work.
How it works
How a cabling project runs
Survey
We look at the site, the routes and the equipment positions.
Plan and quote
A written plan and network cabling installation quote for the agreed scope.
Install
Installation to the plan, scheduled to suit how the site works.
Test and hand over
Testing, labelling and documentation, then handover.
Available in
Where we provide this service
What is the difference between Cat6 and Cat6A?
Cat6 is specified to 250 MHz and Cat6A to 500 MHz. The practical difference is at 10 gigabit speeds: On Cat6 the commonly cited guidance for 10GBASE-T is about 55 metres at most under favourable conditions, from the TIA technical bulletin TSB-155, which is guidance rather than a promise for a given run. Cat6A supports it over the full 100 metres. Which suits you depends on the speeds you need and how long you expect the cabling to stay in place.
How long can a data cable run be?
The standard limit for a twisted pair channel is 100 metres. That is up to 90 metres of permanent link, which is the cable fixed in the building, plus up to 10 metres of patch cords. Lengths are measured along the real route, not in a straight line, which is why a survey comes before a quote.
Will the cabling be tested?
Cable testing and certification are not the same thing. Testing is part of a normal installation, but there is a difference between a basic check and certification against a standard. Fluke Networks says cabling manufacturers require certification to a cabling standard before they issue a warranty. Ask which level of testing a quote includes, and ask to see the results at handover.
What should I ask network cabling contractors before agreeing a quote?
Ask what the price includes, which cable category and level of testing are specified, whether the test results are handed over, and who makes good where cable crosses walls and floors. It also helps to ask the network cabling engineers who will do the work how access and working hours will be handled. The same questions apply when you compare network cabling installation companies and cabling installers.
Can the cabling carry power as well as data?
Yes. Power over Ethernet sends power to devices such as wireless access points, IP cameras and VoIP phones over the same cable. The standards (IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at and 802.3bt) deliver from 15.4 W up to 90 W at the switch, so the switch and the cabling should be specified together.
Related services
Related services
Structured Cabling
Planned, labelled cabling for offices and commercial buildings.
Fibre Optic Cabling
Fibre optic installation, termination, splicing and testing.
Wi-Fi Installation
Design, supply and installation of business grade Wi-Fi.
Get a Quote
Plan your cabling project
Tell us about your site and what you need.
