Distance
Copper channel limits and when fibre becomes the sensible physical medium.
Technology comparison
Choose cabling from distance, bandwidth, PoE, environment and lifecycle requirements.
Compare Cat6, Cat6A and fibre for offices, Wi-Fi deployments, uplinks, industrial sites and building-to-building connectivity.
GUIDE?
Who this is for
Use requirements before product preference.
Organisations planning new cabling, office moves, network refreshes or wireless upgrades.
Comparison criteria
Questions worth answering before the shortlist.
Bandwidth
Current endpoint needs versus uplinks and expected equipment lifecycle.
PoE
Copper is required for powered endpoints; switch and cable heat/load still need planning.
Environment
EMI, containment, fire requirements, pathways and building separation.
Testing
Permanent-link certification for copper and appropriate optical testing for fibre.
Lifecycle
Spare capacity, cabinet design, labelling and documentation often matter more than headline category.
AL Group position
We would rather recommend the right architecture than force a predetermined answer.
AL Group installs copper and fibre and can design the network that sits on top of it, so the cabling choice can be made from end-to-end requirements rather than installation preference.
Need an evidence-led comparison?
Talk to an engineerBring us the estate, constraints and target outcome.
We can assess the current state, compare realistic options and document migration or implementation risk before you commit.