Understanding the differences between Cat5, Cat6 and Cat7 cabling for warehousing and commercial buildings in the UK

Robust network infrastructure is critical to uninterrupted business operations.

Whether you’re upgrading an existing network or starting from scratch, choosing the correct cabling is vital for ensuring reliable, high-speed connectivity.

Amongst some of the most commonly used options are Cat5, Cat 6 and Cat7 cables, but at the start of your cabling research these numbers will not mean anything to you, so todays post aims to differentiate between these categories, and offer an introductory understanding to which is best suited for your business needs.

Cat5 cables:

Cat5 cables (category 5) were at one time the industry standard for cabling requirements, but nowadays are seen to be regarded as outdated. Cat5 cables were designed to support speeds of up to 100Mbps, with a 100MHz bandwidth these cables are sufficient for basic needs, such as connecting computers, printers and other devices within a small business environment.

However, for warehousing and commercial buildings, requiring a more robust data transmission to support infrastructure like IP CCTV, Access Control and large volumes of data, potentially across multiple locations, we see Cat5 as insufficient.

With the limited speeds and bandwidth, they are unsuitable for most modern business applications.

Cat6 Cables:

Cat6 Cables (category 6) are the current, go to choice for most commercial organisations.

They have the facility to support speeds upto 1Gbps, with a bandwidth of 250MHz, offering significant advancement over Cat5.

Cat6 cables are well suited to the warehousing sector, supporting reliable, high-speed connectivity.

Cat6 cables can handle high data demands, including that of IP CCTv, Access Control, cloud applications etc, they also support 10Gbps speeds over shorter distances (upto 55 metres), providing future-proofing as network demands increase.

Cat7 Cables:

Cat7 cables (category 7) represents the next level in network cabling, offering enhanced performance, ideal for high-speed, demanding environments.

Supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps and a 600MHz bandwidth Cat& cables provide superior performance over both Cat5 and Cat6.

Cat7 cables are an excellent choice for large warehousing and commercial organisations requiring the highest levels of data transmission, reliability and speed.

This is especially enhanced in environments where automation and extensive IoT systems are becoming more common, as Cat7 can seamlessly support advanced applications, offering both resilience and the capacity needed for uninterrupted operations.

For context, especially relevant for warehouses and large commercial buildings, choosing the right cabling is essential for building a robust network.

While Cat5 cables may still be in use, they are generally outdated for modern applications.

Cat6 offers a robust solution for the majority of businesses, providing both speed and reliability required for daily business operations.

For organisations looking to invest in a modern, more futureproof network, particularly in environments with heavy data demands, Cat7 cables can be the premium choice.

Data Installation & Supplies (DIS) have a team of experienced Account Managers, all who have and still are part of our on-site engineering team who can discuss the best, most appropriate cabling for your organisation, to not only enhance efficiency of your current operation, but to ensure that your business is well-equipped with a futureproof solution.

To take advantage of our expertise please contact DIS on 01274 869 099, info@disnorth.com or fill out the enquiry form here and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.