Category 6A (Augmented Category 6) cable supports 10GBASE-T — 10 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100-meter channel distance. It operates at 500 MHz bandwidth and includes improved specifications for alien crosstalk (AXT). But is it always the right choice?
When to spec Cat 6A
You should spec Cat 6A when:
- Your building will support 10 Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop
- You need PoE++ (Type 4, up to 90 W per port) for devices like PTZ security cameras or high-power wireless access points
- You want a cabling infrastructure that will support network upgrades for 15+ years without recabling
When Cat 6 is still the right answer
Cat 6 (250 MHz) is still a solid choice when:
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet is sufficient for the application lifecycle
- Budget constraints are real
- The building will not require 10G to the workstation within its cabling lifecycle
When fiber wins
For some applications, fiber may be more cost-effective than Cat 6A — particularly for longer runs, high-density data center applications, or environments with electromagnetic interference.
Our recommendations
Quabbin Wire & Cable’s DataMax Augmented Cat 6A 500 MHz patch cables are an industry-leading option, and OCC offers both Cat 6A horizontal cables and complementary fiber for backbone connectivity. Contact us to discuss the right approach for your project.