What Structured Cabling Is, And Why It’s Better Than Traditional Cabling
Phones, computers, data centers, and security systems: they all need a connection! Structured cabling is the system of cables, wires, and other hardware that connects all your communication systems into one cohesive unit. From the telecom room to your computer, structured cabling is carefully designed for reliable, high-speed connectivity.
Structured cabling is neat and organized (as opposed to being a heap of tangled wires, which is all too common!) It follows the regulations and standards for commercial cabling, allowing greater safety, security, efficiency, and future-proofing.
How It Benefits Your Organization
Cabling is easy to overlook. After all, it’s not something that you normally see on an everyday basis. But network cabling is key to the success of your business!
No matter your industry or the size of your business, chances are, you rely on technology and telecommunication every day. Ethernet network cables allow for a strong Internet connection, and fiber optic cables allow for high-performance data telecommunications.
Easily scale
Growing organizations should keep scalability in mind with every technological investment. You want to
make it as easy as possible to handle future updates. If you need to add new cabling or make an upgrade
to improve performance, you can do so efficiently with structured cabling as opposed to a heap of
tangled wires.
Easy to reorganize or move
With structured cabling, everything is organized in a way that makes it easier to make changes. Whether you’re reorganizing down the line or you’re moving to a different building, you’ll know which wires go where so that it’s faster and easier to get up and running again.
Adapt to an ever-evolving landscape
More organizations are implementing IoT into their everyday processes, and they need a network that can handle it. Structured cabling makes IoT possible, and with the power of IoT-enabled devices, you can open up a whole new world of automation, cybersecurity, and energy management. As we continue to make advancements and improvements to technology, you can upgrade your cabling to match.
Reduce connectivity issues
If you run into a problem, your clean and organized cables will make it easier for a technician to identify and fix the issue. This means less downtime and more productivity.
Maintain safety
A tangled mess of wires looks unsightly, but even worse, it can increase the risk of fires and electric shocks. Improperly secured cables can also be a tripping hazard. Additionally, if wires are difficult to maintain and service, it could pose a security issue. Protect your employees, your company, and your data with a safe and effective structured cabling system!
Last but not least – structured cabling looks impressive!
With aesthetically-pleasing cabling, you can feel confident in showing it off! Whether it is neatly hidden
from plain sight or it’s openly visible to everyone, your cabling will be neatly bundled and organized. It
will look great!
Regulations and Standards for Structured Cabling
Structured cabling must meet specific standards for design, installation, and management. With proper compliance, your network cabling will be safer and more secure.
Structured cabling in the US should uphold EIA/TIA-568 wiring standards. These are the major standards used in telecommunications and networking industries. Here are some of the basic standards for the length of cable allowed:
- UTP/STP cable from telecom room to workstation – 100 meters maximum
- Patch cable from workstation to wall outlet – 3 meters maximum
- Horizontal cabling run from work area to patch panel in telecom room – 90 meters maximum
- Telecom room patch cable from patch panel to switch or hub – 6 meters maximum
- When you work with a trusted network cabling installer, you can rest assured that they will adhere to regulations and meet the EIA/TIA standards for structured cabling.
How It Works
- While there are many more details that we could get into, there are three basic components to
structured cabling: - The telecommunications room, which is the endpoint of all cabling runs. Switches and hubs are located here.
The horizontal cabling, which may be ethernet cable and/or fiber optic cable. There are many types of cable within these two categories. - The work areas, which have wall outlet data jacks (cable drops) where PCs, phones, etc. may be connected.
Even the smallest offices usually have these three basic components. Larger or more complex networks may have additional infrastructure.
Structured Cabling FAQs
What is structured network cabling?
Structured network cabling is a system of cables and other hardware that connects your organization’s communication systems. Its simple, organized, and flexible design makes it easy to connect computers, phones, and other devices.
Why is structured cabling important?
Structured cabling is crucial to your organization’s connectivity, both now and in the future! The bottom line – you’ll get better communication, more adaptability, and an edge over the competition with structured cabling.
What are some of the main structured cabling standards?
Standards for network cabling involve the types of connections and the length of cable permitted between various devices and connection points. For example, the cabling from a workstation to a telecom room should not exceed 100 meters.
How does structured wiring work?
Structured wiring involves a system of cables that connect all the work areas in your building to a central location where connectivity devices are located.
Get Connected!
Secure, reliable, fast connections are imperative no matter the organization.
If you’re looking for a licensed commercial cabler that will get the job done right, Telco Data is here for you! Whether you are building out your wiring from scratch, remodeling your office space, or looking for an upgrade, we can fulfill all your wiring requirements.
Contact us today to get a free quote or complimentary site survey for your network cabling needs! Call 512-977-0505 or email us at info@telco-data.com to know more.
It’s great to know that structured cabling is crucial for businesses since it provides better communication, adaptability, and edge over competitors. My cousin Hera plans on opening her own firm soon. I’ll share this article of yours with her later through chat to read about structured cabling benefits. Thanks.
You got me when you said that structured cabling enables better communication and crucial to your organization’s connectivity. With this in mind, I will ask my supervisor at work to consider hiring a network cabling service provider. Most of the time, I am experiencing internet issues on my station due to ethernet issues, and for some reason, it always says limited connection. This affects my productivity a lot, so it would make sense to get help from a pro.
Thanks for explaining how cabling can connect the entire building together. I need to improve my office’s network. I will look into hiring cabling services for this.
You have shared a useful article to understand about Structured Cabling and hopefully, people will use it in their buildings or offices. Thanks and keep posting more!!