DATA CABLING
SYDNEY

Cat5e supports Gigabit speeds up to 100 metres and was the standard for residential cabling through the 2000s. Cat6 uses a tighter twist rate and internal separator to reduce crosstalk, supporting Gigabit to 100 metres and 10-Gigabit to approximately 55 metres. Cat6a adds shielding or a heavier geometry to support 10-Gigabit reliably to the full 100 metres. For most residential installations Cat6 is sufficient and cost-effective. For access point backhaul, future-proofing, or any run where 10-Gigabit may be required, Cat6a is the recommended choice.

The practical answer depends on how many wired devices will be in each room and whether you want spare capacity. In a lounge or living area, two points — one for the television and one for a streaming device or console — is a common minimum. A home office typically benefits from two to three points. Bedrooms used for working or gaming benefit from at least one dedicated point. It is always cheaper to install additional points during the original cabling run than to return for extensions later. We discuss room-by-room requirements during the on-site assessment.

Old telephone cable installed in Australian homes is typically two-pair CW1308 or similar station wire, designed to carry analogue voice signals. It is not twisted pair ethernet cable and does not meet the electrical specifications for Cat5e or Cat6. Link quality will be unreliable even at 100Mbps. In some cases existing conduit runs can be used to pull through new Cat6, which reduces installation time and cost significantly. We check for reusable conduit during the on-site assessment. In most properties without conduit, a new cable run through ceiling cavities is required.

Structured cabling is a planned, centralised approach where all data points throughout the property terminate at a single patch panel in a central location — typically a network cupboard or communications rack. From there, short patch leads connect active ports to the switch. This differs from ad-hoc cabling where devices are connected point-to-point with no centralised termination point, making the network difficult to manage or extend. Structured cabling follows AS/CA S009:2020 and includes cable labelling and documentation. It is the preferred approach for any property with three or more data points.

Yes. In-wall and ceiling cavity data cabling is regulated telecommunications cabling under the Telecommunications Act 1997 and must be installed by an Open Registered Cabler — an individual registered with an approved national cabling registrar. SECURE A COM holds Open Cabler Registration A10089 via ASIAL, an official national cabling registrar accredited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Unregistered cabling work inside walls or ceiling cavities is illegal and may void building insurance. You can verify registration details before booking — ask us for our registration number and registrar name.

Cat6a is the cable grade recommended for 10-Gigabit ethernet to the full 100-metre channel length. Standard Cat6 can support 10-Gigabit only up to approximately 55 metres, and performance degrades further in high-density environments. If you are installing a 10-Gigabit capable switch or expect your infrastructure to support 10GbE within the next five to ten years, Cat6a installed now avoids a full recabling job later. Cat6a is heavier and stiffer than Cat6 and requires careful bending radius management during installation. We factor this into the cable route assessment and quote accordingly.

After every data cabling installation we carry out a continuity test (wire map) on all terminations to confirm there are no open circuits, shorts, crossed pairs, or split pairs. Link speed is verified by connecting active equipment to each port and confirming the negotiated speed matches the cable grade. Every port is labelled and documented before we leave. Full third-party certification using a cable analyser (such as a Fluke DSX) is available on request for commercial or structured cabling projects requiring a formal test report. Ask us about certification requirements when requesting your quote.

Cat6 and Cat6a structured cabling installed to AS/CA S009:2020 has a design life of 20 to 25 years when protected inside walls or ceiling cavities. The cabling infrastructure typically outlasts multiple generations of routers, switches, and active network equipment — meaning cable installed today should still be viable when 10-Gigabit to the desktop becomes a standard requirement. Patch panels and keystone jacks may need inspection if the network is reconfigured or expanded, but properly terminated and undisturbed connections rarely require attention. Data cabling is one of the most durable infrastructure investments in a property.