What Is Network Cabling?

In North America, the average person uses more than 12 connections and devices. At many organizations, employees use multiple devices at work, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Network cabling, routers, and switches are the backbone of modern offices and data centers. But what is network cabling, and how does it impact your operations?

NETWORK CABLING DEFINITION AND APPLICATIONS

Network cabling refers to the physical infrastructure that connects devices on a network. It includes the wires and cables that transmit data between routers, switches, server hardware, computers, printers, and other devices. Some specialized types of network cable also deliver power.

What about wireless networks? Even though users don’t need cables to connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or 5G, the modems and access hubs that drive these networks rely on wired connections.

All in all, network cabling plays a role in every type of enterprise network:

• Local area networks (office buildings, etc.)
• Wide area networks (e.g., hospitals, universities, large factories, and other multi-building locations)
• Cloud-based and hybrid-cloud networks
• Data centers
• Security systems

The size and scale of enterprise network infrastructure have grown significantly with cloud computing, global operations, and remote employment. These days, companies spend approximately $95 per employee on network hardware in the United States.

TYPES OF NETWORK CABLING

Network cabling is an umbrella with dozens of subcategories. Here are a few.

Twisted Pair Cables

Commonly known as Ethernet cables, twisted pair cables are the jack-of-all-trades for business networks. Performance depends on the category, ranging from Cat5e for small businesses to Cat8 for data center connections. These common cables provide an excellent balance of cost, bandwidth, speed, and quality.

Fiber Optic Cables

For long-distance connections, hybrid clouds, and critical infrastructure, it’s hard to beat the network performance of fiber optics. Light-based transmissions are immune to electrical interference. Optical fiber allows for higher transmission distances and network bandwidth, up to 400Gbps per cable for multimode fiber.

Coaxial Cables

Copper-core coax cables have braided metal shielding to block signal interference. They’re a cost-effective, long-lasting alternative to fiber optics for businesses that need Gbps connections.

PoE Cables

Power over Ethernet cables deliver electrical connections alongside data transmission. This type of connector is mainly used for security cameras, manufacturing equipment, and other powered IoT devices.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NETWORK CABLING

When choosing network cabling, consider the following factors:

• Network usage: Total devices, users, traffic volume, etc.
• Applications: Network resources required for software, streaming, VoIP, and videoconferencing
• Costs: Cable costs, transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, and other cabling equipment
• Distances: Single-mode (long-distance) vs. multimode (short-distance, high-capacity) fiberoptic technology 
• Environment: Shielded cables or fiber optic cabling for locations with electrical or radio interference
• Scalability: Growth-oriented 100Gbps to 400Gbps data center infrastructure

Similar to how the human body uses different kinds of blood vessels in the circulatory system, network engineers often use a variety of cables to design efficient communications infrastructure.

WHY ENTERPRISES NEED IT ENGINEERING FOR NETWORK CABLING

There’s more to building a high-performance network than investing in equipment. To avoid confusion and expensive mistakes, organizations need the right network cabling, organized layouts, and efficient connections.

At TSP, we provide complete IT solutions for enterprises, small businesses, data centers, and more. Partner with an IT engineering team to design the ideal network cabling for your operations today.