What is Category 6?
Category 6 is a specification for data cabling systems to support data transmission at very high speeds, offering a bandwidth of 250 MHz.
It provides an excellent platform for Gigabit Ethernet (which uses complex encoding techniques to limit the bandwith requirement to 100 MHz), and also caters for future high speed data transmission protocols offering even higher data rates or providing the same data rates using less expensive encoding techniques.
Why use Category 6 instead of Category 5e?
If you are currently running Fast Ethernet then installing a Category 6 Network Cabling system now will enable you to make two technology leaps: to Gigabit Ethernet and beyond. This will assist in preventing future disruption to your business and will easily offset the additional cost of installing Category 6 now.
Category 5e systems will probably never support technology beyond Gigabit Ethernet.
What has improved?
Enhanced Category 5 offers a tightly controlled network cabling infrastructure supporting a bandwidth of 100 MHz. This is currently able to support data rates of 1000 Mbps.
Category 6 expands on this by setting an upper frequency limit of 250 MHz. This allows existing protocols to operate with more headroom and provides the infrastructure to support future developments in data communications technology. All manufacturers were forced to completely re-design their products.
When to use Category 6?
If you are already running fast ethernet and you are thinking about re-cabling then you should consider installing Category 6 now. The same applies to new builds and complete rip out and replace projects.
Category 6 cabling will give you a network capable of supporting your data communications needs for the forseable future. There's no such thing as future-proof in business, but this comes close.