When to Upgrade to Cat6A: A Practical Guide

Estimated Reading Time: 13 minute(s)

A plain-English upgrade decision guide for offices across London, Kent and Surrey

Knowing when to upgrade to Cat6A is one of the most common questions we hear from businesses still running Cat5e. The cabling still works, devices connect, and the lights on the switches blink away.

But as more of your business moves to the cloud, Wi-Fi gets faster, and more devices draw power over the network, that same Cat5e can quietly become the weak link.

So the real question is: when to upgrade to Cat6A, and whether the timing makes business sense for your specific situation.

It’s:

“When does it make business sense to upgrade our office cabling to Cat6A (or higher)?”

This article answers exactly that – in plain English and from a business point of view, not just a technical one.

We’ll cover:

What’s the practical difference between Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A
Clear signs it’s time to move beyond Cat5e
When Cat5e is still perfectly acceptable
How to decide between Cat6, Cat6A and higher categories
What a Cat6A upgrade project actually involves

If you’d like a more general grounding in Ethernet cabling as you read, ACCL’s Ethernet cabling explained guide is a good companion piece.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

A quick, business‑friendly recap: Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A (and beyond)

We won’t dive into standards documents here, but it helps to frame the conversation.

Cat5e (what many offices still run on)

Typically supports up to 1 Gbps over office‑length runs
Was the default choice for many UK office fit‑outs in the 2000s and early 2010s
Fine for basic office workloads and light cloud use

Cat6

Designed to support 1 Gbps over longer distances with better noise performance
Can support 10 Gbps over shorter runs under the right conditions
Often used as a step‑up when Cat5e is being replaced like‑for‑like

Cat6A

Designed from the ground up to support 10 Gbps up to 100 metres
Better shielding and performance in noisy environments and cable bundles
Far more comfortable with high‑power PoE and high‑bandwidth applications

Higher categories (Cat7, Cat8)

Targeted more at data centres and very high‑performance niche environments
Overkill for most office users, and often more expensive to install correctly.
Cat8 in particular is limited to 30-metre runs and is engineered for data centre server rows, not standard office horizontal cabling.
Cat8 is beginning to appear in some high-density office core switch connections, but for standard horizontal office cabling it remains unnecessary and disproportionately expensive.

For the vast majority of medium‑to‑large offices, Cat6A is the sweet spot: fast enough, robust enough and future‑proof enough that you’re unlikely to outgrow it any time soon.

When to Upgrade to Cat6A: The Short Answer

In simple terms, knowing when to upgrade to Cat6A comes down to whether your Cat5e cabling is limiting the speed, reliability or flexibility of how you want to work, especially around Wi-Fi, cloud apps, video, PoE and office growth.

Let’s unpack that with some concrete triggers.

7 clear signs your office is ready to move beyond Cat5e

If several of these sound familiar, it’s a strong signal that Cat6A (or higher) will give you real, measurable benefits.

1. Your Wi‑Fi is fast on paper, but slow in practice

You’ve invested in modern Wi‑Fi 6 or 6E access points, but users still complain:

“Teams calls are choppy in the afternoon.”
“Our Wi‑Fi feels no faster than it used to.”
“Downloads crawl when the office is busy.”

In many cases, the bottleneck isn’t the wireless, it’s the Cat5e cabling feeding the access points. Even if each AP has theoretical multi‑gigabit capacity, a single 1 Gbps Cat5e uplink shared between dozens of users quickly fills up.

Upgrading the cabling to Cat6A and pairing it with suitable switching gives your wireless network room to breathe. There’s far more point in buying high‑end access points once the wired side can keep up.

2. You’re relying heavily on cloud apps and video calls

Five years ago, occasional file uploads and web browsing dominated traffic. Today it’s:

Always‑on Teams/Zoom calls
Cloud‑hosted CRM/ERP platforms
Shared drives and collaboration tools
Remote desktop and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

All of these generate sustained, high‑volume traffic between users and the cloud or data centre. If too many users are funnelling that over old Cat5e backbones and uplinks, you’ll notice:

Sluggish application response at peak times
Delays opening or saving large files
A general feeling that “the network slows down in the afternoon”

Cat6A doesn’t magically speed up the internet itself – but it does ensure your internal network is no longer the bottleneck between users and the outside world.

3. You’re rolling out more PoE devices (phones, Wi‑Fi, CCTV, access control)

Power over Ethernet (PoE) has gone from novelty to normal:

IP phones
Wireless access points
IP CCTV cameras
Door controllers and access readers
IoT and smart building sensors

As you add more PoE‑powered devices, the demand on each cable increases – both in data and in delivered power.

Cat6A is designed to cope better with:

Higher power PoE standards
Heat build‑up in cable bundles
Electrical noise from dense runs

If you’re modernising phones, CCTV or access control at the same time as refreshing the cabling, building in Cat6A from the start gives you headroom for future devices and PoE standards.

If you want to understand PoE implications more deeply, ACCL’s Power over Ethernet guide in the knowledge base (see The ultimate guide to Power over Ethernet (PoE)) is a helpful resource.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

4. You’re planning an office refurbishment or re‑stack

Any time you’re:

Stripping out ceilings or raised floors
Moving large numbers of desks
Building new collaboration spaces or meeting rooms

…you have a golden opportunity to update cabling while everything is accessible.

Keeping Cat5e because “it still works” during a major refit is a false economy. You’ll save modestly in the short term, but may end up:

Re‑opening ceilings and floors later
Running visible surface trunking to catch up
Limiting what you can do with future layouts and technology

During these projects, ACCL often designs and installs structured data cabling based on Cat6A, so office space and cabling are aligned for the next decade, not just the next year.

5. You’re seeing more intermittent, hard‑to‑pin‑down network issues

On ageing Cat5e, you might notice:

“Flaky” ports that randomly drop connections
Higher error counts on switch interfaces
Particular outlets or areas that seem less reliable than others

Some of this can be down to wear‑and‑tear: cables crushed in furniture, poorly terminated ends, or historical shortcuts during office changes. At a certain point, patching and repairing individual faults is more expensive than refreshing the core cabling properly.

A structured upgrade to Cat6A – with tested, labelled and documented runs – doesn’t just boost performance. It also gives your IT team a far more predictable environment to support.

6. You’re connecting more floors, departments or buildings

As organisations grow, you often end up:

Linking additional floors in the same building
Connecting separate wings or blocks
Adding satellite offices or outbuildings

Those inter‑cabinet and inter‑building links are where Cat5e really starts to struggle. Distances creep up, traffic volumes grow, and the risk of congestion and errors increases.

Upgrading those backbone routes to Cat6A (or fibre, where distances justify it) often delivers outsized benefits compared with a like‑for‑like copper replacement.

For more complex building stock – particularly older or listed properties – you may find ACCL’s dedicated guide on network cabling upgrades in old buildings useful as a reference.

7. You’re trying to “future‑proof” the office

No cabling is truly future‑proof, but some choices give you far more breathing space:

Newer Wi‑Fi generations will continue to put pressure on uplinks
Video resolutions and file sizes will keep increasing
More building systems are becoming IP‑based

If you’re already investing in an office move, refit or major IT refresh, staying with Cat5e often means baking in another upgrade a few years down the line.

Choosing Cat6A now is about giving your business options later – especially as many landlords and occupiers increasingly see modern cabling as part of a “Grade A” workspace.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

When is Cat5e still perfectly acceptable?

Not every environment needs Cat6A tomorrow. Cat5e is still reasonable if:

You have a small office with modest bandwidth needs
You’re not using high‑density Wi‑Fi, heavy video or large cloud workloads
Cables are relatively new, short and properly installed
You have no major refurbishments or moves on the horizon

In these scenarios, you might focus on:

Tidying and testing existing cabling
Upgrading switches or firewalls first
Planning for Cat6A in the next natural office refresh cycle

A quick health check or cabling audit can confirm whether Cat5e is genuinely coping or simply “good enough until the next opportunity”.

Cat6 vs Cat6A vs “even higher” – how do you choose?

You’ll often see both Cat6 and Cat6A in supplier quotes. From a business perspective:

Cat6 may be appropriate for shorter runs and less demanding areas, but its 10 Gbps capabilities are distance‑limited and more sensitive to installation quality.
Cat6A costs a little more per metre and is slightly bulkier, but gives reliable 10 Gbps over a full 100‑metre channel and better noise performance.

For new installs, many organisations now treat Cat6A as the baseline, especially in:

New Grade A offices
Technology‑heavy workspaces
Any space where the lease term is long and future needs are uncertain

Higher categories (Cat7, Cat8) are generally only worth considering in very specific, high‑performance data centre scenarios. For normal office networks, they rarely deliver value proportional to their cost and complexity.

If you’d like a closer look at Cat6A specifically, ACCL’s focused explainer What is a Cat 6A cable? offers a deeper dive without drowning you in jargon.

How a Cat6A upgrade project actually works (in real life)

Once you’ve decided Cat6A is the right direction, the next concern is usually disruption.

Here’s how a typical upgrade runs with a structured cabling partner like ACCL.

1. Audit and design

If you are not sure where to start, a free site survey gives you an accurate picture of what your building has and what it needs before any decisions are made.

We start by:

Reviewing your floorplans and existing cabinet locations
Assessing current cable routes, trays and containment
Understanding how each area of the office is used (desks, meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, labs, warehouses, etc.)
Factoring in growth plans, new ways of working and upcoming projects

From there, we design a Cat6A cabling layout that:

Maximises re‑use of good existing infrastructure where sensible
Respects building constraints and fire‑stopping requirements
Delivers the right density of outlets per area, not a one‑size‑fits‑all grid

2. Phasing and scheduling to minimise downtime

Most Cat6A upgrade work can be done alongside your existing Cat5e network:

New cables are run while the old ones are still live
New outlets are terminated and tested in advance
Cutovers are planned in phases (for example, a floor at a time)

Where floorplates are being fully refurbished, cabling work is coordinated with the fit‑out programme so that we’re on site at the right times – neither holding up other trades nor arriving too early.

3. Installation, testing and labelling

Our engineers then:

Install Cat6A cable runs from cabinets to outlets or consolidation points
Terminate and test each link using calibrated testers
Label outlets and patch panels clearly for your IT team
Provide test results to prove standards‑compliant performance

The result is a clean, well‑documented layer of infrastructure your switches and devices can depend on.

4. Cutover, optimisation and tidy‑up

Once the new Cat6A is ready:

User devices are migrated from old outlets to new ones (often with minimal downtime)
Switch ports and VLANs are mapped to the new patching scheme
Old, redundant cabling is removed where practical to avoid clutter

This stage is also an ideal time to tackle messy cabinets. ACCL frequently combines Cat6A upgrades with data cabinet tidy projects (see our office cabling services) so your comms rooms end up easier to manage than before, not more complicated.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

How much does upgrading to Cat6A cost?

Costs vary with:

Size and layout of your offices
Number of outlets and cabling density
Existing containment and routes
Working hours and access constraints

However, it’s often more helpful to think in terms of total project value rather than just cost per cable:

How much staff time is lost today to slow or unreliable connectivity?
What impact do Wi‑Fi or network issues have on clients and customers?
How soon might you need to upgrade again if you stick with Cat5e?

If you want to get into the detail, ACCL has a dedicated guide on project budgeting and the factors that drive price: Cabling project cost factors & budget checklist.

FAQs: Upgrading from Cat5e to Cat6A

Q: Is Cat5e still good enough for 1 Gbps?

Yes – in many cases Cat5e will happily support 1 Gbps over typical office distances if it’s been installed and maintained properly. The issue is less about today’s speed and more about headroom. If you’re starting to need multi‑gigabit uplinks, dense Wi‑Fi or high‑power PoE, Cat5e will increasingly hold you back.

Q: Do we need to replace every single cable with Cat6A?

Not necessarily. Many organisations take a phased approach, focusing first on:

Backbone links between cabinets and floors
High‑density user areas and meeting spaces
Zones with lots of PoE devices

A structured design will help you prioritise where Cat6A delivers the biggest benefits first.

Q: Will upgrading to Cat6A improve our Wi‑Fi?

Indirectly, yes. Wi‑Fi performance depends on both the wireless side and the wired backhaul. Modern access points can easily push more traffic than a single Cat5e uplink comfortably carries during busy periods. Upgrading cabling (and switching) to support higher throughputs ensures the wireless network isn’t being throttled by the wired layer.

Q: Do we need new switches to use Cat6A?

Cat6A itself is just the medium. To take advantage of higher speeds (such as 10 Gbps), your switches need to support those speeds on the relevant ports. Many modern switches already include multi‑gigabit or 10 Gbps uplink ports that can be used immediately once Cat6A cabling is in place. Part of any upgrade plan should include a review of your switching hardware.

Q: How disruptive is a Cat6A upgrade for staff?

With good planning, disruption can be kept surprisingly low. Most cabling routes are installed in ceilings, risers and floor voids, away from day‑to‑day work. Actual device moves and cutovers can be scheduled out of hours or area‑by‑area, with clear communication. Many clients find staff notice the improvement in performance far more than any short‑term inconvenience.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

See it in practice: our seven-floor London network infrastructure upgrade for The Writer included exactly this kind of phased Cat6A upgrade planning. See also our structured data cabling hub.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 66 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We commissioned a Wi-Fi survey and installation of new fibre and Cat6 cabling to support a new Wi-Fi installation from Accl in July and August of 2026. ACCL were superb from start to finish. We cannot fault the quality of the work and we received great advice on our project. Very satisfied customer!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brigt Valland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company, good at understanding our need and efficient delivery of new building network- and WIFI infrastructure. An extra star for making it easy for me to "remote" organize this from Norway.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Siobhan Codd 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We used ACCL for a full WiFi and network install at our Old Street office and are very pleased with the result. They supplied and installed seven Ubiquiti WiFi access points, a UniFi Dream Machine, a 24 port Layer 3 Ubiquiti switch, and ran new Cat6A Leviton cabling with two ports to every AP. The whole job was neat, well planned and done to a very high standard. The coverage across the office is excellent and it looks pretty cool too! Would happily recommend them to anyone needing cabling or network infrastructure done properly.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An excellent service from start to finish!
The ACCL team installed our new network cabling, the foundation in readiness for supplying and installing a new IP CCTV camera system, professionally and efficiently. They were punctual, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure everything was installed neatly and working perfectly. Their attention to detail and customer service were outstanding. I very much appreciate the initial project management and upfront planning, which combined to secure a successful delivery. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable network cabling or CCTV installation. Thank you for a fantastic job.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mohammed Alhashimi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Wayne and his team for the excellent work they carried out. From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, efficient, and clearly took great pride in delivering a high standard of service.

They were professional, efficient, and paid great attention to detail, ensuring everything was neat, clearly labelled, well organised, and completed to a very high standard. The end result was clean, structured, and exactly what we needed.

Wayne and his team were reliable, courteous, and clearly committed to doing the job properly rather than simply getting it done. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for professional cabling work and a team that genuinely takes pride in the quality of their finish.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laurence Rutter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. So easy to deal with! Great price and great guys! Did exactly what they agreed, on time and in budget. Would thoroughly recommend them to anyone.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   AlonMel Music 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wayne and team did an excellent job tidying our office data cabinet over the weekend. Professional, clean work—they went above and beyond with cable management and even relocated the router. Communication was impeccable throughout. Highly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amritpal Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "Outstanding service from ACCL. They did an incredible job with our networking and data cabling. The setup is neat, professional, and works perfectly. Extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. I’ll definitely be using them for all our future IT needs!"

Huge Shout to Wayne Connors and David Little for managing this.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andy Dawson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've worked with Wayne, David and the ACCL team for a number of years on projects throughout London. One of very few suppliers that we never have to question their proposal on detail or price, everything is clear, transparent and fair. Projects are always completed on time and there are never any costly surprises which we had previously experienced from other suppliers. They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book. Highly recommended.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Indrajit Shah 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service and communication. Will definitely be contacting Wayne and ACCL for future projects.
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

Ready to move beyond Cat5e?

Upgrading from Cat5e to Cat6A is not about chasing the latest standard. It is about making sure your office cabling keeps up with how your business actually works today, and gives you options for the next decade. If you are weighing up when to upgrade to Cat6A, the most useful starting point is a free site survey.

ACCL has been designing and installing structured cabling for businesses across London, Kent and Surrey for over 28 years. We carry out a free site survey before any project, so you get an honest assessment of what your building needs, what it will cost, and when the right time to upgrade actually is.

Book a free cabling survey or call 0333 900 0101. We will come to your site, assess what you have, and give you a clear recommendation.

0333 900 0101 sales@network-data-cabling.co.uk Contact us

FAQ – Upgrading Your Office to Cat6A

Q. Is Cat5e still good enough for 1 Gbps?

Yes, in many cases Cat5e will support 1 Gbps over typical office distances if it has been installed and maintained properly. The issue is less about today’s speed and more about headroom. If you are starting to need multi-gigabit uplinks, dense Wi-Fi or high-power PoE, Cat5e will increasingly hold you back.

Q. Do we need to replace every single cable with Cat6A?

Not necessarily. Many organisations take a phased approach, focusing first on backbone links between cabinets and floors, high-density user areas and meeting spaces, and zones with lots of PoE devices. A structured design will help you prioritise where Cat6A delivers the biggest benefits first.

Q. Will upgrading to Cat6A improve our Wi-Fi?

Indirectly, yes. Wi-Fi performance depends on both the wireless side and the wired backhaul. Modern access points can easily push more traffic than a single Cat5e uplink comfortably carries during busy periods. Upgrading cabling and switching to support higher throughputs ensures the wireless network is not being throttled by the wired layer.

Q. Do we need new switches to use Cat6A?

Cat6A itself is just the medium. To take advantage of higher speeds such as 10 Gbps, your switches need to support those speeds on the relevant ports. Many modern switches already include multi-gigabit or 10 Gbps uplink ports that can be used immediately once Cat6A cabling is in place. Part of any upgrade plan should include a review of your switching hardware.

Q. How disruptive is a Cat6A upgrade for staff?

With good planning, disruption can be kept surprisingly low. Most cabling routes are installed in ceilings, risers and floor voids, away from day-to-day work. Actual device moves and cutovers can be scheduled out of hours or area by area. Many clients find staff notice the improvement in performance far more than any short-term inconvenience.

Written by Wayne Connors, Founder & Managing Director, ACCL

Active Communication Company Ltd, trading as ACCL · Commercial data cabling and network infrastructure specialists