Guide to Structured Cabling: Definition, Types & Basic Facts
- Aug 27
- 5 min read
As the foundation that every communications network rests upon, a high-quality structured cabling system is a necessity in today’s information age. Yet it’s also rarely given the investment and consideration it deserves and requires. Here’s a guide to what you need to know about structured cabling systems, what they’re used for, and why they matter.
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What is Structured Cabling? What are Structured Cabling Systems? All Your Questions, Answered
Let’s start at the very beginning: What’s the definition of structured cabling, and why is it such an essential part of business today? You may think you know the answer, but there’s more to structured cabling systems than you may realize — including the way they’ve evolved in recent years. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Structured Cabling? What Is a Structured Cabling System?
The term structured cabling refers to an organized system of interconnected cables and associated hardware that provides a single network of wired connectivity for a building, business, or organization.
In other words, structured cabling is a system that connects all of your telecommunications or data within a single wired network. And that system includes not only various types of cables (usually copper and fiber wiring) but also related components like servers, switches, conduits, cords, pathways, and patch panels. It also includes elements of a building’s infrastructure like raceways, penetration sleeves, consolidation points, and even entryways and access points.
And yes, we said wired. While wireless solutions can be integrated within a structured cabling system, they cannot replace a wired network. And that's because they simply can't provide the bandwidth and low latency needed — not to mention the reliability, consistency, and quality required by high-demand applications like teleconferencing and the fast transfer of large amounts of data.
What is the Purpose of a Structured Cabling System?
Simply put, the purpose of a structured cabling system is to provide a single, secure, streamlined, and flexible network of connectivity throughout a single building or an entire organization.
When expertly designed and properly implemented, this system can support a variety of uses, from intranet connectivity to security oversight to seamless, high-quality communications, and is adaptable to future needs and technological upgrades.
What are the Benefits of Structured Cabling?
Because it’s a single standardized network, a structured cabling system is easier to manage, maintain, and upgrade than traditional point-to-point cabling. That gives businesses and other organizations the scalability to more easily expand the system to include new rooms and facilities, and even grow their footprint into other buildings and geographical locations.
Older point-by-point systems were notorious for being messy and chaotic. Structured cabling is the opposite: streamlined, unobtrusive, efficient, and secure. When a structured cabling system is well designed, it can also improve performance and reduce maintenance and downtime, as well as provide the savings and return on investment (ROI) that come with those benefits.
What Types of Buildings & Businesses Use Structured Cabling?
While structured cabling is sometimes used by homeowners who want reliable, top-notch connectivity, it’s more commonly utilized by businesses and other public and professional organizations. The most common users include:
Corporate offices that need to connect computer and communications networks across departments, buildings, and even different international locations
Data centers that need to quickly and securely store, process, and distribute vast amounts of data
Schools, universities, and other educational facilities that need connectivity to power basic administrative functions, digital learning, and regulatory requirements around the secure handling of sensitive information
Hospitals, health centers, and other care facilities that require reliable, secure, and scalable networks to protect patient data, power telehealth and EHR systems, connect medical devices and equipment, and readily accommodate future expansion
Retail and hospitality businesses that need instant, reliable connectivity to support communication networks, point-of-sale systems, online selling, and inventory management, among many other functions
Power plants, fuel reprocessing stations, and similar facilities that need advanced, highly organized cabling systems to meet safety standards and regulatory requirements
What are the Different Types of Structured Cabling Systems?
Every business or organization may have different reasons for using structured cabling. And they may use a different type of system to meet those unique needs, including:
Ethernet systems to connect computers and other IT equipment within a secure local network
Voice and data systems to connect phone and Internet networks to one another, and to server rooms, data centers, and other centralized locations
Security systems to connect cameras and other surveillance and recording devices and transfer the data they generate to a centralized network
Intercom systems to enable wired voice and video communications within one or more facilities
These functions often exist alongside one another, sometimes sharing the same cabling and equipment. For instance, an intercom system can be part of a security network. And an ethernet system can enable all of the others, including Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems, which use ethernet to provide not just telecommunications but power wiring, as well.
What are the Different Types of Structured Cable Wiring?
In addition, different types of structured cabling infrastructure are used for each of these systems. This generally ranges from what’s known as low-voltage cabling, which includes Cat5 (which can handle 10-100 Mbps), Cat5e (up to 1000 Mbps), and Cat6 (up to 10 Gbps) — all types of copper wiring — through high-capacity ethernet and fiber-optic wiring, which can cover greater distances and at much faster speeds.
Again, the type of wiring used will depend on each organization’s unique needs. For instance, ethernet systems generally require high-end fiberoptic cables to enable maximum connectivity, as do voice and data systems — especially when Digital Voice over Internet Protocol is utilized.
Up until recently, most intercom and security systems often relied on low-voltage wiring to cover the basic functionality they delivered. But today, low-voltage is being phased out in favor of higher-quality systems — for instance, to accommodate the higher-bandwidth, AI-powered video feeds now widely used by many of today's security systems.
When to Install Structured Cabling
For all the reasons discussed above, smart managers know that a well-designed structured cabling system is essential for their company’s long-term success. And that's true no matter what stage of growth or development they may be in. All the same, there are certain times when structured cabling installation is ideal, including:
During construction or renovation of a facility
When a business expands to a new area of a building, or a new facility or location altogether
Alongside other infrastructure improvements, especially electrical wiring
During a new data center or colocation installation or migration
During an overhaul or upgrade of network, technology, or IT systems
When damage is being repaired, or during a mandatory refitting
Now that we know who uses structured cabling systems, when and why they do it, and what benefits they get, it's time to move on to the installation process. In the next part of our guide to structured cabling, we'll do just that, diving into the details and components of installation, the regulations that must be followed, and why it's best to partner with an expert to get the job done right.
Structured Cabling Network Expertise You Can Trust
Structured cabling is too important to your success to leave to chance, or to tackle without the proper expertise. At IES Communications, we specialize in getting the job done securely, efficiently, and within your budget, from inspection and design to installation and maintenance, no matter where you are, all across the United States.
It's time to make structured cabling a priority: Contact us today to get a free quote.