Structured Cabling Installation: The cabling behind everything else, done once, done right
Structured cabling gets installed once every 10 to 20 years and then disappears behind walls and ceilings. Getting the standard right at the outset matters more here than almost anywhere else in an IT project, because there’s no cheap way to fix it later.
Built for the environment, not a generic spec sheet
New fit-outs
Cabling designed into the building from the start, not retrofitted around finished ceilings.
Office refurbishments
Upgrading ageing Cat5e cabling to a standard that supports the next decade, not just this year’s requirement.
Comms room & rack builds
Structured, labelled, tested termination, the difference between a comms room you can support and one nobody wants to touch.
What structured cabling costs
Indicative ranges, supplied and installed. Every project is scoped individually, this is a starting point for budgeting, not a quote.
| Configuration | Typical use | From |
|---|---|---|
| Cat6 data point | Supplied, installed, tested | £85 +VAT |
| Cat6a data point | Supplied, installed, tested | £115 +VAT |
| Comms room / rack build | Patch panels, containment, labelling | £850 +VAT |
| Certified testing & documentation | Per data point | included |
Public sector and education purchase orders accepted.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 0845 095 3600 or email info@efficient-is.co.uk: we’ll give you a straight answer, not a sales script.
Assess, design, install, support, one team throughout
Assess
Site survey or environment review, requirements gathering, budget options.
Design
A specification matched to your actual requirement, not the biggest number on a spec sheet.
Install & commission
Delivered by our engineers in Scotland, or a vetted local partner, anywhere in the UK, tested and commissioned before we call it done. Recent examples include a multi-site structured cabling programme we delivered for a national security systems provider across their Manchester and Birmingham locations.
Handover, training & support
Documentation, formal handover, hands-on training, and optional ongoing managementit@efficient-is.co.uk.
Structured Cabling Installation: Answered Plainly
Should we install Cat6 or Cat6a?
Cat6a has become the baseline for new UK office installations in 2026, it supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet over the full 100-metre cable run and handles PoE-heavy deployments (WiFi access points, IP cameras) more reliably. Cat6 remains a reasonable choice for budget-constrained projects with predominantly short cable runs.
How long does structured cabling actually last?
A properly installed structured cabling system typically has a useful life of 15 to 20 years, which is exactly why the standard chosen at installation matters more than almost any other single decision in the project.
Does cabling need to change for modern WiFi access points and IP cameras?
Often yes, higher-power PoE+ and PoE++ devices need Cat6A to deliver power reliably, especially in dense cable bundles where heat build-up becomes a factor.
Have a network, cloud or CCTV project in mind?
Tell us the environment and the outcome you need, we’ll tell you what’s realistic.
Do you provide fibre backbone cabling as well as copper to the desk?
Yes. Fibre is commonly used for backbone runs between comms rooms or floors, particularly over longer distances or where future bandwidth headroom matters, with copper Cat6 or Cat6a continuing to the desk. Which mix makes sense depends on the building’s layout and the distances involved, which the site survey confirms.
What testing do you carry out before handover?
Every data point is certified using a calibrated cable tester, checking for continuity, length, crosstalk and attenuation against the relevant Cat6 or Cat6a standard, with a test report included in the handover documentation for every point installed.
Is the cabling labelled and documented, or just installed?
Every cable run and patch panel port is labelled to match a floor plan and schedule provided at handover, so any future engineer, whether ours or someone else’s, can identify a specific run without having to trace it physically.
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