When planning an office fit out or relocation, most people focus on the look and feel of the office and overlook the key question: What network cabling do we need?
Whilst there needs to be consideration around physically running wires through a wall, it is more important to design a network that is fast, reliable, scalable, and compliant.
Whether you are relocating to a new office or upgrading your existing setup, ensuring your business can keep up with how you work with your data should be a priority.
By making the right cabling decisions early on, you will save time and money later on. In this guide, we’ll explain the main cabling options, how to design your office network layout, what compliance rules apply, and how to future-proof your setup.
Choosing Your Cable: Cat6 vs. Cat7 and Beyond
The backbone of your network starts with the right cables. In most office environments, the decision will be choosing between Category 6 (CAT6) and Category 6a/7/7a (Cat6a/7/7a) for Ethernet connections.
- Cat6 supports fast, stable internet and is more than enough for most typical office set-ups.
- Cat6a is designed for higher bandwidth and longer distances. Ideal if you are building for growth or need maximum performance across a larger space.
- Cat7 offers a higher performance than Cat6a, with shielding to reduce interference and support faster, more stable speeds over longer distances.
- Cat7a is built for extremely high bandwidth (up to 1000 MHz) and more demanding environments.
- Fibre Optics can be considered in some cases, especially if you are running multiple offices between different floors, but a larger investment will be required. Fiber is perfect for connecting network cabinets between floors or buildings due to its high speed and long-distance capabilities. It serves as the main “highway” for your data, while Ethernet cables are the “local roads” to each desk.
| Cable Type | Max Speed | Distance | Best For | Cost |
| Cat6 |
1 Gbps (up to 100m) 10 Gbps (up to 50m) |
55-100m | Standard office use includes VoIP phones and Wi-Fi access points. Best suited for small to medium offices with fewer than 100 workstations. | Low |
| Cat6a | 10 Gbps | 100m | Larger offices, high-speed internet, video conferencing, and future growth planning. | Medium |
| Cat7/7a | 10+ Gbps | 100m+ | High-performance, shielded networks.
(not widely standardised) |
Higher |
| Fibre | Up to 100 Gbps+ | 550m+ | Multi-floor buildings, data centers, and backbone links between floors or server rooms. | Highest |
Table 1. Comparing Cable Types: Cat6/6a Cat7/7a and Fibre Optics.
How It All Connects: Your Network Layout
Understanding your office layout and how the cabling is laid out is just as important as selecting the type of cabling. Offices can evolve quickly, and if the cabling is designed well, it should be able to adapt to growth without any major changes.
Star layout
Most offices rely on a Star Topology, where every desk, meeting room, and device connects to a central hub, usually located in the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) room.
- MDF (Main Distribution Frame): The central “data hub” for the building.
- IDFs (Intermediate Distribution Frames): Smaller hubs on each floor that connect back to the MDF.
Planning the right number of MDF/IDF rooms keeps cable runs short, improves performance, and avoids messy installations later.
This style layout helps to keep things simple and reliable, meaning if something breaks, it’s easier to find and fix. The system is designed to be flexible, and when your business grows, the setup can usually grow with you.
The spaces behind the scenes
The cabling will then often grouped in one location, where there are switches, patch panels, and power. Again, depending on the office size, this will need to be planned accordingly, as multiple rooms may be required to keep cable runs short and effective.
Planning your office cabling ahead of time pays off
Whilst it is important to get connected and get your business functions up and running, decisions regarding a scalable setup can help future-proof your office space.
- Distance Matters
Cat6 cables work best within 100 meters, and anything above this may need to consider the user for Fibre Optics.
- Desk Planning
Think beyond where the desks will sit and ensure you take into consideration where the Wi-Fi access points, phones, and security systems will go. These items will often need to be planned into the cabling layouts.
- Designing Flexibility
To ensure you have room to grow, think about designing a setup where there is room for some additional cabling, future hires, and future technology that may need to be accommodated.
Staying Compliant: Cabling Codes and Safety Standards
When planning fibre and cabling, it is essential to follow both fibre-specific and general telecommunications standards.
- FTTH regulations
It is advised to check the regulations for cabling requirements in your region, especially in commercial buildings. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have design requirements outlined in FTTH guides. The guides will cover entry ducts, telecom room layouts, risers, and floor distribution.
- Approval
Often, if you are based in DIFC or ADGM, approval from local authorities will need to be obtained.
- Special cables
For shared, public, or air-handling spaces, extra-safe cabling types (plenum-rated or LSZH (Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen)) must be used. These cables are coated with fire-retardant materials, which emit less toxic smoke, making them crucial for safety in public or shared spaces.
Future-Proofing Your Setup
Technology is always evolving, meaning the office you plan today needs to accommodate the technology that is yet to come. Here are the things to consider:
- Installing additional fibre
This can be a small additional investment, which can prevent major disruptions further down the line.
- Power over Ethernet
Think about devices that use both power and data, like phones, cameras, and door access systems. This can be set up to run through one single cabling instead of needed a separate power cable. Planning for it early makes future upgrades much easier.
If you want to achieve a smart, connected office, these considerations will help you get off to a great start.
Practical Cabling Checklist and Further Questions to Ask
Before you begin to make the right cabling decisions, understanding the context is important. Here are some additional questions to consider before creating your design:
- Is this a brand-new build or a refurbished space with existing infrastructure?
- Will your business need to use conferencing systems and Audio-Visual equipment that requires specialised cabling?
- How many desks and meeting rooms will you need to support in the next 3–5 years?
- What is the distance between your workstations and your network room?
- Where will your MDF/IDF rooms be located?
- Are you compliant with DIFC/ADGM and fire safety standards?
Key Takeaways
Cabling may be hidden, but it’s the backbone of your office. Investing early in structured cabling ensures speed, safety, and scalability. If you’re planning a fit-out in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, our team can design a compliant, future-proof solution tailored to DIFC/ADGM standards. Contact us for a structured cabling solution for your office today.
