Cat6A Slim Flat Ethernet Cable: 10Gbps 500MHz Shielded Patch Cord for Data Centers, Enterprise LANs and PoE++ Networks
Category 6A is the cabling category that most enterprise networks are actually being built on today, and the LinkSup Cat6A slim flat patch cable is our answer to the two complaints installers have about it: standard Cat6A cord is thick, and it is stiff. By laying four shielded pairs in a controlled flat geometry and using 28AWG stranded bare copper, we produce a cord that certifies for full 10GBASE-T over 100 metres yet occupies a fraction of the tray space, bends into a tight cable manager without kinking, and — in the braided version — survives being pulled repeatedly through conduit. It is manufactured in our own ISO9001 facility in Humen, Dongguan, and every jacket colour, length, boot style and packaging format is open to customization for brands, integrators and distributors.
Why Cat6A Instead of Cat6 or Cat7?
This is the single most common question in our inbox, and the answer is distance. Cat6 will carry 10 Gigabit Ethernet, but only to about 55 metres, and only when alien crosstalk is low — which it rarely is in a bundled horizontal run. Category 6A doubles the tested bandwidth to 500MHz and adds mandatory alien-crosstalk performance, so it certifies for 10GBASE-T across the full 100 m permanent link. That is why it is the default specification for new enterprise, campus, healthcare and hospitality builds, and why it is the recommended media for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points, which routinely need multi-gig uplinks plus PoE++ power. Category 7, by contrast, was never ratified by TIA and uses non-standard connectors in its original form; Category 8 is a 30-metre data-centre specification. For the 90-metre horizontal run that dominates real-world structured cabling, Cat6A is the correct and most cost-effective choice.
The Slim Flat Advantage in High-Density Racks
A conventional round shielded Cat6A cord is typically 7–8 mm in diameter. Multiply that by 48 ports in a single patch panel and the bundle becomes heavy, blocks airflow at the rear of the cabinet, and exceeds the capacity of horizontal cable managers. Our slim flat construction reduces the cross-sectional area by roughly 40%, which translates directly into cooler racks, tidier patching and fewer cable-manager upgrades. Outside the data centre the same geometry solves a different problem: at only about 2 mm thick, the smooth-jacket version lies flush under carpet tiles, beneath a door, or along a skirting board, so a 10G link can be run into a finished office or apartment without trunking or channel. The braided version trades a little thickness for a tough polyester sleeve that resists abrasion and refuses to tangle at 10 m and above.
Shielding, Conductors and Connector Engineering
At 500MHz, shielding is not optional if you want repeatable certification results in a bundled installation. We offer two constructions: F/UTP, with a single overall aluminium-mylar foil, which is the volume choice for standard office deployments; and S/FTP, where each of the four twisted pairs carries its own foil inside an overall tinned-copper braid, for high-EMI environments such as plant floors, lift shafts and rooms with heavy motor or VFD load. In both cases the shield bonds 360° to a metal RJ45 housing at each end, giving a continuous drain path rather than the pigtail arrangement that undermines cheaper cords. Conductors are 28AWG or 30AWG stranded oxygen-free copper. We do not build this product in copper-clad aluminium at any price: CCA raises DC resistance, fails PoE heat-rise limits in bundles, and fractures under repeated flexing. Plugs carry 50-micron gold plating over phosphor bronze, and a one-piece moulded snagless boot with an integrated latch guard prevents the broken-clip failures that generate most field returns.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category / Standard | Cat6A (Category 6A), ANSI/TIA-568.2-D, ISO/IEC 11801 Class EA |
| Tested Bandwidth | 500 MHz |
| Data Rate | 10 Gbps (10GBASE-T) to 100 m; 1G/2.5G/5G backward compatible |
| Shielding | F/UTP (overall foil) or S/FTP (foiled pairs + braid) |
| Conductor | 28AWG / 30AWG stranded 100% bare copper (OFC) |
| Connector | Shielded RJ45 8P8C male–male, metal housing, 50U” gold-plated contacts |
| Boot | Moulded snagless anti-kink boot with latch guard |
| Cable Profile | Slim flat, approx. 2.0 × 6.5 mm (braided approx. 4.5 mm round-flat) |
| Jacket Material | PVC standard; LSZH, nylon-braided or UV-resistant PE optional; VW-1 |
| Jacket Colours | Blue, red, green, black, white, grey, yellow, orange, custom Pantone |
| Available Lengths | 0.15 m – 30 m (0.5 ft – 100 ft), cut to order |
| Impedance | 100 Ω ± 15 Ω |
| Operating Temperature | −20 °C to +75 °C |
| PoE Support | IEEE 802.3af / at / bt (PoE, PoE+, PoE++ 90 W) |
| Wiring Standard | T568B (T568A on request) |
| Compatibility | Cat6, Cat5e equipment, shielded and unshielded jacks |
| Compliance | CE, RoHS, REACH, UL wire, VW-1, ISO9001, 100% Fluke tested |
| MOQ / Packaging | 100 pcs per colour/length; velcro, poly bag, blister, colour box, private label |
Typical Applications
Specified for 10G switch-to-server and top-of-rack patching, 48-port patch panel fields where cable bulk is the limiting factor, Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7 access-point uplinks with PoE++ power, 4K and PTZ IP camera drops, NAS and editing-workstation links in post-production, VoIP and POS backhaul, healthcare and campus structured cabling, and AV-over-IP distribution. For shorter 40G data-centre links see our Cat8 shielded patch cords; for gigabit-only budgets our Cat6 patch cords are the cost-efficient option, and the complete slim-line catalogue is under flat patch cords. Matching keystones and field plugs are listed in RJ45 connectors, and harsh-environment variants in our industrial M12 range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Cat6A really do 10G at 100 metres? Yes, when the whole channel is Category 6A — cable, jacks and patch cords — and it is properly installed. That full-distance 10G capability is precisely what separates Cat6A from Cat6, which tops out near 55 m.
Is a slim 28AWG cord as good as a 24AWG one? For patch-cord lengths, yes. Thinner conductors have slightly higher insertion loss per metre, which is why the standard applies a length de-rating to 28AWG cords in a channel; within normal patching lengths this is comfortably inside budget, and you gain major density and airflow benefits. For 90 m horizontal runs, use solid 23AWG bulk cable and terminate to jacks.
F/UTP or S/FTP — which should I order? F/UTP covers most offices and is lighter and cheaper. Choose S/FTP for industrial floors, hospitals, broadcast facilities, or any bundle running alongside mains power.
Does it support PoE++? Yes, up to 802.3bt 90 W. Because we use bare copper rather than CCA, temperature rise stays within specification even in bundled trays.
Do I need shielded jacks? To realise the shielding benefit and maintain the drain path, terminate into shielded keystones and shielded switch ports, properly grounded at the rack. The cable still works in unshielded equipment, just with less alien-crosstalk margin.
Flat or braided — which version for my market? Smooth flat for installers and under-carpet work; braided for retail and e-commerce SKUs where durability and shelf appeal drive the purchase.
What are MOQ, samples and lead time? Typically 100 pcs per colour/length, samples in 3–5 days, mass production in 7–15 days. See our OEM/ODM services and Fluke testing lab, then send your colour, length and packaging list for a same-day quotation.