1. UTP and STP Data Cabling: The Right Cable
for the Right Installation
There are two main types of data cabling in use in commercial buildings. These are shielded and
unshielded twisted pair cables. Each type is available to meet a variety of category specifications,
from Cat4 all the way through Cat6 Augmented. Due to its design characteristics, shielded cable
is significantly more expensive to purchase and install. Also, in order to take advantage of the
benefits derived from the shielding, the equipment this cable is terminated to is also going to be
significantly more expensive than for unshielded cables. The decision between these two types of
cables must take a variety of factors under consideration.
Data Security
Shielded twisted pair data cable provides enhanced data security by decreasing the possibility of
intercepting the data in the cable inductively. In installations where data security is paramount,
such as banks and other financial institutions, shielded cable is going to be the cable of choice. In
fact, some local building codes require installation of shielded data cables in financial institutions
because the shielding makes for a more secure connection. Where the risk of data interception
isn't as great, unshielded cable is more than sufficient for use.
Electrical Interference
If your building is near a source of major electrical interference, or contains sources of electrical
interference, you're going to need to have shielded cable installed in order to ensure integrity of
your data. This means that if your building is near something like an airport or a high power
radio transmitter, you should seriously consider installing shielded cable over unshielded cable.
Time Constraints
If the amount of time you have to allocate to cable plant installation is relatively short, you
should more seriously consider unshielded cable, unless other circumstances rule it out. This is
because there are a number of extra steps required of the installer during the termination process
that take almost as long as the actual punching down of the cables in the insulation displacement
connectors. If you only have a few drops being installed, this might not mean much extra time,
but if you're having a few thousand drops installed, the extra work can add up to a couple of days
worth of extra work, especially for a smaller crew.
Price
Acquisition costs for shielded cable are significantly higher than for unshielded cable, because of
the shielding. Also, equipment designed to take advantage of the shielding in shielded twisted
pair cables is also more expensive. These price differences aren't extreme, so if you have ten or
twenty drops to install, it isn't going to amount to much. But if you have a few thousand drops to
install, plus a few telecommunications closets to build out, the added cost can add up quickly.
Also, because the termination process for unshielded cable is so much quicker, it's also going to
be significantly less expensive from a labour standpoint as well.

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