Ethernet Cable Buyer’s Guide Kenya 2025

Choosing the Right Ethernet Cable

When buying Ethernet cables, consider both performance and environment. For home and small office networks, UTP Cat 6 offers reliable speed at an affordable price. In high-interference areas such as factories or hospitals, shielded Cat 6A or Cat 7 is worth the extra cost. Always choose 100% pure copper cables over cheaper CCA alternatives to ensure durability, safe PoE support, and long-term performance. Think of it as an investment—spend a little more upfront for cables that deliver speed, stability, and reliability for years to come.

✅ Step 1: Check Your Network Speed

• If your ISP provides below 1Gbps → Cat 5e or Cat 6 is enough.
• If your ISP provides 1–10Gbps → Cat 6a is the sweet spot.
• For 10Gbps+ and future-proofing → Cat 7 / Cat 7a.

✅ Step 2: Decide on Application & Environment

• Home / Small Office → Cat 6 UTP (affordable & flexible).
• Enterprise / Hospital / University → Cat 6a F/UTP (shielded, stable 10Gbps).
• Data Center / Financial Sector → Cat 7 S/FTP (maximum shielding).
• Broadcast / Media House → Cat 7a (1000 MHz bandwidth).

✅ Step 3: Always Choose Pure Copper

• Pure Copper (≥95%) → Best performance, safe for PoE, 20+ year lifespan.
• Avoid CCA (Copper-Clad Aluminum): Lower conductivity, overheating risk, shorter life.

🔑 Pro Tips from TDK Solutions Kenya

• Always buy 305m genuine rolls from trusted brands.
• For PoE applications (IP cameras, access points, VoIP phones) → use shielded Cat 6a+ pure copper.
• Keep cable runs under 100m for best performance.
• Use rack cabinets and patch panels for structured cabling to stay organized.