When a business moves into a new office or outgrows its current one, the network question usually gets framed as a choice: run cables everywhere, or go wireless and save the trouble. Wi-Fi has improved enormously, and it is tempting to assume cables are a thing of the past. At the same time, offices that rely on Wi-Fi alone often end up with dead zones, dropped video calls and a printer nobody can find.
The honest answer is that most offices need both, and the real decisions are about which devices go where and how well each part is designed. This article explains what structured cabling actually is, what modern Wi-Fi does well, where each one fits, and the design choices that matter more than the equipment brand. It ends with a practical checklist for planning a fit-out or upgrade.
Key takeaways
- This is rarely an either/or decision: wired for fixed, high-bandwidth or powered devices; Wi-Fi for mobility.
- Structured cabling should be labelled, tested and documented, following TIA-568 practices.
- Good Wi-Fi depends on a site survey and proper access point placement, not simply more access points.
- Access points themselves should be wired back to the network, ideally powered over Ethernet.
- Separate staff, guest and device traffic using SSIDs and VLANs.
What structured cabling actually means
Structured cabling is an organised, standards-based approach to wiring a building. Instead of cables strung ad hoc from a switch to wherever someone needed a connection, each run goes from a wall or ceiling outlet back to a central point, usually a rack in a comms room or cabinet, where it terminates on a patch panel. Short patch cables then connect the panel to network switches. Moves and changes happen at the panel, not by pulling new cable.
Good installations follow TIA-568, the widely used set of standards for commercial cabling. In practice, that means:
- Every outlet and patch panel port is labelled consistently.
- Each run is tested or certified with proper equipment after installation, and the results are kept.
- Cables respect maximum lengths, bend limits and separation from power lines.
- The installer hands over documentation: floor plans showing outlet locations, the labelling scheme and test results.
Cat6 or Cat6A?
The two common cable categories for new installations are Cat6 and Cat6A. Cat6 supports 10 Gb/s over runs of up to about 55 metres; beyond that, speeds drop back to 1 Gb/s. Cat6A supports 10 Gb/s over the full 100-metre channel. For short runs in a small office, Cat6 is often enough. For longer runs, or where you want headroom for future access points and switches, Cat6A is the safer choice.
Power over Ethernet
Power over Ethernet (PoE) delivers electrical power through the same network cable that carries data. It is how most wireless access points, IP desk phones and security cameras are powered. PoE means fewer power outlets in awkward places like ceilings, and it lets you put critical devices on a single backed-up power source at the switch.
What modern Wi-Fi does well
Current standards such as Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E, which adds the less-congested 6 GHz band, handle many simultaneous devices far better than older generations. For laptops, phones and tablets that move between desks, meeting rooms and pantry, Wi-Fi is the right tool.
But Wi-Fi is a shared medium. Every device on an access point competes for airtime, and walls, glass, filing cabinets and neighbouring networks all affect performance. That is why design matters so much.
Design beats quantity
A common response to poor Wi-Fi is to add another access point. Without a plan, this often makes things worse, because overlapping access points on the same channels interfere with each other. A site survey, which measures signal coverage and interference across the actual floor, tells you where access points should go, how many you need and how to set channels and power levels. Ceiling-mounted access points placed according to a survey almost always outperform more units placed by guesswork.
Access points also need wired backhaul, meaning a cable connection back to the network. Mesh systems that relay Wi-Fi between units are convenient at home, but in a busy office each wireless hop eats into the capacity available to users. Cable your access points.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Structured cabling | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and consistency | High and predictable; not shared with other users on the same run | Good, but shared and variable depending on load and interference |
| Mobility | None; device stays at the outlet | Excellent; users move freely |
| Powering devices | Can deliver PoE to access points, phones and cameras | Cannot power devices |
| Reliability | Very stable once tested | Affected by layout, materials and neighbouring networks |
| Security | Requires physical access to an outlet | Reachable from outside the office if not properly secured |
| Upfront effort | Higher; best done during fit-out | Lower, but still needs survey and planning |
| Best for | Desktops, printers, servers, cameras, phones, access points | Laptops, phones, tablets, meeting rooms, visitors |
Which devices go where
A practical rule of thumb: anything that does not move, needs consistent high bandwidth, or needs power should be wired. That includes desktop workstations, network printers, servers and storage, CCTV cameras, IP phones and, of course, the access points themselves. Anything that moves with a person should use Wi-Fi.
Plan a few extra outlets beyond today's needs. Adding a run later, after ceilings are closed and furniture is in, is far more disruptive than including it during fit-out.
Segment the network
Whether wired or wireless, not every device should be on the same network. Use separate SSIDs (the Wi-Fi network names) and VLANs (logical network segments) for staff, guests and devices such as cameras and printers. Guests should get internet access only. Devices should reach only what they need. This keeps a compromised camera or visitor laptop away from your business systems.
Where to start
Whether you are fitting out a new space or fixing an existing one, work through these steps:
- List the devices you have and plan to add, and mark which are fixed, mobile or need PoE.
- Commission a Wi-Fi site survey before deciding how many access points to buy.
- Specify Cat6 or Cat6A based on run lengths and expected growth.
- Require TIA-568 practices from your installer: labelling, testing and documentation.
- Wire every access point and plan PoE capacity at the switch.
- Design separate SSIDs and VLANs for staff, guests and devices.
- Keep the as-built documentation and test results somewhere you can find them.
If you are planning an office network or want a second opinion on an installer's proposal, Northgate's Cloud & Infrastructure Review assesses your requirements and the design in front of you, and our Build service can deliver the network in scoped, written milestones. To talk through your space, book a free 30-minute call.