Cat8.1 cable is specially designed for data center applications, specifically “top of rack” and “end of row” topologies. This is due to the length limitation of the Cat8 standard to a maximum of 30 meters (100ft.). Cat8.1 cable is compatible with RJ45 interfaces.
Copper cabling is always cheaper to deploy than fiber; copper networks do not need transceivers or the extra power requirements that their fiber counterparts require. A Cat8 network running at 40G over a 30-meter run will not require more power than a 10G network running over 100 meters.
Like any other category of cabling, Cat8 can be terminated on premises; this makes installation easy to manage. Additionally, it is a plug and play solution, just like other categories of cable, making setup and use easier and more versatile than equivalent fiber technologies
We sell two classes of Cat8 network cable:
Category 8.1 - This cable is designed for “Class I” links, this means it is compatible with RJ45 connectors/interfaces.
Category 8.2 - This cable is for “Class II” links, which are a bit more specialized. Unlike Class I, it is NOT compatible with RJ45 connectors or interfaces, it is designed for Class FA using TERA or GG45 connectors.
Both classes are defined at up to 2GHz with a maximum length of 30 meters. The Category 8 standard is only intended for use in data center environments for top of rack and end of rack installations.