What is the difference between Cat6 and Cat6A for a Dubai office?
Cat6 supports 1 Gigabit per second up to 100 metres and handles standard PoE loads well enough for IP phones and basic access points. Cat6A supports 10 Gigabit over the same distance and handles higher PoE+ and PoE++ loads for modern cameras and Wi-Fi 6 access points. For new office fit-outs in Dubai, Cat6A is the recommended standard — it eliminates the need to recable as network speeds and PoE requirements increase over the next decade.
How long does it take to cable a 50-person office in Dubai?
A 50-seat office typically takes 5 to 10 working days from cable pull to FLUKE-tested and documented handover. The actual timeline depends on ceiling access conditions, containment complexity, rack work scope, fibre requirements, and whether the site is an empty fit-out or an occupied retrofit with restricted access hours. We confirm a realistic timeline during the site survey, not after cables are already on site.
Is fibre optic better than Cat6A for horizontal office cabling?
Fibre and copper serve different functions. Cat6A remains the standard for horizontal cabling to desks, phones, and access points because it is easy to terminate, supports PoE, and performs reliably at 10G over standard office distances. Fibre — multimode or single-mode — is used for backbone runs between floors, between buildings, and to remote cabinets where distances exceed Cat6A's performance range or where you need higher bandwidth in a single link. Most Dubai offices use a combination: Cat6A horizontal, multimode fibre backbone.
What cabling standards do you follow in Dubai?
Kaizen Star follows EIA/TIA-568 for commercial cabling design and performance, ISO/IEC 11801 for international compliance requirements, and ANSI/TIA-569 for pathways and spaces. Copper links can be certified with Fluke DSX CableAnalyzer to channel performance class (Class E for Cat6, Class EA for Cat6A). Fibre links can be tested with OTDR for splice and connector quality. All test data is included in the project handover.
Do you provide a warranty on your cabling installations?
Yes. Kaizen Star provides a workmanship warranty covering installation quality. For projects using recognised brand cable systems (Panduit, Belden, Leviton, CommScope), we can support applications for manufacturer-backed system warranties of 20 to 25 years that cover both component performance and the cabling channel as installed. Manufacturer warranty applications require the installation to be completed to the system specification.
How much does structured cabling cost in Dubai?
Indicative ranges for UAE structured cabling projects (materials + labour + FLUKE testing): a 10-user office with Cat6 cabling, a single rack, and basic documentation typically falls in the AED 4,000–8,000 range. A 50-user office with Cat6A, a managed rack, and full FLUKE DSX reports generally runs AED 18,000–35,000. Data room or fibre backbone projects add cost depending on run lengths and fibre type. These are planning ranges only — the actual number depends on outlet count, containment complexity, ceiling access, timing, and the rack scope. A site survey is the only way to give an accurate figure.
What is BICSI and do you follow BICSI standards?
BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Service International) is a professional organisation that publishes the BICSI Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM) — the industry reference for cabling system design, pathways, and spaces. BICSI standards complement EIA/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801 by providing detailed design guidance beyond the minimum performance requirements. Kaizen Star designs installations to align with BICSI TDMM guidance on cable routing, bend radius, separation from power cables, containment sizing, and telecom room layout — not just the minimum pass/fail criteria.
Do you use CAD drawings for cabling design?
For medium and larger projects, yes. We produce scaled outlet schedules, cable route drawings, and rack elevation designs based on the actual floor plan — not a generic layout. CAD-based design is essential for data rooms, multi-floor offices, warehouses, and any site where containment routes and riser locations need to be coordinated with the fit-out or MEP teams before cables are ordered. For smaller projects, we produce scaled drawings and outlet schedules as part of the scoping process, and include as-built drawings in the handover pack.
