Cat 6A U/FTP Cable for 10 Gigabit Ethernet Networks

Cat 6A U/FTP Cable provides individually foil-screened copper connectivity for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, data centers, enterprise LANs, structured cabling and other high-bandwidth networks where pair-level electromagnetic protection is required. ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6A U/FTP cables with 23 AWG solid copper conductors and PVC, LSOH or PE outer jackets.

The ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP range uses four twisted pairs with an individual Al/PET foil screen around each pair. A tinned copper earthing wire runs between the screened pairs, while the complete four-pair cable core does not receive a separate overall foil or braid. The cables provide Category 6A transmission performance through 500 MHz and support 10GBASE-T when the complete installed channel meets the applicable structured-cabling requirements.

Individual pair screening helps control electromagnetic coupling and crosstalk in high-frequency networks. U/FTP can therefore provide a useful balance between strong pair-level screening and a construction that avoids an additional overall metallic screen.

What Is Cat 6A U/FTP Cable?

Cat 6A U/FTP is a four-pair balanced Ethernet cable in which every twisted pair receives its own foil screen while the complete cable has no separate overall metallic screen.

The designation can be read as:

• U – no overall metallic screen around the complete cable core
• FTP – individual foil screens around the twisted pairs

This makes U/FTP fundamentally different from U/UTP, F/FTP and S/FTP.

ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP Cable Range

Product	Outer Jacket	Main Selection Direction
Cat 6A U/FTP PVC	PVC	General fixed structured cabling where PVC is permitted
Cat 6A U/FTP LSOH	Halogen-free / low-smoke material	Projects requiring defined smoke and halogen characteristics
Cat 6A U/FTP PE	Polyethylene	Outdoor-oriented screened Ethernet routes

All three products share the same basic 23 AWG, individually foil-screened Category 6A architecture. The principal variation is the outer-jacket material.

Cat 6A U/FTP Cable Construction

Component	ETK Kablo Construction
Conductor	Electrolytic solid copper
Conductor Size	23 AWG
Insulation	Foamed polyethylene cladded with solid polyethylene
Pair Construction	Four twisted pairs
Individual Pair Screen	Al/PET foil around each pair
Screen Wire	Tinned copper earthing wire between screened pairs
Overall Metallic Screen	None
Outer Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE according to product

Individual Foil Screening in Cat 6A U/FTP

The defining feature of U/FTP is the individual Al/PET foil screen around each twisted pair.

Rather than screening all four pairs together, U/FTP separates the pairs electrically with dedicated foil layers.

This architecture helps limit electromagnetic coupling between adjacent pairs and can improve isolation in high-frequency and high-density Ethernet systems.

Individual pair screening also helps manage interference without adding a separate overall braid around the complete cable core.

U/FTP and Alien Crosstalk

Alien crosstalk describes unwanted coupling between separate neighboring Ethernet cables.

This becomes particularly important in Cat 6A networks because 10GBASE-T operates through frequencies up to 500 MHz and can use dense cable bundles.

Individual foil screens help isolate the signal pairs from surrounding electromagnetic fields. However, cable design remains only one part of the system.

Pathway density, cable bundling, connectors, termination quality and installation practice should all form part of a Cat 6A network design.

Cat 6A U/FTP Earthing Wire

The ETK Kablo U/FTP construction includes a tinned copper earthing wire between the screened pairs.

The earthing wire supports electrical continuity and termination of the pair-screen system.

A screened Ethernet cable should form part of a compatible screened structured-cabling channel. Patch panels, connectors and bonding practices influence the performance of the complete installation.

Pair-level foil screens should therefore be terminated according to the applicable network design rather than treated as passive decorative layers.

23 AWG Solid Copper Cat 6A U/FTP Cable

The ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP products use 23 AWG solid copper conductors.

Solid copper provides predictable DC resistance and stable electrical performance for fixed structured-cabling applications.

The product documentation specifies a maximum conductor resistance of 94 Ω/km at 20°C.

Procurement teams should distinguish solid-copper Cat 6A cable from copper-clad conductor products when 10 Gigabit Ethernet, PoE performance and project compliance are important.

Foamed PE Insulation with Solid PE Skin

The ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP construction uses foamed polyethylene insulation cladded with a solid polyethylene layer.

This insulation architecture contributes to the electrical characteristics of the cable, including capacitance and propagation velocity.

ETK Kablo product documentation specifies a propagation velocity of 78–80% across the U/FTP family.

Insulation geometry, conductor dimensions, pair twisting and foil screens therefore work together as part of the 500 MHz transmission design.

500 MHz Cat 6A U/FTP Performance

ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP technical data covers transmission characteristics through 500 MHz.

Relevant parameters include:

• Insertion loss
• Near-end crosstalk (NEXT)
• Power-sum NEXT
• Equal-level far-end crosstalk
• Power-sum equal-level far-end crosstalk
• Return loss
• Characteristic impedance
• Propagation velocity

The products have a characteristic impedance of 100 Ω ±5% across the specified frequency range.

Cat 6A U/FTP for 10 Gigabit Ethernet

Cat 6A U/FTP provides a screened cabling platform for 10GBASE-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet when the complete installed channel meets the applicable Category 6A requirements.

Typical applications include:

• Data centers
• Enterprise LAN networks
• Server rooms
• Telecommunications rooms
• High-density office networks
• Wi-Fi infrastructure
• IP surveillance
• Industrial Ethernet
• Building-management networks

The complete channel includes the cable, connectors, patch panels, patch cords and terminations. Every component contributes to final 10GBASE-T performance.

10GBASE-T up to 100 Meters

Cat 6A is designed for 10GBASE-T over a full structured-cabling channel when the complete system meets the applicable requirements.

A typical balanced-copper Ethernet channel can extend to 100 meters, normally including up to 90 meters of permanent-link cable together with patch and equipment cords.

Pair-level foil screening does not extend this standardized channel distance. It primarily addresses electromagnetic and crosstalk performance.

Cat 6A U/FTP vs U/UTP

Feature	Cat 6A U/UTP	Cat 6A U/FTP
Overall Metallic Screen	No	No
Individual Pair Screens	No	Foil around each pair
Pair-Level EMI Protection	Balanced pair geometry only	Dedicated pair foil screens
Screen Termination	No metallic screen to terminate	Screened-channel termination required
Category Frequency	500 MHz	500 MHz
10GBASE-T	Yes	Yes

Both architectures provide Cat 6A transmission capability, but U/FTP adds individual foil screens where the network requires additional electromagnetic isolation.

Cat 6A U/FTP vs F/FTP

U/FTP and F/FTP both screen every individual twisted pair with foil.

The difference is the additional overall screen.

Feature	U/FTP	F/FTP
Individual Pair Foils	Yes	Yes
Overall Foil	No	Yes
Overall Braid	No	No

F/FTP adds an overall foil around the individually screened pairs. U/FTP provides pair-level screening without this additional common metallic layer.

Cat 6A U/FTP vs S/FTP

U/FTP and S/FTP both use individual foil screens around each twisted pair.

S/FTP adds an overall metallic braid around the complete cable core.

Feature	U/FTP	S/FTP
Individual Pair Foils	Yes	Yes
Overall Foil	No	No
Overall Braid	No	Yes

S/FTP provides an additional overall conductive screen for more demanding electromagnetic environments. U/FTP can provide a simpler individually screened solution where an overall braid is unnecessary.

U/FTP Is Not the Same as F/UTP

U/FTP and F/UTP are often confused because both use foil screening, but the foil appears in different locations.

Feature	U/FTP	F/UTP
Overall Foil	No	Yes
Individual Pair Foils	Yes	No

F/UTP places one foil around all four unshielded pairs. U/FTP places separate foil screens around each pair and has no common overall screen.

Procurement specifications should therefore use the full notation rather than simply requesting an “FTP cable.”

Cat 6A U/FTP PVC Cable

Cat 6A U/FTP PVC Cable combines individually foil-screened pairs with a UV-resistant PVC outer jacket.

The ETK Kablo product uses 23 AWG solid copper conductors, foamed polyethylene insulation with a solid PE skin, individual Al/PET pair screens and a tinned copper earthing wire.

The published approximate cable diameter is 7.1 mm.

PVC provides a conventional jacket option for structured-cabling projects where PVC materials are permitted.

Cat 6A U/FTP LSOH Cable

Cat 6A U/FTP LSOH Cable combines the same individually screened 500 MHz architecture with a halogen-free outer jacket.

The product documentation includes applicable testing for:

• Smoke density
• Single-cable flame retardancy
• Corrosive-gas characteristics
• Halogen content

The cable diameter is approximately 7.1 mm.

LSOH or LSZH describes material behavior during combustion. It should not be confused with fire-resistant circuit integrity.

Cat 6A U/FTP PE Outdoor Cable

Cat 6A U/FTP PE Cable combines individually foil-screened Cat 6A transmission with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

The product retains the same 23 AWG solid copper conductors, foamed PE insulation, individual Al/PET pair screens and tinned copper earthing wire.

Potential applications include:

• Building-to-building network routes
• Outdoor IP surveillance
• Campus Ethernet networks
• External Wi-Fi infrastructure
• Outdoor industrial Ethernet
• External automation networks

A PE outer jacket provides an outdoor-oriented material system. It should not automatically be interpreted as steel armor, water blocking or universal direct-burial qualification.

PVC vs LSOH vs PE Cat 6A U/FTP

Jacket	Main Selection Consideration
PVC	General fixed installations where PVC is permitted
LSOH / LSZH	Projects requiring defined smoke and halogen-related characteristics
PE	Outdoor-oriented routes requiring polyethylene jacket characteristics

The outer-jacket material changes environmental and fire-material characteristics but does not change the underlying U/FTP pair-screening architecture or 500 MHz Category 6A performance.

Cat 6A U/FTP for Data Centers

Data centers contain dense copper cabling, active equipment and high-bandwidth network connections.

Cat 6A U/FTP can provide 10GBASE-T connectivity together with individual pair screens that help control electromagnetic interaction within high-density infrastructure.

Pair-level shielding can also reduce dependence on pair spacing alone when managing high-frequency interference.

Where the project requires an additional overall screen, F/FTP or S/FTP can provide alternative Cat 6A architectures.

Cat 6A U/FTP for Server and Telecom Rooms

Server rooms and telecommunications spaces often combine network cabling, switches, power equipment and high port density.

U/FTP can provide individually screened 10 Gigabit copper connectivity while avoiding an additional overall foil or braid around the complete cable.

Compatible screened patch panels and connectors should form part of the complete channel.

Cat 6A U/FTP for Industrial Ethernet

Industrial networks can operate near motors, variable-frequency drives, switching equipment and power infrastructure.

Individual pair foils provide additional electromagnetic isolation compared with an unshielded U/UTP architecture.

Where the installation faces more substantial interference, F/FTP or S/FTP can provide an additional overall screen.

Applicable separation from power circuits and correct bonding practices should still be followed.

Cat 6A U/FTP for Wi-Fi Access Points

Modern wireless access points can require multi-gigabit Ethernet backhaul together with remote power.

Cat 6A U/FTP provides a 500 MHz copper platform for compatible high-performance Wi-Fi networks.

Where access points use Power over Ethernet, conductor resistance, bundle size, ambient temperature and the required PoE level should also form part of the network design.

Cat 6A U/FTP for IP CCTV

High-resolution IP surveillance systems can combine significant network bandwidth with Power over Ethernet.

Cat 6A U/FTP can provide individually screened Ethernet connectivity for cameras, aggregation switches and other surveillance-system infrastructure.

PVC or LSOH constructions can serve applicable indoor routes, while the PE construction provides an outdoor-oriented option.

Cat 6A U/FTP for Power over Ethernet

Cat 6A U/FTP can form part of compatible Power over Ethernet systems.

The individual foil screens primarily address electromagnetic performance. PoE loading also depends on the electrical and thermal characteristics of the copper pairs.

Important factors include:

• Solid copper conductor construction
• DC resistance
• Resistance unbalance
• Route length
• Cable bundle size
• Ambient temperature
• Installation pathway
• Required PoE level

Pair-level screening should not be treated as a substitute for proper PoE electrical and thermal design.

Cat 6A U/FTP Electrical Characteristics

Parameter	Published Value
Conductor Resistance at 20°C	Max. 94 Ω/km
Insulation Resistance at 20°C	5000 MΩ/km
Mutual Capacitance	Max. 56 nF/km
Resistance Unbalance	2%
Propagation Velocity	78–80%
Characteristic Impedance	100 Ω ±5%
Operating Voltage	125 V DC
Test Voltage	1200 V DC for 1 minute

Cat 6A U/FTP Mechanical Characteristics

The Cat 6A U/FTP product documentation specifies:

• Four twisted pairs
• 23 AWG solid copper conductors
• Approximate cable diameter: 7.1 mm
• Minimum bending radius: 8xD
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +60°C
• Packing lengths: 500 m and 1000 m

The exact packing and construction requirements should be confirmed during quotation.

Cat 6A U/FTP Standards

ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP product documentation references:

• ANSI/TIA-568-C.2
• IEC 61156-5
• IEC 11801

These references support the balanced copper Category 6A transmission architecture of the products.

Project specifications can require different editions or additional approvals, so buyers should verify the required documentation for the exact supplied cable.

Flame, Smoke and Halogen Requirements

Fire-related material characteristics depend on the selected outer-jacket construction.

The PVC product documentation includes IEC 60332-1-2 flame-retardancy testing.

The LSOH product documentation additionally includes IEC 61034-2 smoke-density, IEC 60754-1 halogen-content and IEC 60754-2 corrosive-gas testing.

These tests describe reaction-to-fire and cable-material characteristics. They should not be confused with fire-resistant circuit integrity.

How to Specify Cat 6A U/FTP Cable

A complete RFQ should define network performance, screening and installation requirements.

Specification Item	Information to Provide
Category	Cat 6A
Screening	U/FTP – individual foil around each pair, no overall screen
Bandwidth	500 MHz
Network Requirement	10GBASE-T or project-specific Ethernet application
Conductor	23 AWG solid copper
Jacket	PVC, LSOH or PE
Installation Environment	Indoor, data center, industrial or outdoor-oriented route
EMI Environment	Required pair-level screening conditions
PoE Requirement	Required PoE application where applicable
Fire Requirement	Required flame, smoke, halogen and CPR classification where applicable
Packing Length	500 m, 1000 m or applicable project requirement
Documentation	Datasheet, DoP where applicable and project documentation

Why Choose ETK Kablo for Cat 6A U/FTP Cable?

ETK Kablo manufactures Cat 6A U/FTP cable in PVC, LSOH and PE constructions for high-bandwidth screened network infrastructure.

The range uses 23 AWG solid copper conductors, foamed polyethylene insulation with a solid PE skin, individual Al/PET screens around each twisted pair and a tinned copper earthing wire.

This provides data centers, enterprise networks, industrial projects, network contractors and distributors with a 500 MHz 10GBASE-T platform that combines pair-level electromagnetic screening with PVC, halogen-free or outdoor-oriented jacket options.

ETK Kablo can evaluate jacket material, electromagnetic environment, PoE requirements, packing length, CPR requirements and project documentation during the quotation process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat 6A U/FTP Cable

What is Cat 6A U/FTP cable?

Cat 6A U/FTP is a four-pair Ethernet cable with an individual foil screen around each twisted pair and no separate overall metallic screen around the complete cable core.

What does U/FTP mean?

U/FTP means the complete cable has no overall metallic screen, while each twisted pair receives its own foil screen.

Is U/FTP the same as FTP?

FTP is often used as general commercial shorthand for foil-screened Ethernet cable. U/FTP is more precise because it identifies individual pair foils and the absence of an overall screen.

What speed does Cat 6A U/FTP support?

Cat 6A U/FTP supports 10GBASE-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet over standard structured-cabling channel distances when the complete installed channel meets the applicable requirements.

What frequency is Cat 6A U/FTP?

Category 6A transmission performance extends through 500 MHz.

Is ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP 23 AWG?

Yes. The ETK Kablo Cat 6A U/FTP products use 23 AWG solid copper conductors.

Does U/FTP have an overall shield?

No. U/FTP has individual foil screens around the twisted pairs but no separate overall foil or braid screen around the complete cable core.

What is the difference between U/UTP and U/FTP?

U/UTP contains no metallic screening. U/FTP places an individual foil screen around each twisted pair.

What is the difference between U/FTP and F/FTP?

Both constructions have individually foil-screened pairs. F/FTP adds an overall foil around the complete cable core, while U/FTP does not.

What is the difference between U/FTP and S/FTP?

Both constructions have individually foil-screened pairs. S/FTP adds an overall metallic braid around the complete cable core.

What is the difference between U/FTP and F/UTP?

U/FTP places foil around every individual pair and has no overall foil. F/UTP places one overall foil around four individually unshielded pairs.

Can Cat 6A U/FTP be used in data centers?

Yes. Cat 6A U/FTP can provide 10GBASE-T connectivity with pair-level electromagnetic screening for compatible data-center structured-cabling systems.

Can Cat 6A U/FTP be used outdoors?

Yes, when the exact construction is intended for outdoor exposure. ETK Kablo manufactures a Cat 6A U/FTP PE cable with a UV-resistant polyethylene outer jacket.

Does ETK Kablo manufacture LSZH Cat 6A U/FTP?

Yes. The range includes a Cat 6A U/FTP LSOH construction with a halogen-free outer jacket.

Can Cat 6A U/FTP support PoE?

Cat 6A U/FTP can form part of compatible PoE systems. Conductor resistance, route length, bundle size, ambient temperature and the required PoE level should form part of the network design.

What packing lengths are available?

The product documentation lists 500 m and 1000 m packing lengths.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Provide the Cat 6A U/FTP requirement, PVC/LSOH/PE jacket, network application, electromagnetic environment, PoE requirement where applicable, packing length, quantity and required project documentation.