In short: Yes, PoE has requirements for the network cable, but the requirements are not too high.

Netgear will answer your question in two parts:

The requirements of PoE for network cables and why these requirements exist.

How to choose a network cable.

PoE network cable requirements and reasons

PoE does have requirements for network cables, but these requirements are relatively low.

For example, compared to 10Gbps and 10GbE ports that often require Cat.7 or Cat.8 cables, PoE does not necessarily require Cat.7 or Cat.8 cables. So when should we use what type of cable?

1. PoE AF/AT standards use Cat.5e or above cables

When PoE was using the AF/AT standards in the early days, it did not use all 8 cores in the network cable during operation. It only used 4 cores (two pairs of 4 cores) to transmit data and power.

Therefore, if you are using the AF/AT standard, using a Cat.5e or above cable is sufficient to run a 1Gbps network.

2. PoE BT standard uses Cat.6a or above cables

When PoE was using the BT standard (BT3, BT4, etc.), it needed to use all 8 cores in the network cable because 8 cores are needed to support the transmission of large amounts of power.

Therefore, we need to choose a better quality network cable. Considering the market mainstream, we recommend that you use a Cat.6a cable to transmit the BT3/BT4 standard.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind when choosing a network cable for PoE:

Cable type: PoE can use twisted pair or fiber optic cables. Twisted pair is the most widely used cable type for PoE, while fiber optic is suitable for long-distance power supply scenarios.

Cable material: The PoE network cable must be made of oxygen-free copper to ensure transmission efficiency and safety.

Cable gauge: The wire gauge of the PoE network cable should not be less than 24AWG to meet the power supply requirements.

Cable shielding: The PoE network cable should be shielded to reduce electromagnetic interference.

Cable length: The transmission distance of the PoE network cable is related to the power supply power. Generally speaking, the lower the power supply power, the longer the transmission distance.

By following these requirements and recommendations, you can choose the right network cable for your PoE application.