Copper and fibre do different jobs
Copper structured cabling (Cat6 and Cat6A) connects outlets and devices: desks, access points, cameras, printers and equipment. It carries data and PoE power over shorter distances.
Fibre carries high-capacity links over long distances: between buildings, between floors, between comms rooms and network zones. It does not carry power, but it is immune to electrical interference and distance limits that affect copper.
- Copper strengths. Device connections, PoE power, lower termination cost, simple moves and changes.
- Copper limits. Roughly 90 metre channel runs and susceptibility to electrical interference.
- Fibre strengths. Distance, bandwidth, interference immunity and clean backbone links.
- Fibre limits. No PoE, higher termination cost, and less suited to individual desk outlets.
Think about the network before the cable is installed
The right mix depends on the site layout and the network design: where the comms rooms are, how far the runs are, what equipment needs connecting and how much capacity the backbone needs.
Getting this wrong is expensive. A warehouse run beyond copper distance limits, or a backbone with no spare fibre cores, forces rework that costs far more than planning did.
Where fibre and copper are often used together
A typical commercial site uses fibre for the spine and copper for the edges.
- Warehouse sites. Fibre from the office comms room to distant network zones, copper from each zone to devices.
- Multi-building sites. Inter-building fibre links, copper within each building.
- Multi-level offices. Riser fibre between floors, copper across each floor.
- Education campuses. Backbone fibre between buildings and blocks, copper to rooms and access points.
This guide is a general planning resource. It is not a substitute for project-specific design, site inspection or compliance review.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need fibre for a small office?
Can EDN install both?
How much spare capacity should a backbone have?
Is fibre harder to maintain?
Published 2 July 2026. General guidance only — every site differs. Talk to EDN about your specific project.