Category 7 and Category 7a Overview
Category 7 (Cat7) and Category 7a (Cat7a) are the newest cable standards for
Ethernet and  other  interconnect technologies. Cat 7 cable  was developed  with  strict
specifications on crosstalk and EMI protection. Cat7  cable features four individually
shielded pairs as well as an overall cable shield to protect the signals from crosstalk
and EMI. Cat7 cable provides a copper solution for  10-Gigabit Ethernet at 100
meters.
Cat7 cable is commonly terminated using a GG45 connector, which is a connector
that it backwards compatible with the 8p8c RJ45 connectors used on Cat6 or Cat5e
cable.  The  GG45  connector  has  four  additional  conductors  that  provide  support  for
frequencies of up to 600MHz, and up to 1000MHz using Cat7a. The higher
frequencies allow Cat 7 cable to support 10-GigabitEthernet. Cat7 cable may also
be terminated using TERA connectors, which were developed by Siemon™. The
TERA  connector  has  a  unique  footprint  and  is  not  compatible  with  a  standard  8p8c
(RJ45) connector. The TERA connector is also capable of supporting frequencies of
up  to  600MHz,  up  to  1000MHz  using  Cat7a  cable.  The  ability  to  support  the  higher
frequencies allows Cat7 and Cat7a cable to carry more data. This allows Cat7 and
Cat7a cable to support Ethernet applications up to 10-Gigabit Ethernet.
GG45 Connector (Front)
GG45 Connector  TERA Cable  TERA Connector (Front)
What is the application for a data center?
Cat7 and Cat7a cabling will be used for backbone connections between servers within a data center.
This provides a high-speed interconnect used for data transfer within the network.
Does this replace fiber?
This provides an alternative to using fiber optic cabling within the data center. Cat7 and Cat7a
cabling will provide similar performance to some fiber solutions. The cost of equipment that supports
copper cabling is typically less than equipment that supports fiber cabling. Another advantage is that
the copper cabling is not as fragile as fiber cabling.
What’s the practical performance difference with Cat5e/6?
Cat7 and Cat7a cable are designed to support much higher frequency signals than Cat5e and Cat6.
This allows Cat7 and Ca7a cabling to carry a largeramount of information. Cat7 and Cat7a cable are
also able to better protect the signals traveling over the cable. The shielding as well as the tighter
twists of the pairs in Cat7 and Cat7a cable lessensthe effects of crosstalk and EMI.
Is Cat 7 widely used?
Currently, Cat7 is not widely adopted. Cat5e and Cat6 solutions sufficiently support the bandwidth
requirements of today’s data centers, networks, andend users. Using Cat7 for a connection to a
desktop would be unnecessary because the bandwidth  would not be utilized. It may also be an
unnecessary expense for many data center applications for the same reason. However, as
technology advances and  requirements increase, Cat7cable  will become more relevant  in the data
center and desktop connections.
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