A GDS Technology resource · Serving businesses since 2005 GA 404-719-5222 IN 317-663-9743
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Building Infrastructure

Cabling that is built to standard, tested, and documented

Every device on your network depends on the cable behind the wall. We design and install copper and fiber infrastructure to recognized standards, certify every run, and hand you documentation you can actually use.

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Sound familiar?

You probably need this if…

  • Your telecom closet is a tangle of unlabeled patch cords nobody wants to touch
  • You are moving into, expanding, or renovating a space and need new drops
  • Wi-Fi access points, cameras, or phones are failing in ways that point back to the cable
  • You have no test results or as-built drawings for the cabling you already paid for
  • Multiple contractors have added cable over the years and nobody knows what is live
  • You need fiber between floors, buildings, or to a carrier demarcation point

Why structured cabling matters more than most people think

Cabling is the one part of your technology that is expected to outlast almost everything plugged into it. Switches, phones, cameras, and access points get replaced every few years, but the copper and fiber in your walls and ceilings is often in service for well over a decade. When it is installed carelessly, every future upgrade inherits the problem: intermittent drops, slow links, and troubleshooting calls that never quite find the cause.

Structured cabling is an organized, standards-based approach to that foundation. Instead of running a cable wherever one is needed today, the system is planned around telecom rooms, pathways, patch panels, and consistent outlet locations. The result is a network that can be moved, added to, and changed without tearing things apart, and that a technician you have never met can understand on the first visit.

Designed to TIA standards, not to the cheapest bid

We design and install to the ANSI/TIA-568 family of standards, which define how commercial copper and fiber cabling should be built: cable categories, maximum channel lengths, termination practices, bend radius, and how horizontal and backbone cabling fit together. Following the standard is what lets a system perform as rated, and it is what manufacturers generally require before they will stand behind a warranty.

For horizontal runs we typically specify Category 6 or Category 6A copper, depending on what will be connected and how long you expect the system to serve. Cat6A is often the better choice where you plan to support higher-speed access points or Power over Ethernet devices that run warm. For backbone and longer distances we use multimode fiber within buildings and single-mode fiber where distance or future capacity calls for it.

We also pay attention to the parts bids tend to skip: proper pathways and support, firestopping where cable passes through rated walls and floors, separation from electrical sources, and cable management in the rack so the room stays serviceable after we leave. Those details rarely show up on a proposal, but they decide whether an inspector signs off, whether a fire-rated assembly stays rated, and whether the next technician can work in the room without disturbing live connections.

  • Category 6 and Category 6A copper horizontal cabling
  • Multimode and single-mode fiber backbone and building-to-building links
  • Telecom room, rack, and patch panel buildout
  • Pathways, supports, and firestopping at rated penetrations

Labeling, testing, and documentation you can use later

A cable that is not labeled is a cable nobody will trust. We label outlets, patch panels, and cables following the TIA-606 administration standard so that every port in the building can be traced to a specific location without tugging on wires. That consistency pays for itself the first time you need to move a desk, find a dead drop, or add a camera.

Every permanent link is certification tested with a field tester after termination, not just checked for continuity. Certification confirms that each run meets the performance requirements for its category, and the saved results become part of your records. If a link fails, we fix it before we call the job done. Certification records also matter later: when a device misbehaves years from now, you can compare the link against its original results instead of wondering whether the cable was ever good.

At handoff you receive test reports, a port map, and as-built documentation showing what was installed and where. That package belongs to you, which means the next contractor starts from facts instead of guesses. Keep it with your building records and it becomes the baseline for every future move, add, and change, whether we perform the work or someone else does. Good documentation is what turns a one-time installation into an asset you can manage.

One partner for the cable and everything connected to it

Because GDS Technology has supported business networks since 2005, we design cabling with the equipment and people who will depend on it in mind. We know where access points need to land for good coverage, which cameras need PoE, and how the telecom room should be laid out so it can be supported for years. That avoids the common gap where a cabling contractor finishes and an IT provider discovers the problems later.

For multi-tenant and commercial properties, we coordinate with building management and, where it applies, with riser management practices so new cable entering shared pathways is documented and approved. You get one accountable partner for design, installation, testing, and the network that runs on top of it. When a question comes up after the project closes, there is no debate about whose responsibility it is.

What's included

What you get with Structured Cabling & Fiber

  • Site survey and cabling design based on your floor plan and device needs
  • Cat6 or Cat6A copper installation to TIA-568 practices
  • Multimode or single-mode fiber backbone installation and termination
  • Telecom room, rack, and cable management buildout
  • Labeling of outlets, panels, and cables following TIA-606
  • Certification testing of every permanent link with saved results
  • As-built documentation and port map delivered to you
For owners, asset & property managers

Schedule a riser & infrastructure assessment

Find out who has access to your risers, telecom rooms, and rooftop — and what is actually installed in them.

  1. 1We confirm the property and what you are worried about.
  2. 2A walk-through of risers, telecom rooms, and rooftop.
  3. 3You get a written findings summary with clear next steps.
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Frequently asked questions

Should we install Cat6 or Cat6A?

It depends on what you will connect and how long you expect the cabling to serve. Cat6 is suitable for many office environments. Cat6A supports higher speeds over full channel lengths and handles higher-power PoE devices better, so we often recommend it for access points and new construction. We will walk through the tradeoff with you during design.

When do we need fiber instead of copper?

Copper horizontal cabling has a defined maximum channel length under TIA standards. Fiber is used for backbone links between telecom rooms, between floors or buildings, and anywhere distance, bandwidth, or electrical isolation makes copper a poor fit.

What is the difference between certification testing and a basic test?

A basic tester confirms the wires are connected in the right order. A certification tester measures whether each link actually meets the performance requirements of its cable category. Certification results are what prove the installation was done right, and they are often required for manufacturer warranties.

Can you clean up an existing telecom room instead of starting over?

Yes. We can audit what is there, identify abandoned and unlabeled cable, re-terminate and re-label where needed, test existing runs, and reorganize the rack. Sometimes remediation is the right answer and sometimes replacement is, and we will tell you which.

Do we get documentation at the end?

Always. You receive certification test results, a port map, and as-built documentation. It is your record of what was installed, and it stays with the building.

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