Cat7 S/FTP: The Most Shielded Copper Cable
Quick answer / TL;DR: Short answer: Cat7 S/FTP gives excellent immunity but requires GG45 or TERA connectors to meet its specification, and those do not fit RJ45 ports. Most installations use shielded RJ45 and therefore fall outside Cat7. Choose Cat6A for 10G, or Cat7 only where the connector arrangement is agreed in advance.
One category, three axes: shielding, conductor and jacket create the SKU.S/FTP means each pair has its own foil and the whole cable has a braid. It is the most heavily shielded twisted-pair construction in common use.
The shielding is not the reason Cat7 is rare; the connector is.
Construction
| Layer | Material | Purpose |
|---|
| Pair shield | Foil per pair | Pair-to-pair isolation |
| Overall shield | Braid | External interference |
| Drain wires | One per shield | Bonding |
| Jacket | PVC or LSZH | Protection |
Two shield layers mean two bonding paths, and both have to be terminated correctly or the cable performs worse than unshielded.
Practical Constraints
- Stiffer than Cat6A, larger bend radius
- Termination time roughly double
- Requires bonded panels
- Connector availability is limited
- Not a horizontal standard in most offices
The termination-time point is a real cost that rarely appears in a cable comparison.
Real-World Applications
A broadcast facility with dense power cabling may specify S/FTP for immunity. An office at 10G uses Cat6A U/UTP and passes certification without any shielding.
Standards and Verification
| Reference | Relevance |
|---|
| ISO/IEC 11801 | Class F |
| IEC 61156 | Cable construction |
| IEC 60603-7 | RJ45 interface |
Connector requirements for Cat7 are defined in the standard and are not reproduced here. Check ISO/IEC 11801 for the class definition.
References
- ISO/IEC 11801-1, Generic cabling
- IEC 61156-5, Symmetrical pair/quad cables
- IEC 60603-7 series, 8-way connectors
Practical Notes
Confirm the connector type in writing before ordering Cat7. Discovering it at installation is expensive.
Related reading: ethernet cable — blogs/news/ethernet-cable
Related reading: cat7 cable — blogs/news/cat7-cable
Related reading: cat7 bulk cable — blogs/news/cat7-bulk-cable
Frequently Asked Questions
What does S/FTP mean?
Shielded pairs plus an overall braid.
Does it use RJ45?
Not in the specification.
Is it better than Cat6A?
Not for 10G reach.
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