Grid Cat6A Bulk Ethernet Cable | Plenum Rated (CMP) 10G Backbone | POEJC6A-CMP

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Overview

The POEJC6A-CMP is a plenum-rated Cat6A bulk Ethernet cable designed for 10 Gigabit backbone runs and switch uplinks in GRID DC microgrid deployments. Where Active POE-Jack® collapses edge cabling through in-wall switches, this cable provides the high-bandwidth trunks between MDFs, IDFs and core PoE switches.

Use it for 10G uplinks from floor switches to a POEJK-S48-3600 core, for inter-rack links between GRID switches, or anywhere a project calls for Cat6A CMP performance in environmental air spaces. It complements GRID’s Cat6e 23 AWG universal cable, which is usually used for PoE-heavy permanent links to the convergent edge.

If you’re looking for a Cat6A plenum cable for 10G backbones in Canadian commercial buildings, POEJC6A-CMP is the backbone piece of the GRID ecosystem.

Key features

• Cat6A performance – specified as Category 6A to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet channels in properly designed structured cabling systems.
• CMP plenum-rated – suitable for use in environmental air spaces and above-drop-ceiling pathways where plenum rating is required by code.
• Backbone-focused design – ideal for MDF–IDF trunks, high-bandwidth switch uplinks and inter-rack connections in the GRID DC microgrid.
• PoE-friendly construction – engineered for modern PoE/PoE++ environments where both power and data travel over the same copper plant.
• Optimized for DC microgrid architectures – provides high-speed links between zones while Cat6e 23 AWG handles PoE-intensive edge runs.
• B2B-grade cabling – targeted at commercial, institutional and industrial structured cabling projects rather than commodity residential installs.

Technical highlights

Parameter	Value
Cable type	Category 6A (Cat6A) twisted-pair bulk Ethernet cable
Rating	CMP plenum-rated for environmental air spaces
Primary use	10GBASE-T backbones, switch uplinks and inter-rack cabling
Typical channels	MDF–IDF trunks, data-closet cross-connects and high-bandwidth server links
PoE suitability	Supports PoE/PoE++ applications when installed and bundled to industry best practices

Ideal applications

• 10G uplinks from edge/aggregation switches (e.g., POEJK-S48-740, POEJK-S48-750E) to a POEJK-S48-3600 core.
• MDF–IDF backbone cabling in enterprise, healthcare, education and hospitality environments.
• High-bandwidth connections for PoE-powered lighting controllers, AV-over-IP gateways and building automation servers.
• Retrofits where existing pathways must be reused but the spec calls for Cat6A backbones.

Compatibility & ecosystem

POEJC6A-CMP fits naturally into the GRID cabling strategy: use Cat6A plenum for high-bandwidth backbone and cross-connect links, and deploy Cat6e 23 AWG universal cable (POEJC6E-CMP) for PoE-intensive permanent links to Active POE-Jack® at the edge. This division of roles keeps copper where it delivers the most value while avoiding unnecessary overbuilding.

It is compatible with GRID PoE switches, Active POE-Jack® in-wall switches and slim Cat6A patch cords, creating a consistent end-to-end cabling ecosystem from core to wall plate.

Install & design notes

As with any Cat6A system, attention to termination quality, pair untwist and bend radius is critical to achieve full 10G performance. Many Canadian projects use Cat6A only for the relatively short backbone links and keep edge runs on Cat6e 23 AWG to balance cost, thermal performance and ease of pulling through existing pathways.

Designers should observe standard 100 m channel limits for copper Ethernet and consider derating or additional pathway capacity where large bundles and PoE++ loads are present. Using Cat6A backbones with a mix of POE-Jack® and PoE-powered devices can significantly simplify network topology while preserving future upgrade options.

Canada-ready checklist

• ✓ CMP plenum rating suitable for Canadian environmental air spaces and above-ceiling runs.
• ✓ A strong fit for 10G backbones in Canadian office towers, hospitals, universities and hotels.
• ✓ Compatible with common Canadian network hardware and termination practices.
• ✓ Works in mixed copper/fiber designs where only certain segments require 10G copper.

Compatibility micro Q&A

Q: Should I use Cat6A for every run in the building?
Not necessarily. Many GRID designs use Cat6A for backbone/uplink segments and Cat6e 23 AWG for PoE-heavy edge runs to optimize cost, flexibility and thermal performance.

Q: Is this cable suitable for PoE++?
Yes, Cat6A can support PoE++ when installed according to industry standards. For the most PoE-intensive bundles, pairing Cat6A backbones with 23 AWG Cat6e permanent links to POE-Jack® provides a balanced approach.

Specifications and features are subject to change without notice. Verify final details with the latest GRID Networking documentation before design or tender.

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