Cat 7 cable assembly output continues to increase

Makers are still boosting the Cat 6a and maintaining the Cat 6 segments, while production of Cat 8 units is under way.

Cat 7 cable assemblies represent a minority in China's networking interconnects, but will advance and replace earlier Gigabit Ethernet standards in coming years, spurred by requirement for greater bandwidth and transmission speed.

Many suppliers already expanded their production in 2017. Shenzhen Aipeng Network Technology Co. Ltd did so by more than 10 percent after investing $0.77 million in new equipment. Plastic molding and weaving machines, and a number of test devices are among its acquisitions.

The main driver is an annual increase of 5 to 10 percent in sales, which is projected to be sustained in the next one or two years.

As makers raise yield for the type, they will pursue efforts to enhance product reliability, aiming to comply with the recently released ISO/IEC 11801-(1-6):2017 (Ed. 3) Third Edition. At present, most follow ISO/IEC 11801:2002 (Ed. 2) Second Edition.

In addition, more local companies will develop and turn out models with a smaller diameter for their space-saving advantage. Shenzhen Aipeng has introduced Cat 7 cable assemblies measuring 3.2mm.

The same trends for higher bandwidth and transmission speed are encouraging some companies to start introducing models based on the Cat 8 specification. Such cable assemblies support 2,000MHz and up to 40Gbps.

Jiaxing Haitang's Cat 8 models can reach 2,500MHz, surpassing domestic counterparts with frequency ranging from 1,100 to 1,300MHz. These use solid copper, or stranded bare or tinned versions for the conductor, FPE for the insulation, and PVC, LSZH, PE, TPE or PUR for the outer jacket. The units pass flammability tests, including CMX, CM, CMR, IEC 60332-1, IEC 60332-3C and CPR. Shenzhen Aipeng likewise offers Cat 8 units.

Suppliers also keep up the release of Cat 6a types to diversify the range still dominated by Cat 5 and Cat 6 variants.

About 300 companies turn out Cat 7 cable assemblies in China and more than 80 percent are locally owned. The latter exports between 30 and 80 percent of production, mainly to North America, Europe and East Asia, and will likely consider other destinations such as South America, the Middle East and Russia.

All makers offer types based on earlier standards, and HDMI and USB kinds as well. The Cat 7 segment accounts for 10 to 30 percent of total shipments. The outbound volume is expected to rise by 5 to 10 percent next year.

The production hubs for the line are in the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, where most electronics manufacturers are based. These areas will continue to attract new entrants, specifically major cities such as Shenzhen, Dongguan, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Yueqing.

Typical output

Common Cat 7 cable assemblies in China include UTP, STP and SSTP types with gold-plated RJ-45 plugs, and come in wire sizes of 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32AWG and lengths of 0.5 to 20m. The last can be customized.

Units have oxygen-free or bare copper, or copper-clad aluminum or steel conductors, and PVC, LSZH or combination of PE and braided fabric jacket.

Most China makers ensure compliance with CE, RoHS and UL requirements. Shenzhen Exc-brand Technology Co. Ltd's EB-RNF002 model, which is developed mainly for networking and telecom applications, meets ANSI/EIA/TIA 568-B.2 standards.

The key materials used are copper, gold, PVC, PE and TPE, sourced locally or from foreign providers, depending on buyers’ specification.

Not all local companies make the connectors in-house. Those interviewed for this report turn to outsourcing the component.

The cost of manufacturing inputs is projected to stabilize and keep prices at current levels the rest of 2018.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in Cat 7 cable assemblies from China makers.

Cat 7 cable assembly has stranded conductors

This Cat 7 cable assembly from Shenzhen Aipeng Network Technology Co. Ltd, APPC-006 model, has eight copper conductors in stranded structure, a black PVC jacket and male-to-male plugs. The 28AWG SSTP type has a 7x0.12mm core and 6mm outer diameter.

The maker requires an order of at least 3,000m for delivery within 12 days.

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Cat 7 UTP cable assembly

Shenzhen Exc-brand Technology Co. Ltd’s Cat 7 UTP cable assembly, EB-RNF002 model, adopts oxygen-free or bare copper, or copper-clad aluminum or steel conductors in 24, 26, 28, 30 or 32AWG. The product uses a PVC, LSZH or PE+braided fabric jacket and has an outer diameter of 7.6x2.5mm.

The minimum order is 100 units and the delivery lead time is 7 days.

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Cat 7 cable assembly transmits at 10Gbps

The model PC3641 Cat 7 cable assembly from Shenzhen Sunsky Technology Ltd supports 10Gbps data rate and up to 600MHz bandwidth. The unit with gold-plated connectors suits network adapters and hubs, routers, modems, gaming consoles and patch panels.

The minimum order quantity is negotiable. Delivery is within 3 days.

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Cat 7 cable assembly meets CE, FCC, RoHS, UL

From Shenzhen Telesen Technology Co. Ltd, model TLX-0551-#2803 Cat 7 cable assembly uses gold- or nickel-plated RJ-45 connectors, HDPE or PE insulation, aluminum foil or tinned copper braid shielding and LSZH, PE or PVC jacket. It has copper-clad steel or iron, or tinned or oxygen-free copper conductors in 24, 26 or 28AWG.

The unit comes in 0.5 to 15m or custom lengths. It meets CE, FCC, RoHS and UL standards. An order of at least 1,000 units is for delivery within 10 days.

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