What is Backbone Cabling? Vertical Cabling Explained

If you could look at the wiring infrastructure of a building, you’ll see that it’s a wonderfully complex layout of cables and equipment.

You might notice a thick bundle of wires that run vertically through the building – like the nerves in the human body. Due to the similarities, the infrastructure is aptly-named backbone cabling. It’s one of the most crucial components of your wiring infrastructure.

This article will discuss backbone cabling, when you’ll use it, and its difference from horizontal cabling.

But before we answer, “what is backbone cabling?”, let’s first discuss what structured cabling is.

Structured Cabling Basics

Structured cabling is an infrastructure that arranges the wires and cables of a building in an organized and modular way. In contrast to traditional point-to-point layouts, a structured cable setup clearly defines wiring standards.

A structured cabling system is composed of six subsections, each governing a specific area of the building.

The entrance facility is the official starting point. It’s where the wiring from an external provider and the building’s infrastructure meet. Since it’s the most exposed subsection, it focuses on network protection and demarcation.

The telecommunications room is a hub that houses the network equipment and cable terminations on each floor. Generally, larger facilities will need a bigger telecommunications room for added coverage.

The equipment room is where most of the building’s major networking equipment is located. It’s where most of the wiring in the facility is consolidated.

The work area is the end point where the wiring infrastructure connects with users’ devices, such as workstations and mobile phones.

The last two subsections are the backbone cabling and horizontal cabling, and they both have important roles. Essentially, they’re responsible for connecting the other subsections through a network of wires and cables.

Let’s discuss each in better detail.

What is Backbone Cabling?

The backbone cabling is the subsection that governs connections between three other subsections – the entrance facility, telecommunications rooms, and the equipment room. It’s so named because it forms the entire infrastructure's skeleton or “backbone”.

Connections usually run from one floor to another, which is why backbone cabling can also be considered vertical cabling.

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) summed it best when they described that the primary function of backbone cabling is to provide interconnections.

The main component of a backbone cable is the pathways or “routes” that accommodate the wires themselves. They can be in the form of shafts, conduits, sleeves, vertical cross-connect points, and slots. Patch panels, connecting blocks, and other hardware are also vital components.

Of course, the wires and cables form the system’s backbone. Fiber optic cable is the more popular type used here, but coaxial and twisted-pair are equally viable. Lastly, you have auxiliary equipment like firestopping solutions and grounding hardware.

Backbone cabling makes it easy to wire entire buildings or intra-building connections on campus. When used with high-speed cables like fiber optic, they provide a rapid data transfer across the facility.

What is Horizontal Cabling?

Horizontal structured cabling is the subsection that deals with wiring and connections within the same floor. It often extends from the telecommunications room (where the backbone cabling terminates) to the endpoints (workstations, end-user devices).

Like backbone cabling, the major components of horizontal cabling are wires and cables. Copper cables are often used (anywhere from Cat5e to Cat6a), but fiber optics are also good options.

For the best performance, however, the speed of the horizontal cabling should at least match that of the backbone cabling. A high-speed fiber optic cable for the backbone is useless if it terminates with a copper cable because the excess speed is wasted.

The horizontal cabling structure mostly follows a star topology. Each work area subsection is wired individually via cables to a wiring closet. As per EIA/TIA standards, the distance from the wiring closet to the wall plate must not exceed 90 meters.

The good thing about horizontal wiring is that it’s easy to add new work areas. It’s just a matter of adding a new wire from the telecommunications room to a wall plate near the workstation.

Backbone Cable vs. Horizontal Cable

The biggest difference between these cable types is their coverage.

Backbone cabling handles the interconnection between rooms in a building, often crossing floors. However, they’re not strictly contained to a vertical setup, as they can also run on the same floor. Horizontal cabling, on the other hand, can’t run in between floors. In this sense, backbone cabling is much more versatile.

They also have different standard specifications. Backbone cabling, in particular, is much stricter because it needs to pass through floors and longer distances, so it must be sturdy and secure. Lastly, backbone cabling is often subject to more stringent fire-rating checks. That’s because they usually run underground.

In a way, backbone cabling is much stricter due to its purpose.

But the thing to remember is that every building needs both backbone and horizontal cabling.

Need a Structured Cabling Expert?

Since 1987, Signal Solutions has been San Francisco’s leading data transport solutions provider. We have the expertise and experience to install a comprehensive, structured cabling system in your facility. In fact, we have worked with thousands of businesses large and small, throughout California in a variety of industries, from health care to theme parks to wineries and more.

Want to upgrade your existing cabling system? Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our cable installation contractors. Discover the Signal Solution difference.