UK. I'm installing a new network/rack which includes installing a CAT6 from the router (near loft) down to the garage (existing ISP AP).

Is there any benefit to installing an SPF+ cable for router to XGS-PON AP (not yet installed, but in planning) at the same time?

Many thanks!

SFP+ is a transceiver module interface, not a type of cable. Are you talking about twinax SFP+ DAC cables? At what distance?

Whatever XGSPON ONT your service provider installs will dictate what kind of cable(s) you can use. Do you have this information?

There is no SPF+ cable.
You can use ethernet cable (like cat6), fiber cable or dac cable in your SFP+ port.

I guess you mean fiber cable. The best thing would be to have 1 fiber and 1 cat6a. It gives you the best flexibility and you are good for the future.

To utilise SFP+ you’d need a DAC Cable or Fibre Patch Cable with SFP+ Modules compatible with the type of patch cable you’ve selected.

If you’re installing fibre, ensure you pick the right type Multi mode (short runs, LAN connections) or Single mode (ISP interfaces, etc) for what you want to connect / extend.

I’ve used some gross over simplifications here to outline my point.

Certainly no benefits at all, stick with Cat6 cables.

Depending on a lot of factors, you may just benefit from the enhanced SPF+

…But you’ll have to be radiating a literal fucktonne of wifi.

Lots of ISPs are already providing 10Gb WAN access in the US… the future is here and now. For a short run, up to about 10m, CAT6e will work. But that’s it for your “future” because it is here already. When any higher speeds become available, you won’t be able to use it without optical cables…

There is no offical standard for Cat6e (Cat5e is a thing).

Cat6 will get 10gigs upto 55m
Cat6a will get 10gigs upto 100m

You can get 10gb SFP+ fibre modules for peanuts on Aliexpress.com

Standard modules are unidirectional so there are 2 fibers for there and back.

There are also BiDi or BiDirectional modules which only need one fibre, the BiDi SFPs and SFP+s are bought as matched pairs as they have their transmit and receive light sources using different frequencies that are swapped at the other end of the link.

The benefits of fibre are that it’s not an electrical conductor, you can fit several of them in the same physical space as a cable run and they are immune to electrical noise/cross talk.

If you have kit with SFP slots already then fibre is something to consider.

If the garage is on a ground connection there's a potential (geddit?) for there to be a voltage difference between buildings and current can flow through the cat6 cable. Using fibre will eliminate this possibility.

Interesting. Thanks.

Thanks for this. Clearly I have some reading to do. At the moment Openreach has implemented GPON, but my understanding is that the will roll-out XGSPON in 2027 and the ONU is compatible with this as well.

I'll have to find out what would be installed, don't have the info yet.