What is one of the primary challenges faced when upgrading from Cat 5e to Cat 6 cabling?

When upgrading from Cat 5e to Cat 6 cabling, maintaining signal integrity during installation is a primary challenge. Cat 6 cabling is designed to support higher frequencies and improve performance, which means the installation must be done carefully to avoid interference and minimize crosstalk. Any damage or improper installation can lead to degraded performance, negating the advantages that Cat 6 offers over Cat 5e. Ensuring that the cable is terminated and installed correctly is crucial for achieving the desired improvements in speed and reliability.

In contrast, issues like finding compatible devices and lowering costs are typically less significant barriers, as most modern devices support a range of Ethernet standards. While increasing cable length can be a consideration in some contexts, the challenge of maintaining signal integrity during installation is more immediately relevant when transitioning to higher-performance cabling like Cat 6.