What is the most likely impact of installing network cables close to several electrical power cables and fluorescent lights?

Installing network cables near electrical power cables and fluorescent lights can lead to electromagnetic interference (EMI). This phenomenon occurs because electrical currents in power cables can emit electromagnetic fields, which can disrupt the signaling within network cables that carry data. When network cables are exposed to such interference, the integrity of the data being transmitted can be compromised.

This interference often manifests as increased error rates, slower data transmission speeds, and overall degradation in reliability of the network performance. It means that the data packets may not arrive correctly or may require retransmission, which can lead to delays and interruptions in communication.

While other factors, such as the physical length of the cable or its bandwidth capabilities, are relevant in networking, they are not directly affected by the proximity to electrical sources in the same way that signal integrity is. Thus, the main concern in this scenario is the degradation of data transmission due to EMI.