Short answer: Wired ethernet gives faster, more stable connections than Wi-Fi for home offices, TVs, gaming and wired Wi-Fi access points. Most homes use Cat6 cable run from a central point near the NBN connection to wall data points in key rooms. In Australia, fixed data cabling must be installed by a cabler registered under the ACMA rules, who must give you a signed statement that the work complies.
Wi-Fi has improved a lot, but brick walls, long terraces and busy households still push it to its limits. A few well-placed ethernet cables can transform a home’s internet: video calls that don’t drop, TVs that don’t buffer, and Wi-Fi that reaches the back bedroom. Here’s what’s involved.
Is ethernet worth it?
It’s worth considering if you:
- work from home and rely on video calls
- have Wi-Fi dead spots, especially in double brick terraces or two-storey homes
- stream 4K or game on consoles or PCs
- want PoE security cameras or wired access points
- are renovating, when cabling is cheapest to install
If you live in a small apartment with good Wi-Fi everywhere, you may not need it.
How a home network is laid out
- NBN connection: where the NBN service enters your home, usually a network termination device (NTD) or a fibre or copper connection point.
- Modem or router: often next to the NBN connection.
- Central point: a small data cabinet or wall-mounted panel where cables from each room meet a network switch.
- Cable runs: one or more cables to each room that needs a connection.
- Wall data points: neat sockets that you plug devices into.
Cat6, Cat6A or something else?
| Cable | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Cat6 | The common choice for homes; supports fast home networks over typical home distances |
| Cat6A | Thicker, better shielded, more future-proof for very high speeds; costs more and is harder to run |
| Fibre | Rare in homes; used for long runs or specialist setups |
For most Inner West homes, Cat6 is a sensible choice. Ask your cabler whether Cat6A is worth it for your plans.
Where to put data points
- home office desk (two points if you have a dock and a phone or second computer)
- lounge behind the TV
- each level or end of the house for a wired Wi-Fi access point, often on the ceiling
- bedrooms used as studies
- camera and doorbell positions for PoE devices
- the garage or studio, if you work from there
Getting cables through older homes
Inner West homes have their challenges:
- Double brick walls make it hard to drop cables to wall points
- Terraces with no roof access limit ceiling runs
- Suspended timber floors can help, because cables can run under the floor
- Heritage features like ornate cornices need careful routing
Sometimes the neatest answer is a short surface-mounted duct along a skirting board, or a single run to a wired access point that serves several rooms by Wi-Fi. If you’re renovating, pre-wire while walls are open.
Separation from electrical cables
Data cables must be kept apart from mains power cables. The ACMA’s cabling provider rules page explains that telecommunications cabling must be separated from electrical cabling under the Wiring Rules (AS/CA S009). That’s one reason it shouldn’t be a DIY job inside walls.
The rules: use a registered cabler
According to the ACMA, data cabling in your home or office should be done by a registered cabler. Under the cabling rules:
- a registered cabler must perform or supervise the work
- they need the right registration and competencies, such as structured cabling for Cat6
- after the job, they must give you a signed written statement that the work complies with the Wiring Rules, and keep a copy for at least a year
Ask to see their registration card. You can search for registered cablers through the ACMA’s find a cabler page.
Some simple tasks, like plugging a patch lead from a wall socket into a device, don’t need a cabler, as long as no cabling is concealed in the building.
Want rock-solid internet in every room? See our NBN and data cabling and data and networking pages, or call 0421 772 661 to plan your cable runs.
Cost factors
What changes the cost of home data cabling:
- the number of data points
- access: roof space, subfloor or neither
- wall construction (plasterboard vs double brick)
- whether a data cabinet, switch and patch panel are needed
- Cat6 vs Cat6A
- any electrical work, such as a power point for the cabinet
We help homes in Annandale, Glebe, Camperdown and Forest Lodge.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a registered cabler to install ethernet in my house?
Yes, for fixed cabling in the walls, ceilings or under floors. The ACMA rules require a registered cabler to do or supervise the work and give you a signed compliance statement.
Is Cat6 good enough for a home?
For most homes, yes. Cat6A offers more headroom for very high speeds but is thicker and costs more.
Can ethernet be installed in a double brick house?
Usually, though it takes more planning. Cables can often run through the roof space or subfloor, or along discreet ducting.
Is ethernet better than mesh Wi-Fi?
Wired connections are more stable, and mesh systems work best when their nodes are connected by ethernet rather than wirelessly.