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What is an Internet Riser and How It Differs from Regular Network Cable

November 21, 2025


An internet riser is essentially a network cable installed in a building’s vertical riser shaft, designed specifically to carry data and internet connectivity between floors. These risers act as the backbone for a building’s internet and network systems, ensuring that every floor has reliable and high-speed connectivity.

How it differs from regular network cable:

  1. Purpose & Placement:
    • Internet riser cable is meant for vertical pathways between floors.
    • Regular network cable (like typical Cat5e or Cat6) is usually used horizontally, connecting devices within a room or across short distances on the same floor.
  2. Fire Safety & Rating:
    • Riser cables are fire-rated (CMR) to prevent vertical fire spread through floors.
    • Standard cables may not have these safety ratings and aren’t safe for vertical riser installations.
  3. Durability & Standards:
    • Riser cables are built to handle longer runs vertically, resist interference, and meet building codes.
    • Regular cables may not perform as well over long vertical distances.
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