Telephone Cable Roll
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Flat telephone cable: count the number of poles
Choose your telephone cable based on the number of conductors, and that number must correspond to the connector you will be using. Four poles for the classic RJ11, six for the RJ12, eight for the RJ45 for telephone applications and systems with multiple lines or auxiliary power. Picking up a 4-pole cable and ending up with a 6-pin connector means redoing the work.
Selection table
| Poles | Connector | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 poles | RJ11 (6P4C) | Single telephone line, handset cord, wall jack connection |
| 6 poles | RJ12 (6P6C) | Double line, switchboards, devices with auxiliary functions |
| 8 poles | RJ45 (8P8C) | Multi-line systems, operator cords, connections with auxiliary power |
Flat and flexible
Flat telephone cable is designed to run along baseboards, door frames, and surfaces, where a round cable would stick out. The flexible version has more pliable conductors and withstands repeated movement: this is the right choice for cords between a device and a wall jack, which are pulled and rewound constantly. For fixed runs inside conduits or trunking, consider a cable for fixed installation instead.
Color is not just about aesthetics
Ivory, white, and black exist to blend in: on a light baseboard, ivory or white disappears; on dark fixtures and furniture, black is less visible. In exposed wiring, it makes the difference between a tidy job and one that is noticeable from across the room.
Pure copper, Eca class
The coils in our catalog are made of pure copper, not copper-clad aluminum: this provides a more reliable connection on insulation-piercing contacts and lower resistance over long runs. The Eca rating indicates the fire reaction class according to the CPR regulation (EU 305/2011), which is mandatory for cables installed permanently in buildings.
Pro tip. Flat telephone cable is still the quickest way to bring two or four conductors where needed: wired alarms, magnetic contacts on doors and windows, buttons, doorbells, and auxiliary controls. Don't look at it just as a "phone cable": if you need a few conductors and a slim profile to run in plain sight, it is often the best solution available.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use telephone cable for an internet connection?
For the final segment between the wall jack and an ADSL or VDSL modem, yes, and that is its traditional use. For network cabling between devices, no: you need an ethernet cable, which has twisted pairs and completely different transmission characteristics.
What is the difference between RJ11 and RJ45?
The size of the connector and the number of contacts. The RJ11 is narrower and uses up to six positions with four active contacts; the RJ45 is wider, with eight positions and eight contacts. An RJ11 plug will physically fit into an RJ45 jack, but this is not good practice: it risks deforming the contacts in the jack.
How many meters can I lay?
For analog telephony, domestic runs pose no problems. Over very long distances, the reduced cross-section of the conductors begins to have an effect: in that case, it is better to upgrade the cross-section or switch to a dedicated cable for the main run.
How are these cables terminated?
With modular plugs and a crimping tool specific to RJ11, RJ12, or RJ45, or using insulation-piercing terminals. You can find the connectors in the RJ45 and RJ11 plugs section.
Is flat cable suitable for underground/concealed installation?
It must be laid inside a conduit or trunking, like any other signal cable, and kept separate from power lines. The flexible version in particular is intended for exposed use or inside trunking, not for direct burial or embedding.
For other cables by the meter, see cable coils.
