What you're probably wondering about General Cable right now
I've been coordinating network infrastructure orders for a mid-sized systems integrator for about six years now. More often than not, when a client's spec calls for copper or fiber, it says "General Cable or equivalent." But I've noticed a lot of confusion around the brand lately—especially since the Prysmian acquisition, the rollout of DuraFuse Pro 3, and the general noise in the communications market.
So I put together this FAQ based on the questions I get from colleagues, procurement managers, and even some engineers who just want a straight answer. Bottom line: this is what I wish someone had told me when I first started dealing with them.
Is General Cable still around? What are they doing now?
Short answer: yes, very much so. They're not just "still around"—they're actively investing in product lines and manufacturing.
The biggest shift in the last few years is that General Cable is now part of the Prysmian Group, which is the global heavyweight in cable. What changed internally? From what I can see, they've streamlined a lot of the operational side—there's better integration between their copper and fiber divisions now. They've also been pushing harder on structured cabling solutions, not just selling bulk cable but complete systems (connectors, enclosures, patch panels).
What hasn't changed is that they still manufacture in the US—plants in Marshall, Texas; Scottsville, Texas; and a few other locations. That's a big deal for anyone who needs to meet Buy American Act requirements or just wants shorter lead times.
And yes, they still sell the Carol Brand cordless phone cables and Romex building wire. Those legacy product lines are still moving.
What is the actual benefit of specifying General Cable over a generic brand?
I used to think the only benefit was brand recognition—stamping "General Cable" on a bid feels safe to a client. But I've changed my mind on that after a specific experience in 2023.
A client called on a Thursday afternoon needing 5,000 feet of CAT6a shielded cable for a warehouse deployment that had to start Monday. We had a distributor quote that was $400 cheaper for an unbranded cable. But the distributor couldn't guarantee delivery until Wednesday of the next week. So we went with a General Cable distributor who had stock locally. The price was higher, but we had the cable on site by Saturday morning.
The benefit isn't just the product—it's the availability and the channel. General Cable has a broad network of distributors (Graybar, Anixter, Rexel, etc.), and because the product is so widely specified, stock is usually easier to find. For time-sensitive projects, that's worth paying for. Plus, their technical specs are well-documented. I don't have to guess about things like bend radius or attenuation rates. It's all on the datasheets.
Who are the main General Cable distributors I should know?
Probably the three biggest are Graybar, Anixter (now part of Wesco), and Rexel. But it depends on your region and what you're buying.
For copper cable and structured cabling products, we mostly use Graybar. They have a direct relationship with General Cable and keep a lot of the common SKUs (CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6a) in their regional warehouses. If you need something fast, Graybar is usually the easiest path.
For fiber, we use Anixter/Wesco. Their supply chain for copper is also fine, but they seem to have more depth in fiber and connectivity. If I needed fiber patch cables or an enclosure solution, I'd start there.
There are also regional and specialized distributors. For example, if you're doing a lot of work in the Southeast, places like Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) might have better local stock. A distributor locator tool on the General Cable website is honestly the best way to find someone close to you.
One thing I'd say: don't assume the distributor with the best price on CAT6 will also have the best price on connectors. I've had to split orders before—buying cable from one distributor and the patch panels from another—to get the best total cost. It's annoying but worth it for large projects.
What's the deal with DuraFuse Pro 3? Is it a game-changer or just marketing?
Take this with a grain of salt, because we haven't deployed it on a massive scale yet, but in my opinion, DuraFuse Pro 3 is a legitimate improvement for a specific pain point: termination speed and reliability for CAT6a.
CAT6a connectors have always been more finicky to terminate than CAT6 or CAT5e. The tolerances are tighter. I've had situations where a junior installer spent 15 minutes on a single connector and it still failed the certification test. That's a problem on a large job.
DuraFuse Pro 3 is designed to make termination easier by integrating the connector and the strain relief into one piece. There's less assembly, and the design supposedly reduces the chance of a failed termination. The pitch is that it saves time and reduces waste.
Is it a game-changer? I'd say it's a meaningful step forward for anyone doing a lot of CAT6a. It's not going to, like, triple your productivity or anything. But if it saves you even 30 seconds per connector and reduces your failure rate by a few percent, that adds up on a project with 500 drops. The price premium isn't huge either—I think it's maybe 10-15% more than a standard modular plug.
Is there still a market for cordless phone cables? Why would anyone need that in 2025?
Honestly, I get this question a lot. I thought cordless phone cables were basically dead when everyone switched to VoIP and wireless handsets. But I was wrong.
There are still a ton of DECT 6.0 cordless phone systems in offices, warehouses, and medical facilities. For one, they work when the internet is down—a legacy advantage that a surprising number of clients value. And those systems still need RJ14-to-RJ9 cables (or whatever the configuration is) to connect the base station to the wall jack. Yes, you can buy cheap ones on Amazon, but for professional installations, we use Carol Brand cables from General Cable. They're heavier gauge, better shielded, and they don't break after six months of being coiled up.
Is it a growth market? No. It's a maintenance and replacement market. But it's steady. There's still revenue there for contractors doing building maintenance or facility upgrades.
What are the gotchas or frustrations with General Cable I should know about?
Alright, so I've painted a mostly positive picture, but let's be real: there are frustrations.
First, their product numbering system can be a headache. General Cable has multiple numbering schemes based on legacy brands (Carol Brand, Romex, etc.), and it's not always intuitive to cross-reference. I've had to call their support line more than once to figure out the right SKU for a specific type of cable. It's doable, but it's an extra step.
Second, they don't always have the most competitive pricing on specialty cables. If you need a very specific high-flex cable or a custom assembly, you might pay a premium. The distribution network helps, but the base product price is sometimes higher than a smaller niche brand.
Third, their online documentation, while better than it used to be, can still be inconsistent. Some products have excellent datasheets with full specs and installation guides. Others have a single PDF that's more of a sales brochure. It's gotten better since the Prysmian merger, but it's not perfect.
The way I see it, those are manageable trade-offs for the benefits of availability and broad specification.
When should I actually avoid specifying General Cable?
I can think of two specific scenarios:
- You're doing a small job where the client wants the absolute lowest price. If you're a one-person operation running 200 feet of CAT6 to a home office, you can buy an unbranded reel from a local retailer for less. The brand premium isn't worth it for that scale.
- You need a very specialized product they don't make. For example, if you need plenum-rated cable in a custom color for a data center that has a specific aesthetic requirement, General Cable's standard options might not match. In that case, a specialty manufacturer is a better fit.
For almost everything else—standard commercial or industrial cabling, multi-building runs, projects with tight timelines—they're a safe bet.
