PoE Switch Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis: Why the Cheapest Option Is Rarely the Cheapest
A 24-port PoE switch’s five-year TCO breaks down as 25-35% purchase price, 25-30% electricity, 15-20% installation, 10-15% maintenance and 5-10% downtime. A low-cost model can total $3,270 over five years versus $2,660 for an industrial-grade unit – the cheaper switch ends up 23% more expensive.






