I figured I'd toss this into the discussion. I was involved with the installation of two GIANT Amek 9098 series desks ("By Rupert Neve, the Designer"), originally made in the 1990's.
The first was in 2003 and was a 72+ input inline, a 9098i. The second was in 2009 and an earlier version which was a "split" monitor desk with 48 full function modules and 48 monitor modules. I also re-installed that second desk when it was sold to a new studio in Mexico City.
Both desks had a large external patchbay system which tied to the desk via a "bazillion" ribbon cables. I am guessing each ribbon was 30' in length. My memory about those cables is a bit fuzzy, but I believe each ribbon had an overall shield beneath an outer sheath.
I've attached a couple of snapshots. The first one shows the control room in Mexico City with the patchbays in the rear wall. Gives an idea how long the ribbons had to be to route through the walls/floor. The second pic shows the ribbons sitting on the floor of the tracking room as I pulled them all out of the control room here in Kansas before packing them up for shipment to Mexico City.
All I can say is this was the Amek factory design for both desks which originally sold for well into the six figures (US$) and both desks seemed to work quite well. I also attached a sales brochure for the 9098i but it doesn't mention how long the ribbons were....perhaps an option ordered at purchase.
Bri