A cable assembly including a communication cable. The communication cable includes insulated conductors, a shielding layer that surrounds the insulated conductors, and a drain wire that extends along the shielding layer. The insulated conductors, the shielding layer, and the drain wire extend along a length of the cable to a terminating end of the cable. The cable assembly also includes a ground ferrule that is coupled to the terminating end of the cable. The ground ferrule is intimately engaged with the drain wire along a contact zone, wherein the ground ferrule and the drain wire are laser-welded together for at least a portion of the contact zone.