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Common types of network cables include Category 5 (Cat5), Category 5e (Cat5e), Category 6 (Cat6), Category 6a (Cat6a), Category 7 (Cat7) and Category 8 (Cat8). Although these cables look largely identical from the outside, there are essential differences between them. This article provides a detailed introduction to various types of network cables and their distinctions.
Network cables are classified into Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6a, Category 7 and Category 8 according to different networking standards.
Category 5 (Cat5): For many years, Cat5 cables were the preferred option for home networks and can be found connecting routers and PCs. A Cat5 cable consists of four pairs of copper twisted pairs, terminated with RJ45 modular plugs. It features a bandwidth of 100 MHz and supports transmission rates of 10/100 Mbps.
Category 5e (Cat5e): Cat5e is an improved version of Cat5 with upgraded performance, such as lower attenuation and reduced crosstalk. It supports a transmission rate of 1000 Mbps. Compared with Cat5, Cat5e is available in more shielding variants.
Category 6 (Cat6): Cat6 shares the same structural composition as Cat5 and Cat5e, yet its bandwidth reaches 250 MHz, 2.5 times that of the previous two types, with a transmission speed up to 10 Gbps. Generally speaking, Cat6 can run up to 100 meters for Gigabit Ethernet, while its maximum reach drops to 37~55 meters for 10-Gigabit Ethernet.
Category 6a (Cat6a): Cat6a is an enhanced iteration of Cat6. It is an unshielded twisted pair specified under ANSI/EIA/TIA-568b.2 and ISO Class E Category 6 standards. It has larger conductor gauges and tighter twist rates, delivering good heat dissipation, resistance to external electromagnetic interference and pair-to-pair crosstalk, along with a high signal-to-noise ratio. It supports a bandwidth of up to 500 MHz, a transmission rate of 10 Gbps, and a maximum transmission distance of 100 meters.
Category 7 (Cat7): Cat7 is a shielded twisted pair defined by ISO Class F Category 7 standard. It offers superior attenuation performance compared with the aforementioned cable types. Cat7 supports 600 MHz bandwidth and 10 Gbps at a maximum distance of 100 meters. While it can carry 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps signals, the reach is limited to 50 meters and 15 meters respectively.
Category 8 (Cat8): Like Cat7, Cat8 is also a shielded twisted pair complying with IEEE 802.3bq 25G / 40GBASE-T, ISO / IEC-11801 and other standards. It delivers a bandwidth as high as 2000 MHz and a transmission rate up to 40 Gbps, with a maximum transmission distance of 30 meters. Simply put, these cable types differ in bandwidth, transmission speed and application scenarios.
