Which Network Cable Is Suitable for What

There are different categories of network cables, which differ in their technical specifications and uses:

CAT 5e network cable:

• Suitable for gigabit networks up to 1000 Mbit/s
• Transmission frequency up to 100 MHz
• Low-cost option for simple home networks

CAT 6 network cable:

• Also for gigabit networks up to 1000 Mbit/s
• Higher transmission frequency up to 250 MHz
• Better shielding against interference than CAT 5e

CAT 6a network cable

• For 10-gigabit networks up to 10,000 Mbit/s
• Transmission frequency up to 500 MHz
• Backward compatible with gigabit networks

CAT 7 network cable:

• Also for 10-gigabit networks up to 10,000 Mbit/s
• Very high transmission frequency up to 1000 MHz
• Currently the highest available category for future-proof networks
• Usually terminated with CAT 6a connectors, since there are no widespread CAT 7 connectors yet