The speed of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable varies significantly depending on its category. Based on the provided reference, UTP cable can transmit data at speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second (mbit/s) up to 10,000 mbit/s.
Understanding UTP speed requires looking at the specific cable category, as each is designed to support different network speeds and bandwidths. Bandwidth refers to the maximum frequency supported by the cable, which relates to its data-carrying capacity.
UTP Speed by Category
Different categories of UTP cable are engineered to meet the demands of various networking standards, offering increased speed and performance with higher categories. The reference provides specific speeds and bandwidths for common UTP categories:
| UTP Category | Transfer Speed | Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| Cat5 | 100 mbit/s | 100 MHz |
| Cat5e | 1,000 mbit/s | 100 MHz |
| Cat6 | 1,000 mbit/s | 250 MHz |
| Cat6a | 10,000 mbit/s | 500 MHz |
Category Performance Overview
- UTP Cat5: This older standard supports speeds up to 100 mbit/s, commonly used for 100BASE-TX Ethernet networks.
- UTP Cat5e: An enhancement over Cat5, Cat5e supports Gigabit Ethernet speeds of 1,000 mbit/s, despite having the same 100 MHz bandwidth as Cat5. It achieves higher speeds through improved manufacturing tolerances that reduce crosstalk.
- UTP Cat6: While also supporting speeds of 1,000 mbit/s, Cat6 is certified for higher bandwidth up to 250 MHz. This provides better performance, especially over longer distances within its specifications (typically up to 55 meters for 1000BASE-T). Cat6 can support 10 Gigabit Ethernet over shorter distances.
- UTP Cat6a: Cat6a (Augmented) significantly boosts performance, supporting speeds of 10,000 mbit/s (10 Gigabit Ethernet) over longer distances (up to 100 meters) and offers a much higher bandwidth of 500 MHz.
Choosing the right UTP cable category depends on the required network speed and the distance between devices. For modern networks requiring high speeds, Cat5e or higher is generally recommended.
