Key
Cable Type & Features / Typical Use-
Pros Cons
Variation Constructio Case
n
Pairs of
insulated Susceptible to
Standard
copper wires Low cost; electromagnetic
office/home
twisted easy to interference
Unshielded Ethernet wiring
together, no install; (EMI); less
Twisted Pair in normal
extra widely protection in
(UTP) interference
metallic used. noisy
environments.
shielding. (Wikipedia) environments.
(FCIT)
(Universal (Coram AI)
Networks)
Better
Twisted pair protection
with from
Environments
shielding: interferenc
Shielded with high
outer foil or e; can Higher cost;
Twisted Pair EMI/RFI —
braid around support more difficult
(STP) and factories, data-
the cable, higher installation
Variants (F/UTP, centres, near
and/or foil performanc (grounding/shiel
U/FTP, S/UTP, heavy
around e in ding issues);
S/FTP, SF/UTP, electrical
individual challenging bulkier cable.
etc.) equipment.
pairs. environme
(AmorServ)
(Universal nts.
Networks) (Universal
Networks)
Higher
categories cost
UTP or STP Better more; higher
form; Variety of performanc category
categories network e as you go doesn’t always
Twisted Pair –
indicate speeds and up mean needed
Categories (Cat
performance environments category; for every
3, Cat 5, Cat 5e,
(bandwidth, — from basic backwards scenario;
Cat 6, Cat 6a,
crosstalk office LANs to compatible distance
Cat 7, Cat 8)
standards). high-speed in many limitations may
(GeeksforGe data centres. cases. apply (e.g., Cat
eks) (Wikipedia) 6 for 10G at
short runs).
(Wikipedia)
Coaxial Cable Single copper Cable TV, cable Good Bulkier; harder
(Coax) conductor in modem, older shielding; to install/flex;
centre + Ethernet/backb supports lower modern
Key
Cable Type & Features / Typical Use-
Pros Cons
Variation Constructio Case
n
one runs,
insulating
CCTV, longer runs LAN speed
layer +
environments than some compared to
metallic
needing more twisted fiber; less
shield
shielding than pair; stable common for
(braid/foil) +
basic twisted signal. new Ethernet
outer jacket.
pair. (Wikipedia) installs.
(Wikipedia)
(AmorServ)
Thin glass
core,
transmits More expensive;
Long-haul links Very high
light in one more precise
(between bandwidth;
mode; very installation
Fiber Optic buildings, extremely
low signal required;
Cable – Single- campuses, long
loss, very optics/transceiv
Mode (SMF) ISPs), high- distance;
long ers cost more;
bandwidth immune to
distances. fibre care (bend
backbones. EMI. (FS)
(iTel radius etc.).
Networks
Inc.)
Larger core
than single- Limited distance
Lower cost
mode; compared to
Data centres, optics than
Fiber Optic multiple light single-mode;
within-building single-
Cable – Multi- modes more modal
runs, campus mode;
Mode (MMF, propagate; dispersion
links of good for
OM1/OM2/OM3/ shorter (signal
moderate high speed
OM4) distance degradation) at
length. short/medi
runs. (iTel longer runs. (iTel
um runs.
Networks Networks Inc.)
Inc.)
Common
Cable Type & Key Features /
Typical Use Case Connector
Variation Construction
s
Unshielded Twisted Pairs of Standard office/home RJ-45
Pair (UTP) insulated copper Ethernet wiring in (8P8C)
wires twisted normal interference.
together, no
extra metallic
Common
Cable Type & Key Features /
Typical Use Case Connector
Variation Construction
s
shielding.
Twisted pair with
Shielded Twisted shielding: foil or Environments with high
Shielded RJ-
Pair (STP) & braid around EMI/RFI (factories, data
45 (8P8C)
Variants cable or around centres).
each pair.
UTP or STP form;
categories
Twisted Pair – indicate
From basic LANs to high- RJ-45
Categories (Cat 3, performance
speed data centres. (8P8C)
5, 5e, 6, 6a, 7, 8) (bandwidth,
crosstalk
standards).
Single copper
conductor in
BNC
centre + Cable TV, cable modem,
Coaxial Cable connector,
insulation + older Ethernet/backbone
(Coax) F-type
metallic shield runs, CCTV.
connector
(braid/foil) +
outer jacket.
Thin glass core
(one mode of Long-haul links between LC, SC, ST,
Fiber Optic Cable –
light), very low buildings/campuses/ISPs FC
Single-Mode (SMF)
signal loss, very . connectors
long distance.
Larger core than
single-mode,
Fiber Optic Cable –
multiple light Within buildings, data LC, SC, ST,
Multi-Mode (MMF,
modes centres, campus‐links of FC
OM1/OM2/OM3/OM
propagate; moderate length. connectors
4)
shorter distance
runs.