What is an Ethernet category?
The term “category” refers to a cable’s design and how it handles crosstalk and signal bandwidth. The Electronic Industries Alliance created the standard, but it’s currently maintained by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). A category also signifies a cable’s generation. Each new category improves on the standard and enables better performance. For instance, a CAT 8 cable will outperform a CAT 5 cable in transfer speed under the right conditions.