Guide to Choosing the Right Ethernet Cable

Ethernet is often confused with the concept of a LAN, but the two are not the same. LAN stands for Local Area Network and is a generic term that describes a local network with a limited geographical scope, typically used in homes, offices, and similar environments. As a network expands, it evolves into a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). So, what does Ethernet mean?
Ethernet is a standardized technology that enables communication between devices within a LAN and/or between a LAN and an external network.

Ethernet technology can be used in LAN, MAN, and WAN networks, but this does not mean that every LAN must necessarily be Ethernet-based—although in practice, this is usually the case. Why has Ethernet become the dominant standard?

• Ethernet was developed early and rapidly adopted worldwide
• Competing technologies such as FDDI and ATM found the market already consolidated
• Ethernet is cost-effective, easy to use, and widely supported by hardware manufacturers
• It is reliable, robust, and has very few operational issues
• Ethernet is perfectly suited for TCP/IP networking

A brief history

Ethernet technology was developed in the late 1970s by Xerox and standardized in 1983. Its protocol was inspired by a radio-based network used in Hawaii, known as ALOHA, which enabled packet-based data sharing between computers on different islands.
Interestingly, the first LAN was developed by Olivetti in 1980 at the European Parliament to connect voting terminals used by Members of the European Parliament.

Despite the widespread adoption of wireless technology, even in residential environments, Wi-Fi cannot fully replace wired Ethernet connections, which offer key advantages:

• Higher speed, reliability, and security compared to Wi-Fi
• Stable and consistent data rates
• No need for data encryption
• Lower latency

Important note: Cavel “LAN” cables are fully compatible with Ethernet technology. Therefore, terms such as Ethernet Cat 6 cable are technically correct.

Table of Contents

Ethernet Cable Categories
Which Ethernet Cable Is Right for Your Network?
Ethernet Cable for Fiber Connections
Outdoor Ethernet Cable
Flexible Ethernet Cable

The main distinguishing parameter of Ethernet cables is their operating frequency (bandwidth).
Higher frequency allows more data to be transmitted and enables better performance in terms of speed and distance. Another key factor is shielding, especially in industrial environments or with the increasing presence of 5G technology, which raises the risk of electromagnetic interference.

Ethernet cable categories include:

• Cat 5e (enhanced)
• Cat 6
  •   Cat 6A (Augmented);
• Cat. 7
  •   Cat. 7A1000
  •   Cat. 7A1200
  •   Cat. 7A1500
• Cat 8

Below is an overview of the main characteristics of each category.

Cat 5e improves on earlier Cat 3 and Cat 5 standards, offering higher performance and reduced interference thanks to stricter manufacturing specifications. It effectively minimizes crosstalk, making it ideal for modern LAN applications at a competitive cost.

• Bandwidth: up to 100 MHz
• Maximum speed: up to 1 Gbps
• Maximum length: 100 m (channel)
• Shielding options:
  • U/UTP (unshielded)
  • F/UTP (overall foil shield)
  • SF/UTP (foil + braid)
• Applications: Home use, Smart TV, streaming, gaming
• Product Specifications:

Cat 6 cables support frequencies up to 250 MHz and are suitable for Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T).

• Bandwidth: up to 250 MHz
• Maximum speed: 1 Gbps
• Maximum length: 100 m (channel)
• Shielding options: U/UTP, F/UTP
• Applications: Home and professional environments, streaming, gaming
• Product Specifications:

Cavo ethernet cat 6A

The “A” stands for Augmented, indicating enhanced performance compared to Cat 6. Cat 6A supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet over full channel length.

• Bandwidth: up to 500 MHz
• Maximum speed: 10 Gbps
• Maximum length: 100 m (channel)
• Shielding options: U/UTP, F/FTP
• Applications: Enterprise networks, high-bandwidth applications, video surveillance, data-intensive environments
• Product Specifications:

Cat 7 Ethernet cables are designed for high-performance network infrastructures where signal integrity, reliability, and electromagnetic immunity are critical requirements. Compared to previous Ethernet categories, Cat 7 provides enhanced electrical performance and improved robustness, making it suitable for enterprise, industrial, and data center environments.

A key advantage of Cat 7 cables is their support for higher operating frequencies and bandwidth, enabling stable data transmission for high-throughput applications such as HD video streaming, real-time data processing, and latency-sensitive network services. The advanced S/FTP shielding architecture, with individual pair shielding and overall braid, significantly reduces crosstalk and external electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring consistent signal quality even in electrically noisy environments.

These characteristics make Cat 7 cables particularly well suited for installation in industrial plants, server rooms, and data centers, where the presence of machinery, power lines, and dense cabling can negatively affect network performance.

On the other hand, Cat 7 cables present some installation constraints. Their larger diameter and increased stiffness, resulting from the enhanced shielding structure, reduce flexibility compared to lower-category Ethernet cables. As a result, careful cable routing and bend-radius management are required, especially in confined spaces or complex cable pathways.

• Bandwidth: up to 600 MHz
• Maximum speed: 10 Gbps
• Maximum length: 100 m (channel)
• Shielding: S/FTP
• Applications: Enterprise and industrial networks

• Scheda prodotti:

Class FA channels and Cat 7A cables are designed for transmissions up to 1000 MHz on 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks over distances up to 100 meters. They also support higher-speed applications over shorter distances.

Cavel offers three Cat 7A solutions:

• Bandwidth: up to 1000 MHz
• Speed: up to 10 Gbps
• Length: 100 m
• Applications: Data centers, network infrastructure.

• Bandwidth: up to 1200 MHz
• Speed: up to 25 Gbps
• Length: 30 m
• Applications: High-performance data centers

• Bandwidth: up to 1500 MHz
• Speed: up to 40 Gbps
• Length: 30 m
• Applications: Advanced data center infrastructure

In network cabling applications, Cat 8 Ethernet cables are gaining increasing attention for their high-speed performance and reliability. Cat 8 is widely regarded as the next evolution of copper-based network cabling, offering exceptional bandwidth and data transmission capabilities.

Cat 8 Ethernet cables are designed to support operating frequencies of up to 2000 MHz, which is twice the frequency supported by Cat 6A cables. This extended frequency range enables significantly higher data transfer rates, with Cat 8 cables capable of delivering speeds of up to 40 Gbps over distances of up to 30 meters.

In addition to performance improvements, Cat 8 cables offer enhanced durability and reliability compared to previous Ethernet categories. They feature larger conductor gauges and advanced shielding structures, which help minimize electromagnetic interference and improve overall signal integrity. These characteristics make Cat 8 cables particularly suitable for high-bandwidth applications, including data centers, high-performance computing environments, gaming systems, and professional streaming infrastructures.

However, it is important to note that Cat 8 is not yet a widely adopted standard, and compatibility with existing network devices and components may be limited. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to consult a network infrastructure specialist before migrating to Cat 8 cabling solutions.

• Bandwidth: up to 2000 MHz
• Maximum speed: 40 Gbps
• Maximum length: up to 30 m
• Applications: Data centers, high-bandwidth applications

Compatibility should always be verified, as Cat 8 is not yet universally supported.

We occasionally receive requests for information about a so-called Cat 9 Ethernet cable. At present, however, there are no development plans for an Ethernet cable category capable of supporting operating frequencies above 2000 MHz or data transmission speeds exceeding 40 Gigabits per second.

This is mainly due to the fact that the highest commercially available network speeds currently offered by service providers are around 2.5 Gbps, with a foreseeable evolution—at least in the medium term—towards maximum speeds of up to 10 Gbps.

As fiber-optic internet technology continues to deliver increasingly higher speeds, it is essential that the Ethernet cable used to distribute the connection within homes and offices is properly selected. The Ethernet link between the fiber modem or router and the local network must support sufficient bandwidth to avoid becoming a performance bottleneck that limits the full potential of the fiber connection.

Choosing the right Ethernet cable for fiber-optic internet ensures maximum speed, stability, and future scalability of the network.

Which Ethernet Cable Should You Choose for Fiber?

Today, internet service providers typically deploy two main fiber architectures, each with different performance characteristics and implications for Ethernet cabling.

FTTC – Fiber to the Cabinet

With FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet), the fiber connection reaches a street cabinet, while the final segment connecting homes or offices is completed using copper cables. This solution is the most widely adopted due to its lower deployment cost. However, performance is limited and variable, depending on factors such as the distance from the cabinet and environmental conditions.

In real-world scenarios, FTTC connections typically deliver download speeds of up to 200 Mbps. For this type of installation, standard Gigabit Ethernet cabling is generally sufficient, provided that cable quality and installation are correct.

FTTH – Fiber to the Home

FTTH (Fiber to the Home) uses fiber-optic cables all the way to the end user, enabling significantly higher and more consistent performance. Average download speeds of up to 1 Gbps are commonly available, making Ethernet cable selection even more critical.

To further enhance performance, advanced access technologies may be used, including:

• GPON (Passive Optical Network) – nominal speeds up to 2.5 Gbps
• XGS-PON, where S stands for Symmetric, offering equal download and upload speeds of up to 10 Gbps

Although these technologies are not yet universally deployed, they are becoming increasingly relevant in high-performance residential and business networks.

In parallel, 25G-PON technology, capable of supporting speeds of up to 25 Gbps, is currently under development and represents the next step in fiber-optic network evolution.

Recommended Ethernet Cable Categories for Fiber Networks

To ensure optimal performance and future-proof installations:

• Cat 6 Ethernet cables are generally sufficient for FTTC connections and standard FTTH deployments up to 1 Gbps
• Cat 6A or Cat 7 Ethernet cables are recommended for high-speed FTTH, GPON, and XGS-PON networks, offering improved bandwidth, reduced interference, and greater long-term scalability

Selecting a higher-category Ethernet cable allows the network infrastructure to keep pace with future fiber upgrades without requiring cable replacement.

1. To exceed speeds of 200–300 Mbps and reach up to 1 Gbps, an FTTH (Fiber to the Home) system is required, which is not yet fully deployed.
2. To go beyond 1 Gbps and reach speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, it is necessary to integrate FTTC with GPON technology.
3. The combination of FTTC + XGS-PON allows download and upload speeds of up to 10 Gbps, although this technology is still very limited in terms of adoption.
4. 25G-PON technology, which will enable future speeds of up to 25 Gbps, is currently under development.

The choice of an Ethernet cable for a LAN network is influenced by technological evolution and by the availability of network technologies in the geographical area where the installation is deployed. In most cases, a Cat 6 Ethernet cable is sufficient to meet current requirements. However, to build a future-proof LAN infrastructure, it is advisable to opt for a Cat 6A or Cat 7 Ethernet cable. The ability of these cables to operate at higher frequencies helps reduce interference and improves overall network reliability.

Further information on fiber optic cables

When selecting an outdoor Ethernet cable, special attention should be paid to the jacket material, which should be made of UV-resistant PVC to ensure long-term durability when exposed to sunlight and weather conditions.

In general, if the cable needs to be buried, it is not recommended to place it directly in the ground. Instead, the cable should be installed inside a dedicated protective conduit to ensure adequate mechanical protection and extend its service life.

Solid or Flexible Network Cable

When it comes to Ethernet cabling, the choice is generally between solid-core cables and flexible (stranded) cables. The use of flexible Ethernet cables, thanks to their stranded copper conductors, is essential in specific installation scenarios, including:

• repeated bending of the cable
• vibrations that may stress solid conductors
• mobile installations where floating or movable cable routing is required

Cavel’s LANF cable series is specifically designed to meet these requirements and represents this category of flexible Ethernet cables.

Patch Cords and Network Connections

When connecting terminals in horizontal cabling systems to network connectivity devices such as switches and hubs via patch panels, the recommended solution is to use factory-assembled and factory-tested patch cords. These patch cords are also used to connect wall outlets to network devices such as computers, printers, and other Ethernet-enabled equipment.

Patch cords are the most visible and frequently handled part of a network cabling system. For this reason, they are often the weakest point of the installation. Bending, tearing, pulling, crushing, and worn contacts can significantly reduce the performance of a patch cord over time.

Although it is technically possible to assemble patch cords using the same cables employed for permanent cabling, this practice is strongly discouraged. Purpose-built patch cords of the same transmission category as the main cabling should always be used. If patch cords are assembled from permanent installation cables or long-distance network cables, it is essential to select connectors specifically designed for those cable types, carefully verifying conductor and insulation diameters to ensure proper compatibility.

Installation Best Practices

The assembly of patch cords requires precision and careful workmanship to guarantee consistent and reliable data transmission. The termination process, which involves untwisting the pairs, increases the cable’s susceptibility to interference. Improper mechanical bending during connector termination can alter the cable’s geometry, becoming a source of signal attenuation or electromagnetic interference.

For these reasons, factory-assembled and tested patch cords are essential components for ensuring stable and reliable network performance.

It is also recommended to always observe the specified minimum bend radius and maximum pulling force. Cable bundles should be loosely grouped using cable ties, allowing them to move freely when repositioned on patch panels. The formation of cable tangles should be strictly avoided.

Further information about Cavel flexible Ethernet cables is available on our dedicated product page.