Different Between Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7

Category 3

  • Type - UTP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 10 Mbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 16 MHz
  • Length - 100 m


Category 5

  • Type - UTP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 10 / 100 Mbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 100 MHz
  • Length - 100 m


Category 5e

  • Type - UTP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 1000 Mbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 100 MHz
  • Length - 100 m


Category 6

  • Type - UTP or STP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 1 Gbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 250 MHz
  • Length - 100 m (55 m for 10 Gbps)


Category 6e

  • Type - STP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 10 Gbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 500 MHz
  • Length - 100 m


Category 7

  • Type - SSTP
  • Maximum Data Transmission Speed - 10 Gbps
  • Maximum Bandwidth - 600 MHz
  • Length - 100 m


UTP : Unshielded Twisted Pair
STP : Shielded Twisted Pair
SSTP : Screened Shielded Twisted Pair