Telecommunications cable

Telecommunications cable is a type of guided transmission medium. Telecommunications are based on transmitting and receiving modulated waves/signals through a medium. Types of telecommunications cable include:^[1][2] electrical cables when electric current is carried; transmission lines and waveguides when electromagnetic waves are transmitted; optical fibers when light signals are transmitted.

When the distances involved are very short, the term signal cable may be used, for analog or digital communication. A data cable is used in digital data communications. Data cabling must conform to certain standards and best practices to ensure reliable performance and safety.^[3] When the distance between the transmitter and receiver is very far, an unguided or wireless medium transmission may be used, based on antennas.

Examples include:

• Ethernet cables (Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6A)
• Token Ring cables (Cat 4)
• Coaxial cable mainly used for analog communication, sometimes used as a baseband digital data cable, such as in serial digital interface and thicknet and thinnet.
• Optical fiber cable
• Serial cable and parallel cable
• Cat2 or telephone cord
• USB cable

See also

Main category: Signal cables

• Networking cable
• Structured cabling
• Submarine communications cables
• Telecommunications power cable
• Wired communication