Date First Published: 19th May 2022
Topic: Computer Networking
Subtopic: Data Transmission Technologies
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn more about what Cat 3 is in this article.
Short for Category 3, Cat 3 is a type of Ethernet cable that supports data transmission speeds of up to 10 Mb/s and frequency transmission speeds of up to 16 MHz. Cat 3 was introduced in 1990 and designed for voice and data communications over telephone lines, 10BASE-T networks, and Token Ring. It is the first official category that was established by TIA/EIA standards. The cabling of Cat 3 uses unshielded twisted pairs and consists of two insulated copper wires to prevent crosstalk. Cat 3 consists of 8 copper wires in total, with 4 pairs.
Cat 3 is an old category of Ethernet cable that is rarely used. Most homes and businesses have upgraded to Cat 5 or Cat 5e, which provides data transmission speeds ten times faster. However, Cat 3 is still used in some older phone systems, dial-up connections, and 10Base-T Ethernet. It may also be used as a cheaper option when higher category cables are too expensive.
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