Which unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) category supports data rates up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps)?

The correct choice identifies that Category 6 (CAT-6), Category 6A (CAT-6A), and Category 7 (CAT-7) are the UTP categories capable of supporting data rates up to 10 Gbps.

CAT-6 cables are certified for 10 Gbps connections but only up to a distance of 55 meters. When the distance increases, support drops back to lower speeds. CAT-6A, on the other hand, maintains 10 Gbps speeds at distances up to 100 meters due to improved specifications that reduce crosstalk and enhance performance. CAT-7, while not universally used and more common in certain applications, is also designed for high-frequency performance and can support 10 Gbps over extended lengths, making it suitable for demanding networking environments.

In contrast, CAT-4, CAT-5e, and CAT-3 do not meet the requirements for consistent 10 Gbps performance. CAT-4 supports only up to 16 Mbps, while CAT-5e can handle up to 1 Gbps under ideal conditions. CAT-3 is significantly older and primarily designed for telephone communication, with maximum data rates around 10 Mbps, making it unsuitable for modern Ethernet standards that