Telecommunications cable

{{Short description|Bundles of wires used for transmitting information}}

'''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:<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-1012/cable#109115.hook cable (electronics) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia]</ref><ref>[http://www.thefoa.org/splicebk.htm A Guide for Telecommunications Cable Splicing]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Essential Guide to Data Cabling |url=https://network-data-cabling.co.uk/blog/essential-guide-to-data-cabling/ |website=network-data-cabling.co.uk |access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref> 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 * Overhead cable * Open wire

==References==