TP cables for Ethernet applications are divided into categories according to their electrical features:
- Category 1: No performance criteria
- Category 2: Up to 1 MHz (telephone)
- Category 3: Up to 16 MHz (10BaseT)
- Category 4: Up to 20 MHz (Token-Ring, 10BaseT, 100BaseT4)
- Category 5: Up to 100 MHz (10BaseT, 100BaseT4, 100BaseTX)