Gigabit Ethernet Standards


  • 1000BASE-T
    • uses Cat 5e or better
    • implements rates of 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps)
    • does not support hubs
    • max distance of 100 m (328 ft)
    • can use copper or fiber optic cable
  • 10GBASE-T
    • 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE)
    • runs over shorter distance with unshielded copper wire
    • longer distance requires copper cable with shielding, or fiber optic cable

Specifications for 10/40GBASE-T:

SpecificationCableMaximum Distance
10GBASE-TUTP (Cat 6)

F/UTP (Cat 6A)

S/FTP (Cat 7)
55 m (180 feet)

100 m (328 feet)

100 m (328 feet)
40GBASE-TS/FTP (Cat 8)30 m (100 feet)
  • 10/40 GbE Ethernet not deployed in many access networks
    • cost is high
  • may be used in TV and film production
  • widely used as backbone cabling