A cat 5—or category 5 (5e, or 6)—is an Ethernet cable, or cabling used to support computer networks. It can transmit video and telephony signals in addition to standard computer data. The cat 5 is usually the bare minimum required for Hosted VoIP.
The cable is available in both stranded and solid conductor forms. The stranded form is more flexible and withstands more bending without breaking. Patch cables are stranded. Permanent wiring used in structured cabling is solid. The category and type of cable can be identified by the printing on the jacket.
The Category 5 specification requires conductors to be pure copper. There has been a rise in counterfeit cables, especially of the copper-clad aluminum (CCA) variety.This has exposed the manufacturers and installers of such fake cable to legal liabilities
