Power over Ethernet (PoE) enables the delivery of which of the following over a single Ethernet cable to devices such as WAPs and VoIP phones?

• A. Power and data
• B. Only data
• C. Only power
• D. Data signals only

Answer: (A)

Power over Ethernet allows you to deliver DC power along with Ethernet data on the same cable. This means devices like wireless access points and VoIP phones can receive both their network connectivity and operating power from a single PoE-enabled switch or injector. The data portion continues to travel as normal Ethernet signals, while power is supplied over the appropriate conductors, enabling simplified placement and fewer cables. Different PoE standards specify how much power can be delivered, but the core idea is that power and data travel together over one cable. If you only sent data, the device wouldn’t have power; if you only sent power, there would be no data path. So the correct concept is power and data over one Ethernet cable.