Which category is described as shielded/unshielded and up to 1 Gbps with 250 MHz bandwidth?

• A. Ethernet (Cat 5e)
• B. Ethernet (Cat 5)
• C. Ethernet (Cat 6)
• D. Ethernet (Cat 7)

Answer: (A)

Think about how Ethernet cables are described: the category defines both the shielding options and the bandwidth, which in turn influences the achievable data rates. Shielded vs unshielded tells you whether the cable has a protective shield to reduce interference, which is common in higher-performance cables. The bandwidth in MHz indicates the frequency range the cable can reliably carry, which correlates to the maximum data rate you can expect over a given distance.

The description given—shielded or unshielded construction, up to 1 Gbps, and 250 MHz bandwidth—best matches category 6. This cable type is designed for up to 1 Gbps over standard Ethernet distances and uses a 250 MHz bandwidth, and it comes in both shielded (e.g., various STP/FTP forms) and unshielded (UTP) varieties. While category 5e also supports up to 1 Gbps, its bandwidth is 100 MHz, not 250 MHz, so it doesn’t fit the stated spec. Cat 5 and Cat 7 are not aligned with the combination of 250 MHz bandwidth and the described 1 Gbps range in typical use. Thus, the category described is category 6.