Speed1 Gbps
Distance100 m
ConnectorRJ-45
Legacy 1G LAN. Still common in homes/SMB but not for new enterprise builds.
Bandwidth100 MHz
ConnectorRJ-45 (8P8C)
ShieldingUTP / STP
PoEPoE / PoE+ (15–30 W)
Use CaseHome, SMB, legacy infrastructure
TIA/EIA-568-B.2ISO/IEC 118011000BASE-T (802.3ab)100BASE-TXPoE (802.3af)BeldenCommScopePanduitLevitonTrueCable
Speed10 Gbps
Distance100 m
ConnectorRJ-45
10G at 55 m, 1G at 100 m. Spline separator cuts crosstalk. Solid mid-range choice.
Bandwidth250 MHz
ConnectorRJ-45 (8P8C)
ShieldingUTP / STP
PoEPoE+ (30 W)
Use CaseOffice LAN, budget 10G at short range
TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1ISO/IEC 118011000BASE-T (802.3ab)10GBASE-T @55m (802.3an)PoE+ (802.3at)BeldenCommScopePanduitCorningLeviton
Speed10 Gbps
Distance100 m
ConnectorRJ-45
2026 enterprise default. Full 10G at 100 m. Required for PoE++. 23 AWG.
Bandwidth500 MHz
ConnectorRJ-45 (8P8C)
ShieldingUTP / F/UTP / U/FTP
PoEPoE++ Type 3/4 (60–90 W)
Use CaseEnterprise, Wi-Fi 6/7 APs, data center access
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2ISO/IEC 11801 Class EA10GBASE-T (802.3an)5GBASE-T (802.3bz)PoE++ (802.3bt)BeldenCommScopePanduitCorningSiemonR&MTrueCable
Speed10 Gbps
Distance100 m
ConnectorGG45
ISO/IEC only – NOT TIA-recognized in North America. Requires GG45 or TERA connectors, not RJ-45.
Bandwidth600 MHz
ConnectorGG45 / TERA
ShieldingS/FTP (mandatory)
PoEPoE+ (30 W)
Use CaseEuropean enterprise, EMI-heavy environments
ISO/IEC 11801 Class F10GBASE-T (802.3an)NexansBeldenR&MLegrand
Speed40 Gbps
Distance30 m
ConnectorRJ-45
Data center intra-rack only. 30 m max. 25/40 Gbps. TIA Class I uses standard RJ-45.
Bandwidth2,000 MHz
ConnectorRJ-45 (Class I) / GG45 (Class II)
ShieldingS/FTP / F/FTP
PoELimited
Use CaseDC server-to-switch patching (≤30 m)
ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1IEEE 802.3bqISO/IEC 11801-325GBASE-T (802.3bq)40GBASE-T (802.3bq)BeldenPanduitCommScopeSiemonR&M
DAC 100G QSFP28
DAC / Twinax
Speed100 Gbps
Distance5 m
ConnectorQSFP28
100G leaf-spine copper. QSFP28. Passive ≤5 m. Cheaper than optical for intra-rack links.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorQSFP28 (integrated)
ShieldingTwinaxial
PoEN/A
Use CaseLeaf-spine copper, server-to-TOR, AI GPU clusters
IEEE 802.3bm 100GBASE-CR4SFF-8665100GBASE-CR4CiscoAristaMellanox / NVIDIAFS.comAmphenol
Speed10 Gbps
Distance7 m
ConnectorSFP+
Twinax with integrated SFP+. No optics. Passive ≤7 m, active ≤15 m. Cheaper than optical.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorSFP+ (integrated)
ShieldingTwinaxial
PoEN/A
Use CaseDC intra-rack switch-to-server, ToR uplinks
SFF-8431IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-CR10GBASE-CRCiscoAristaJuniperMellanox / NVIDIAFS.comCommScope
DAC 400G QSFP-DD
DAC / Twinax
Speed400 Gbps
Distance5 m
ConnectorQSFP-DD
AI/ML 400G intra-rack. QSFP-DD or OSFP. Passive ≤2 m, active ≤5 m. Competes with AOC.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorQSFP-DD / OSFP (integrated)
ShieldingTwinaxial
PoEN/A
Use CaseAI GPU-to-switch, hyperscale leaf-spine, HPC
IEEE 802.3bs 400GBASE-CR8CMIS 5.0400GBASE-CR8CiscoAristaMellanox / NVIDIAAmphenolFS.com
Speed1 Gbps
Distance275 m
ConnectorLC
Legacy 62.5 µm, LED source. Only for extending existing OM1 runs. Not for new builds.
Bandwidth200 MHz·km
ConnectorLC / SC / ST / FC
ShieldingN/A (optical)
PoEN/A
Core/Clad62.5/125 µm
Light SrcLED
JacketOrange
Use CaseLegacy systems only – not for new installs
ISO/IEC 11801 OM1ANSI/TIA-568.3-D1000BASE-SX (802.3z)100BASE-FXCorningBeldenNexansFurukawa
Speed1 Gbps
Distance550 m
ConnectorLC
Standard 50 µm, LED. 550 m at 1G. Legacy but better than OM1. Outclassed by OM3+.
Bandwidth500 MHz·km
ConnectorLC / SC
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad50/125 µm
Light SrcLED
JacketOrange
Use CaseLegacy campus, low-speed short links
ISO/IEC 11801 OM2ANSI/TIA-568.3-D1000BASE-SX (802.3z)100BASE-SXCorningBeldenNexansTE Connectivity
Speed100 Gbps
Distance300 m
ConnectorLC
Laser-optimized (VCSEL) 50 µm. 10G at 300 m; 40/100G via MPO. DC workhorse for a decade.
Bandwidth2,000 MHz·km
ConnectorLC / MPO-12
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad50/125 µm
Light SrcVCSEL 850 nm
JacketAqua
Use CaseData center horizontal, 10–100G links
ISO/IEC 11801 OM3ANSI/TIA-568.3-DIEEE 802.3ae/ba/bm10GBASE-SR (802.3ae)40GBASE-SR4 (802.3ba)100GBASE-SR4 (802.3bm)CorningPanduitCommScopeBeldenTE ConnectivityFurukawa
Speed100 Gbps
Distance550 m
ConnectorLC
Enhanced VCSEL 50 µm. 10G at 550 m; 40/100G at 150 m. Extended reach over OM3.
Bandwidth4,700 MHz·km
ConnectorLC / MPO-12/16
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad50/125 µm
Light SrcVCSEL 850 nm
JacketAqua / Violet
Use CaseDC backbone, 40G/100G leaf-spine fabric
ISO/IEC 11801 OM4ANSI/TIA-492AAADIEEE 802.3ae/ba10GBASE-SR40GBASE-SR4100GBASE-SR4400GBASE-SR8 @50mCorningPanduitCommScopeBeldenAFLPrysmian
OM5 (WBMMF)
Multimode Fiber
Speed400 Gbps
Distance150 m
ConnectorLC
Wideband 50 µm with SWDM over 4 wavelengths. One pair carries 4×100G = 400G. Lime green jacket.
Bandwidth≥4,700 MHz·km
ConnectorLC / MPO-12/16
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad50/125 µm
Light SrcVCSEL + SWDM 850–940 nm
JacketLime Green
Use CaseAI/ML clusters, 400G+ DC, dense fiber reduction
ISO/IEC 11801 OM5TIA-492AAAEIEEE 802.3bsSWDM4 100G/400G100GBASE-SWDM4400GBASE-SWDM4CorningPanduitCommScopeAFLVitex
Speed10 Gbps+
Distance2 km
ConnectorLC
Indoor singlemode, tight-buffered. Building risers and backbone up to ~2 km.
BandwidthUnlimited
ConnectorLC / SC / FC
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad9/125 µm
Light SrcLaser 1310 nm
JacketYellow
Use CaseBuilding backbone risers, indoor long runs
ISO/IEC 11801 OS1ANSI/TIA-568.3-D10GBASE-LR (802.3ae)1000BASE-LX (802.3z)CorningBeldenNexansPrysmian
Speed400 Gbps+
Distance200 km
ConnectorLC
Low-water-peak singlemode. Universal for campus, WAN, inter-DC. Supports DWDM for 400G+ over 200 km.
BandwidthUnlimited
ConnectorLC / SC / FC / MPO
ShieldingN/A
PoEN/A
Core/Clad9/125 µm
Light SrcLaser 1310/1550 nm
JacketYellow
Use CaseCampus WAN, inter-DC, telecom backbone, FTTH
ISO/IEC 11801 OS2ANSI/TIA-568.3-DITU-T G.652D10GBASE-LR/ER (802.3ae)100GBASE-LR4 (802.3ba)400GBASE-LR8 (802.3bs)DWDM / CWDMGPON / XGS-PONCorningPrysmianNexansFurukawaAFLCommScope
RS-232 (TIA-232)
Serial Cable
Speed115 kbps
Distance15 m
ConnectorDB9
Classic point-to-point DTE/DCE. De facto Cisco console port. Single-ended, 15 m max.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorDB9 (DE-9) / DB25
ShieldingSingle-ended
PoEN/A
Use CaseCisco console ports, lab equipment, legacy modems
TIA/EIA-232-F (1997)Async serialConsole managementModemsBeldenMoxaPhoenix ContactTE ConnectivityFTDI
RS-422 (TIA-422)
Serial Cable
Speed10 Mbps
Distance1 km
ConnectorDB25
Differential full-duplex. 1 tx / 10 rx. 10 Mbps short range, 100 kbps at 1.2 km. DMX512.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorDB25 / Terminal block
ShieldingBalanced differential
PoEN/A
Use CaseBroadcast, DMX lighting, industrial 1-tx multipoint
TIA/EIA-422-B (1994)DMX512 (lighting)Async serialBeldenPhoenix ContactMoxaFTDI
RS-485 (TIA-485)
Serial Cable
Speed10 Mbps
Distance1 km
ConnectorTerminal
Industrial multi-drop bus. 32+ nodes, half-duplex. Backbone of Modbus, Profibus, BACnet.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorTerminal block
ShieldingBalanced differential
PoEN/A
Use CasePLCs, SCADA, BMS, industrial sensors
TIA/EIA-485-A (1998)Modbus RTU / ASCIIProfibus DPBACnet MS/TPDMX512DALIBeldenPhoenix ContactMoxaLapp GroupB&B SmartWorx
Speed480 Mbps
Distance5 m
ConnectorType-A
Hi-Speed USB. 480 Mbps. Ubiquitous for low-speed peripherals and charging.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorType-A / Type-B / Mini / Micro
ShieldingShielded
PoE2.5–7.5 W (BC 1.2)
Use CaseKeyboards, mice, storage, chargers, embedded
USB 2.0 (2000)USB-IFUSB BC 1.2USB 2.0 Hi-SpeedUSB BC 1.2 (7.5W)AnkerBelkinCable MattersTE ConnectivityMolex
USB 3.2 Gen2×2 (20G)
USB Cable
Speed20 Gbps
Distance2 m
ConnectorType-A
SuperSpeed+ USB. Gen2 = 10G (Type-A/C); Gen2×2 = 20G (Type-C only). Fast external storage.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorType-A / Type-C
ShieldingShielded
PoE100 W (USB-PD 3.0)
Use CaseNVMe external drives, docking stations, displays
USB 3.2 (2017)USB-IFSuperSpeed USB 10G (Gen2)SuperSpeed USB 20G (Gen2×2)USB-PD 3.0 (100W)AnkerBelkinCable MattersPlugable
USB4 Gen3×2 (40G)
USB Cable
Speed40 Gbps
Distance0.8 m
ConnectorUSB
Thunderbolt 3 based. 40G, tunnels USB 3.x + DP + PCIe. Type-C only. 0.8 m passive.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorUSB Type-C only
ShieldingActive / Passive
PoE100 W (USB-PD 3.0)
Use CaseLaptop docking, 4K/8K displays, fast storage
USB4 v1.0 (2019)USB-IFTB3/4 compatibleUSB4 40GbpsDisplayPort 2.0PCIe tunnelingUSB-PD 3.0 (100W)AnkerBelkinCable MattersPlugableIntel (TB4)
Speed80 Gbps
Distance1.2 m
ConnectorUSB
Latest USB std (2022). 80G / 120G asymm. PAM-3. Thunderbolt 5 compatible. Rolling out 2025–26.
BandwidthN/A
ConnectorUSB Type-C only
ShieldingActive shielded
PoE240 W (USB-PD 3.1)
Use Case8K displays, multi-monitor docking, AI edge
USB4 v2.0 (2022)USB-IFThunderbolt 5USB4 80GbpsDisplayPort 2.1PCIe 4 tunnelingUSB-PD 3.1 (240W)AnkerBelkinCable MattersIntel (TB5)