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Category 6/Class E ('568-B.2-1 and '11801:2002)

Category 6/class E standards describe a new performance range for unshielded and screened twisted-pair cabling. Category 6/class E specifies the best performance that UTP and F/UTP (screened) cabling solutions can be designed to deliver based on current technology. Category 6/class E is specified in the frequency range of at least 1-250 MHz. For category 6/class E, the 8-position modular jack interface will be mandatory at the work area. Category 6/class E is backward compatible meaning that applications running on lower categories/classes will also be supported. If different category/class components are to be mixed with category 6/class E components, the combination shall meet the transmission requirements of the lowest performing category/class component.

TIA, ISO, CENELEC, and others have collaborated closely on the development of category 6 and class E standards and their requirements are well harmonized.

Augmented category 6/Class E, Edition 2.1 (proposed TIA/EIA 568-B.2-10) and amendments 1 to ISO/IEC 11801 2002. This standard will document the additional requirements necessary to support the operation of 10GBASE-T over 100-meter, 4-connector augmented category 6 and class E, edition 2.1 cabling.

Note
Augmented category 6 draft requirements are still in development and are intended to be published in 2006.