What is the standard for 1000BASE-T Ethernet?

The standard for 1000BASE-T Ethernet, which is commonly used for gigabit Ethernet networking, specifies that it operates over twisted-pair cabling and requires a minimum of Category 5e (CAT 5e) cable. Category 5e cable is capable of handling the frequency and performance requirements necessary for gigabit Ethernet data transmission, allowing data rates of up to 1 Gbps over a maximum distance of 100 meters.

While Category 5 (CAT 5) cables can also support speeds up to 100 Mbps, they do not reliably meet the performance standards set for gigabit Ethernet. Category 6 (CAT 6) and Category 6a (CAT 6a) cables certainly exceed these standards, providing higher bandwidth and better signal quality, but they are not the minimum requirement. Therefore, the correct answer recognizes CAT 5e cable as the standard for 1000BASE-T Ethernet, ensuring proper performance and reliability for gigabit networking.