Ethernet cables are used to connect everything with an Internet connection today. Even wireless devices like tablets and smartphones have to connect to other devices like routers that are themselves run off ethernet. While the world wide web did not start booming until the late 90s, ethernet’s origins can be traced back to the 1970s.

 

Key Takeaways

 

  • Ethernet has evolved from early 10 Mbps networks to modern multi-gigabit and high-capacity networking technologies.
  • Ethernet originated as a local-area networking technology and has become a foundation of modern wired networking.
  • Fast Ethernet increased speeds to 100 Mbps.
  • Gigabit Ethernet increased performance to 1 Gbps.
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet provides 10 Gbps connectivity for higher-bandwidth applications.
  • Modern Ethernet technologies support speeds well beyond 10 Gbps.
  • Cable selection depends on Ethernet speed, distance, bandwidth, environment, and network equipment.
  • Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8 are different categories of twisted-pair
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