Reference articles on history, science, culture and more
Encyclopedia

Telecommunications cable

Bundles of wires used for transmitting information

Telecommunications cable is a type of guided transmission medium. Telecommunications are based on transmitting and receiving modulated waves/signals through a medium. Types of telecommunications cable include: electrical cables when electric current is carried; transmission lines and waveguides when electromagnetic waves are transmitted; optical fibers when light signals are transmitted.

When the distances involved are very short, the term signal cable may be used, for analog or digital communication. A data cable is used in digital data communications. Data cabling must conform to certain standards and best practices to ensure reliable performance and safety. When the distance between the transmitter and receiver is very far, an unguided or wireless medium transmission may be used, based on antennas.

Examples include:

Watch videos about Telecommunications cableExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Telecommunications cable, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.