Which cable category is the most widely installed?

The most widely installed cable category is CAT 5e. This category of cable has been the backbone of many networking environments due to its balance of performance, cost, and compatibility. CAT 5e cables support Ethernet standards up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) and are suitable for most residential and commercial networking applications.

Additionally, CAT 5e has backward compatibility with earlier standards, making it flexible for various network setups, ensuring ease of installation and maintenance. Its ability to handle data transmissions effectively at a lower cost compared to newer categories contributes to its widespread adoption in both legacy systems and current installations. As a result, CAT 5e remains the preferred choice for many technicians and organizations when setting up networks.