Category 6 cable commonly referred to as cat 6 is a cable standard for gigabit ethernet and other network protocols that are backward compatible with the category 55e and category 3 cable standards compared with cat 5 and cat 5e cat 6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise the cable standard provides performance of up to 250mhz specification 24 awg moulded connector unshielded twisted pair utp snagless rj45 t568b wiring