Most copper Ethernet cables (e. One hundred meters is quite long! However, suppose you find yourself in a situation in which you need something longer. In that case, fiber-optic cable offers much longer. If you have multiple Ethernet switches that need to be connected over long distances, fiber is obviously a preferred choice. Moreover, when it comes to bandwidth, no currently available technology is better than single-mode fiber. It can provide significantly higher bandwidth and carry more data. This guide dives deep into the maximum length constraints of the three most common network cables—Ethernet, coaxial, and fiber optic—explaining why these limits exist, how they vary by cable type, and how to extend them when needed. By the end, you'll have the knowledge to choose the right cable. Category 5 and Category 6 are both 100 meters, and the regular oxygen-free copper Category 6 wire can reach about 120 meters. 652,” which is commonly used in telecommunications networks. Key single mode distance specifications:. For example, a fiber optic cable with a distance of 1km supports a bandwidth of 500MHz, while a fiber optic cable with a distance of 2km can only support a bandwidth of 250MHz.