What is the main purpose of twisted-pair cabling in networking?

The main purpose of twisted-pair cabling in networking is to reduce interference. Twisted-pair cables consist of pairs of insulated copper wires twisted together, which helps to minimize the electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can affect the quality of the signal being transmitted. The twisting of the pairs helps to cancel out noise from external sources and from adjacent pairs within the cable itself. This characteristic makes twisted-pair cabling, such as Category 5e and Category 6, highly effective for networking applications, as it maintains signal integrity over distances typically used in local area networks (LANs).

While high-speed data transfer is a beneficial attribute of twisted-pair cabling, the reduction of interference is fundamental to ensuring that the data can be transmitted effectively without degradation. It is also important to note that twisted-pair cables are not limited to audio transmission or exclusively used for telephone systems, as they are widely utilized in various networking scenarios, including internet and data services.