Final answer:
Category 5 (Cat 5) twisted pair cable supports a signaling rate of 16 MHz, suitable for Ethernet connections in residential and some business applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The category of twisted pair cable that supports a signaling rate of 16 MHz is Category 5 (Cat 5). Cat 5 cable is commonly used in networking environments for Ethernet connections, and it is part of a series of network cabling standards defined by the Electronic Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA).
Twisted pair cabling consists of pairs of wires twisted together which helps to reduce electromagnetic interference and maintain a high signal integrity. Cat 5 cables can handle up to 100 Mbps of data speed, which is suitable for most residential and some business applications. For environments requiring higher data rates, newer versions such as Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a are used, which support higher bandwidths and faster data transmission speeds.
Overall, Category 5 cable provides a reliable medium for transmitting data across short distances at speeds adequate for typical Internet and network tasks. When installing or upgrading a network, it is important to consider the required bandwidth and choose a category of cable that meets or exceeds that requirement.