What type of cable is typically used for Fast Ethernet connections?

Fast Ethernet, which refers to the IEEE 802.3u standard and supports data rates of 100 Mbps, commonly uses twisted pair cable for its connections. This type of cabling, specifically Category 5 (Cat 5) or higher, is prevalent due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and the ability to handle the required bandwidth for Fast Ethernet. Twisted pair cables reduce electromagnetic interference and are suitable for shorter distances, which aligns well with typical Ethernet applications in local area networks.

Coaxial cable, while used in earlier Ethernet standards, is not suitable for Fast Ethernet applications predominantly due to its larger form factor, which makes it less flexible and harder to work with in modern networking environments. Fiber optic cable can be utilized for connections requiring higher bandwidth over longer distances, but it is not the standard for most Fast Ethernet implementations. HDMI cable, on the other hand, is designed specifically for transmitting video and audio signals and has no application in network data transmission. Therefore, twisted pair cable is the most appropriate choice for Fast Ethernet connectivity.