Beyond Internet Access: Network Cables Can Carry Voice and Power

Wired internet cables have uses that go beyond delivering a reliable connection between devices. The same network cabling can also help carry voice calls, transfer files locally and supply power to compatible equipment.

Voice is one such use. Internet-based telephone systems send speech as digital data over a network, allowing a wired connection to carry calls as well as ordinary internet traffic.

Compatible network cables can also carry electricity alongside data through a technology known as Power over Ethernet. This can allow devices such as security cameras and wireless access points to operate without a separate power cable.

That does not mean any internet cable can power any device. The equipment and power source must support the technology, and users should check compatibility before connecting them.

Network cables also support communication within a local network, including file sharing and access to shared printers. These tasks do not necessarily require an active internet connection, highlighting the difference between connecting devices to one another and connecting them to the wider web.