ISO/IEC 11801 - Class F_A

Class F_A

Class F_A (or Augmented Class F) is defined at frequencies up to 1000 MHz, suitable for multiple applications including CATV (862 MHz). Each pair offers 1.2Ghz of bandwidth. Simulation results have shown that 40 Gigabit Ethernet may be possible at 50 meters(164ft) and 100 Gigabit Ethernet at 15 meters(49FT). In 2007, researchers at Pennsylvania State University predicted that either 32 nm or 22 nm circuits would allow for 100 Gigabit Ethernet at 100 meters(328ft).

However, similar studies in the past have shown that Cat5e could support 10 Gbit/s, so these should be read with caution. Furthermore, the IEEE did not include Class Fa for 40 Gbit/s or 100 Gbit/s in the 802.3ba standard ratified in June 2010. It may in the future, but there is absolutely no guarantee that such applications will ever exist.

Class F is currently in ISO standards for channel performance in Amendment 1, recently component performance has been ratified in Amendment 2. The formal names are ISO 11801 Amendment 1 (2008) and ISO 11801 Amendment 2 (2010). Class Fa is not recognized in TIA/EIA-568.