How many pairs of wires are used in a 10BASE-T cable?

In a 10BASE-T cable, which is a type of twisted-pair cabling used for Ethernet networking, 2 pairs of wires are utilized for transmission. This standard specifies the use of Category 3 or higher cables, where each pair consists of two insulated copper wires twisted together.

In a 10BASE-T network, one pair of wires is used for sending data, while the other pair is used for receiving data. This full-duplex capability allows simultaneous communication in both directions, which enhances network efficiency. Although the cable can physically accommodate four pairs of wires, only two pairs are actively used in the standard 10BASE-T configuration for transmitting and receiving Ethernet frames.