40GBASE-T requires high-quality twisted pair cabling that can handle the transmission speeds of up to 40 Gbps. Category 8 cabling is designed to support such transmission speeds up to 30 meters and meets the requisite specifications for 40 Gbps Ethernet. Category 6a and Category 7 cables are not rated for 40 Gbps Ethernet and are typically used for lower speeds such as 10 Gbps and below. While Category 6a supports 10GBASE-T up to 100 meters, Category 7 is not officially recognized by TIA/EIA but is designed for an extended frequency range compared to Cat 6a.