easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A small office is setting up a new VoIP phone…
A small office is setting up a new VoIP phone system. The IT staff must run new cabling to each desk. Which cable type is most appropriate for connecting VoIP phones to the network?
⚠ Common exam trap
One common misconception is that fiber optic cable is required for VoIP due to 'better quality,' but Cat5e/Cat6 UTP is the standard for horizontal cabling to endpoints, as fiber is typically reserved for backbone or long-distance runs.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cat5e UTP
Cat5e UTP cable supports 1000BASE-T Ethernet at up to 100 meters, which is sufficient for VoIP phones that typically require 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps connectivity and can also receive Power over Ethernet (PoE) from a switch. This makes it the standard choice for new office cabling for VoIP deployments.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Coaxial cable
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial cable carries broadband or cable-TV signals and is not used for Ethernet LAN drops to desk phones. VoIP handsets connect via twisted-pair copper Ethernet, usually Cat 5e or Cat 6, terminated with RJ45 connectors into the office switch.
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Cat5e UTP
Why this is correct
Cat5e UTP carries 1000BASE-T to 100 metres, ample bandwidth for VoIP handsets, and its low cost suits cabling many desks. Fibre or Cat6a would exceed the requirement without benefit, and shielded cable is unnecessary where EMI is not a concern.
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Fiber optic cable
Why it's wrong here
Fiber optic cabling carries data over long distances and is immune to electromagnetic interference, but it requires media converters or fibre-capable switch ports and is costly to terminate at each desk. Copper Ethernet, typically Cat 5e or Cat 6, suits individual VoIP phone runs.
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Serial cable
Why it's wrong here
Serial cables carry RS-232 signals between devices such as consoles and modems, not Ethernet frames. VoIP phones require twisted-pair copper cabling, typically Cat 5e or Cat 6 with RJ45 connectors, linking each handset to a PoE-capable network switch.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.