Which property makes shielded twisted pair cables more expensive than unshielded twisted pair?

Shielded twisted pair cables are equipped with additional protective layers that significantly reduce electromagnetic interference from external sources. This extra shielding is designed to minimize the crosstalk between the pairs of wires within the cable as well as protect against external noise, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the data transmission.

The presence of this shielding material and the more complex manufacturing processes involved contribute to the higher cost of shielded twisted pair cables compared to their unshielded counterparts. While factors such as durability, length, and data transfer efficiency can also be important, they do not solely define the reason for the increased cost linked to shielded twisted pair cables. The clear distinction in cost is primarily due to the advanced shielding technology that addresses interference issues in environments where data integrity is critical.