The four pairs used in UTP cable for networking are usually 22 or 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG) copper wire. This differentiates it from the twisted-pair cable used for telephone wiring, which is typically 19, 22, 24, or 26 AWG. Because UTP has an external diameter of approximately 0.64 cm (0.25 inches), its small size can be advantageous during installation. Since UTP can be used with most of the major networking architectures, it continues to grow in popularity.

UTP cable has many advantages. It is easy to install and is less expensive than other types of networking media. Since it has a small external diameter, UTP does not fill up wiring ducts as rapidly as other types of cable, with the exception of fiber-optic cable, which costs more to purchase and install. This can be an extremely important factor to consider, particularly when installing a network in an older building. Another advantage of UTP is related to the hub-based or switch-based star topology that is used on UTP-based Ethernet LANs . This topology is considered much easier to troubleshoot than the bus topology of coaxial-based LANs.

There are also disadvantages to using UTP cabling. UTP cable is more prone to electrical noise and interference than other types of networking media, and the distance between signal boosts is shorter for UTP than it is for coaxial and fiber-optic cables.

UTP was once considered to be slower at transmitting data than other types of cable. UTP can currently reach transmission rates up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps). A 10-Gbps standard is being considered.