An electromagnetic wave absorption cable comprising an electromagnetic-wave-absorbing tape spirally wound around the inner insulating sheaths surrounding conductor wires, an insulating layer, and an electromagnetic-wave-reflecting layer; the electromagnetic-wave-absorbing tape being constituted by laterally partially overlapped two electromagnetic-wave-absorbing films; a thin metal film of each electromagnetic-wave-absorbing film being provided with large numbers of substantially parallel, intermittent, linear scratches with irregular widths and intervals in plural directions; the linear scratches in each electromagnetic-wave-absorbing film having a crossing angle s of 30-90; the linear scratches in both electromagnetic-wave-absorbing films being crossing; and the total (D.sub.2+D.sub.3) of the longitudinal width D.sub.2 of an overlapped portion of the electromagnetic-wave-absorbing films and the longitudinal width D.sub.3 of an overlapped portion of the electromagnetic-wave-absorbing tape being 30-70% of the longitudinal width D of the electromagnetic-wave-absorbing tape.

Cable foil tape having random or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous metallic shapes and a method for manufacturing such patterned foil tape are provided. In some embodiments, a laser ablation system is used to selectively remove regions or paths in a metallic layer of a foil tape to produce random distributions of randomized shapes, or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous shapes in the metal layer. In some embodiments, the foil tape is double-sided, having a metallic layer on each side of the foil tape, and the laser ablation system is capable of ablating nonconductive pathways into the metallic layer on both sides of the foil tape.

A cable includes a first twisted pair of insulated conductors, a second twisted pair of insulated conductors, a shielding tape, and an outer jacket surrounding the first twisted pair of insulated conductors, the second twisted pair of insulated conductors and the shielding tape. The shielding tape includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive shielding segments. The plurality of conductive shielding segments is disposed on the substrate. Each conductive shielding segment is spaced from each immediately adjacent conductive shielding segment in a longitudinal direction.

A LAN cable is provided having a plurality of twisted pairs, a jacket surrounding the twisted pair and at least one discontinuous shield tape having a plurality of separated metal segments. The discontinuous shielding tape is folded and arranged between the plurality of twisted pairs, separating each of said plurality of pairs from one another.

A cable includes a first twisted pair of insulated conductors, a second twisted pair of insulated conductors, a shielding tape, and an outer jacket surrounding the first twisted pair of insulated conductors, the second twisted pair of insulated conductors and the shielding tape. The shielding tape includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive shielding segments. The plurality of conductive shielding segments is disposed on the substrate. Each conductive shielding segment is spaced from each immediately adjacent conductive shielding segment in a longitudinal direction.

A communications cable having a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors and various embodiments of a metal foil tapes between the twisted pairs and a cable jacket is disclosed. In some embodiments, a metal foil tape includes a discontinuous metal layer and a polymer layer bonded to the metal layer. Portions of the metal layer and the polymer layer are deformed to form a plurality of dimples, the dimples forming air gaps between the polymer layer and the cable core or a barrier layer if used. The air gaps lower the overall dielectric constant between the metal layer and the cable core, thereby lowering the alien capacitance of the communications cable.

A communications cable has a plurality of twisted pairs of insulated conductors, metal foil tape between the twisted pairs, and a cable jacket are disclosed. The metal foil tape can include a substrate, a metal layer on the substrate, and a triboelectric coating on at least the metal layer of the metal foil tape. The triboelectric coating has a charge affinity closer to a charge affinity of the insulated conductors than a charge affinity of the metal layer to prevent charge build up between the conductors and the metal foil tape.

A communications cable having a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors and various embodiments of a metal foil tapes between the twisted pairs and a cable jacket is disclosed. In some embodiments, a metal foil tape includes a discontinuous metal layer and a polymer layer bonded to the metal layer. Portions of the metal layer and the polymer layer are deformed to form a plurality of dimples, the dimples forming air gaps between the polymer layer and the cable core or a barrier layer if used. The air gaps lower the overall dielectric constant between the metal layer and the cable core, thereby lowering the alien capacitance of the communications cable.

A communications cable having a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors and various embodiments of a metal foil tapes between the twisted pairs and a cable jacket is disclosed. In some embodiments, a metal foil tape includes a discontinuous metal layer and a polymer layer bonded to the metal layer. Portions of the metal layer and the polymer layer are deformed to form a plurality of dimples, the dimples forming air gaps between the polymer layer and the cable core or a barrier layer if used. The air gaps lower the overall dielectric constant between the metal layer and the cable core, thereby lowering the alien capacitance of the communications cable.

A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, a separator positioned between the twisted pairs, and a jacket formed around the twisted pairs and the separator. The separator may include a longitudinally extending spine positioned between the plurality of twisted pairs, and one or more respective projections extending from the spine at each of a plurality of longitudinally spaced locations. Each projection at a given spaced location may extend between a respective set of adjacent twisted pairs. Additionally, a respective longitudinal gap of at least approximately five centimeters may be present between each adjacent pair of longitudinally spaced locations.