Part 1-1 and Part 1-2 of EN 50290 give directly or by reference all common requirements for communication cables.They are completed by generic, sectional, family and detail specifications, as appropriate, to describe in a detailed manner each type of cables with its specific characteristics.EN 50290 consists of the following parts:-Part 1-1General-Part 1-2Definitions-Part 2-1Common design rules and construction - General-Part 2-2X seriesCommon design rules and construction - Materials-Part 3Quality assessment-Part 4-1General considerations for the use of cables - Environmental conditions and safety aspects-Part 4-2General considerations for the use of cables - Guide for useThe test methods are described in EN 50289, Communication cables - Specifications for test methods, which consists of the following parts:-Part 1-X seriesElectrical test methods-Part 2-X seriesTransmission and optical test methods-Part 3-X seriesMechanical test methods-Part 4-X seriesEnvironmental test methods.This Part 1-1 harmonizes the standardisation of symmetrical, coaxial and optical cables used for the infrastructure of communication, multimedia and control networks. Most of the cables covered by this Part 1-1 are primarily intended to be used in IT networks. However they can also be used for other applications with the exception of those which presume a direct connection to the mains electricity supply.