Simple CAN-based communication system for networking industrial automation devices with superior control. The transmission medium is two twisted, shielded pairs of conductors inside a cable. One is used for communication (with transmission rates of 125, 250 or 500 kBit/s for cable lengths of 500 m, 250 m or 100 m respectively) and the other for power supply to the connected device (max. 8 A at 24 V DC voltage).