Cable Internet

This broadband method uses the local cable TV line to connect to the Internet at about 1.5 Mbps. This data rate far exceeds that of the prevalent 28.8 and 56 Kbps telephone modems and the up to 128 Kbps of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and is about the data rate available to subscribers of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) telephone service.

Using Cable service you should expect anywhere between 500-1000 kBit/sec when downloading files from the Internet. Most of the time, this limit is just based on the speed of the Internet overall. The 'advertised' speed is usually based on the maximum throughput achievable by the modem itself. But there are many other factors affecting your speed.

Upload speeds (the speed at which you are sending data) is usually quite a bit less, from 128 kBit/sec to 500 kBit/sec. Again, this will vary based on the configuration of your local system and other factors.

To find a Cable service provider visit our Cable Internet providers page. There you can find a list of national and regional Cable providers.

Cable Internet Advantages

1) Unlike ADSL, its performance doesn't depend on distance from the central cable office.

Cable Internet Disadvantages

1) Like other residential broadband network technologies (e.g. DSL, FTTX, Satellite internet, WiMAX), a fixed amount of bandwidth is shared by a population of users. In the case of cable internet, users in a neighborhood share the available bandwidth provided by a single coaxial cable line. Therefore, connection speed can vary depending on how many people are using the service at the same time.

2) Many cable Internet providers are reluctant to offer cable modem access without tying it to a cable television subscription. They do this by charging higher rates for cable Internet access, than if one bundles it with a cable TV plan. However, some cable internet access providers who resell access from cable companies, such as Earthlink, are generally not subject to these higher rates.