Cable internet is one of the most widely available internet service types available across the states. From the east coast of Florida and Delaware to the west coast of California and Washington, cable internet has some of the widest reaches in America. And there is a good reason for it. It is cheaper than other internet service types out there and since the infrastructure mainly uses cables that are also used for television – it is much easier to set up.
Even so, the future of cable internet in the 2020s looks a little bleak with fiber internet being all the new rage. So then what becomes of cable internet and what are the ways on it this season? Let us jump right in!
What is cable internet?
Cable internet primarily refers to the delivery of the internet over a cable network. These cables are very similar to the kind that bring television signals into your home. They are coaxial cables used for this very function. A cable modem then takes the internet signals coming into your home and shears it into a working bandwidth that can be used directly as LAN or put into a router to use as Wi-Fi.
Since the cables are slightly different, not all cable television providers, are capable of supporting an internet service too. However, some of the many ISPs in the United States like Xfinity Internet can actually support both a viable internet connection and provide television services at the same time. Such services work quite well because they do give you the best of both worlds.
Why choose cable internet?
Cable internet is a smart choice when it comes to internet service types. It gives faster speeds than DSL connections and is a lot more affordable than fiber internet. The biggest upside of choosing cable internet perhaps is the fact that it is available almost across the entirety of the United States with coverage in some rural areas too, so no matter where you are, there is a good chance that you do have an active cable internet connection close by.
What are the advantages of cable internet connections?
Cable internet connections may seem old school but they come with many benefits. Some of these benefits include;
- High connection speeds
The speed of most cable internet connections ranges between 10-50 Mbps in downloads speeds that are pretty good. For most average users, these speeds work well enough to support small tasks and everyday activities like short video calls and such. Cable internet exceeds expectations with its speed ranges which are better than dial-up and conventional DSL and hence do help you connect better.
Xfinity internet which is a cable internet provider offers large range of speeds in a variety of budgets that suit almost everyone.
- Speeds are not affected by distance
Unlike conventional DSL-type internet connections, cable internet speeds are not affected by distance from the service station. This is a big upside because some suburban neighborhoods are quite far from civilization and service stations and if it did happen, it would be a great big nuisance.
With cable internet specially Xfinity internet, you get the advertised speeds, no matter how far from the service station your residence is located.
- Cable internet is the name of convenience
Connecting to the internet is supremely easy with cable internet. You either get the cable in itself, and plug it into your Ethernet port to get an immediate connection, or you can plug the cable into your router to get a stable Wi-Fi signal that makes all your devices buzz to life. It is simple and straightforward and requires little tech info if any. The easy handling means that it can work well for you and your grandparents too!
Cable internet’s greatest woe: A fiber internet connection
Although cable internet has stayed at the top of its game for the past few decades, it has recently started receiving great competition from fiber internet connections. Fiber internet may be new to the market, but it has taken the world by storm. And cable internet does seem to be on the receiving end of the brunt.
Cable internet is a strong player in the market but it does have quite a few downsides. These may not be much but they do make cable seem a little flimsy against the flashy fiber internet. Some of the best pointers about fiber internet, when compared to cable internet, are as follows.
- Fiber internet speeds are in a league of their own
Cable internet has good speeds for average users with minimalistic uses but fiber connections take speeds to a whole new level. Reaching speeds of up to 940 Mbps (even greater speeds with Xfinity fiber internet), fiber internet beats cable internet on any day.
The speeds are insane and can support multi-player gaming, streaming HD content, video conferencing and so much more simultaneously.
- Low lag time
With fiber internet, you get essentially little to no lag times. Since data traveling within the fiber optic cable has 70% speeds to that of light, there is almost no lag. You can monitor and get stats and data and camera streaming as well as other content in real-time. Data travel is almost instantaneous so you can expect it to travel to any other device within a fraction of a second. It seems like a miracle, to be honest!
- Symmetrical download and upload speed combo
Most cable internet providers give higher download speeds and slower upload speeds. With fiber internet, this is never a problem. You get symmetrical upload and download speeds so you are never left struggling to upload that gorgeous selfie to your Instagram page.
Nobody should suffer while uploading content on socials and fiber internet does that well!
Fortunately, one of the largest internet providers in the States, Xfinity internet by Comcast, provides very good internet deals, both for fiber and cable internet plans.
Conclusion: Is cable internet the future?
Fiber internet may have many flashy and tempting perks, but the truth is that only 35% or so of Americans have access to fiber broadband. The infrastructure is expensive and the setup so naturally the cost incurred on the end-user is a lot. While big metro cities like New York and Los Angeles have access to fiber internet, at increased costs, of course, some suburbs are completely deprived of fiber internet and are likely to remain so for the next few years.
In contrast, cable internet is widely available with more than 85% of the population using cable broadband. The speeds are fast enough to support everyday work activities, stream content, and run social accounts. Cable internet costs are lower than fiber internet too, with Xfinity internet deals starting at 19.99 USD only. Of course, the speeds and pricing vary state to state, but for the most part, it stays around this.
Cable internet is a reliable and safe source of internet and a strong contender too. Even with the shiny fiber internet haunting its steps, cable internet gives you good value for your money and is one of the largest sources of internet available to the nation today.
There are great hopes for the expansion and betterment of cable internet and we are here for it!