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How does cable internet work?

Cable internet, much like cable TV service, uses coaxial cables to deliver electrical signals. A cable internet modem receives these signals and converts them into internet service, similar to how a cable TV box receives a signal and displays an image.

A coaxial cable supports higher bandwidth than telephone lines, which gives cable internet a significant speed advantage over DSL internet. Additionally, coaxial cables are more common and less expensive than fiber-optic cables. This makes cable internet more widely-available and sometimes lower-priced than fiber-optic internet service.

The 5 best cable internet service providers by availability

Xfinity – Fastest max internet speeds
Spectrum – No data caps
Cox – Great plan variety
Optimum – Over two million Wi-Fi hotspots
Mediacom – Gigabit internet in select areas

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Pros and cons of cable internet

Pros

No home phone line is required to get cable internet
Cable internet offers speeds up to 10x faster or higher than DSL internet
Available to about 89% of U.S. residents

Cons

Lower internet speeds during peak usage times because you’ll share a connection with users in your area
Select cable internet providers have data caps and may throttle your internet speed or charge additional fees when you go over

Best cable internet customer satisfaction ratings

Provider	2019 ACSI score	2018 ACSI score	2017 ACSI score	Avg past 3 years
Optimum	64/100	63/100	68/100	65/100
Xfinity	61	60	60	60.3
Cox	60	59	62	60.3
Spectrum	59	60	65	61.3
Mediacom	56	53	58	58.7

Source: ACSI

With the exception of Spectrum (albeit only a 1 point loss), all major cable internet providers managed to improve their customer satisfaction scores from 2018 to 2019.

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Telecommunications Report 2018-2019, some factors that may have contributed to the higher cable internet provider ratings include website satisfaction, overall speed and performance during peak hours.

Issues that hindered ACSI internet provider ratings from being higher in 2019 included ease of understanding bill, speed of service center transaction and helpfulness of service center staff.

Cable internet frequently asked questions

Is ADSL or cable internet faster?

Cable internet supports higher bandwidth and faster speeds than ADSL internet. Cable internet plans vary by location, but cable internet can deliver more than 10x the speeds of DSL in select areas.

What kind of cable is used for internet?

Cable internet uses a coaxial cable, the same as cable TV service. Within the coaxial cable is a copper or copper-plated steel line which carries internet signals from a provider to a residence. Other cables used for internet include telephone lines and fiber-optic cables.

Do you need a phone line for cable internet?

No. Unlike DSL and dial-up internet, which require a phone line for service, cable internet uses a coaxial cable. Home phone services are available from most cable internet providers, but one is not required for internet service.

What is a good cable internet speed?

Cable internet is capable of delivering a wide speed spectrum. A good cable internet speed for most homes is 100 Mbps or higher, but a “good” speed depends on your needs.

Last updated 07/23/19.

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