Internet
Cable Internet Access
Cable internet is similar to digital subscriber lines and fiber optic networks in that it bridges the last kilometre or mile from the internet provider to the subscriber premises. It is layered on top of the existing network infrastructure used for cable television similar to how DSL uses the existing telephone network. Cable networks remain, along with the telephone network, one of the two predominant means of residential internet access. Recently, both have seen increased competition from dedicated fibre deployments and wireless and mobile networks.
Many cable companies and Internet service providers argue that cable modems are as much as 100 times faster than a dial-up Internet connection, running at an ultra-fast speed of 5 million bits per second (mbps). In theory, it’s possible. But a more realistic speed is 1 mbps, or about 20 times faster than a typical 56,000-bits-per-second (kbps)dial-up connection. Still, that’s quite a leap in performance, an upgrade well worth the investment. Cable is attractive to the internet industry because the cable industry has what internet service providers have wanted for years: a way to make money off content. By creating artificial scarcity — we’ll define this channel as basic, that channel as premium, this event is free, that one is pay-per-view — the cable industry has used its monopoly over the wires to derive profits from the content that travels over those wires.
Cable Internet is an excellent choice as a high speed Internet provider. Not only is cable internet faster than DSL, satellite and dialup, having cable Internet service also allows you to bundle savings with your cable tv, high speed internet and phone bill as many of cable companies are offering these products at a collective discount price. Are you wondering which cable Internet service to choose from? Well that is actually the easy part of the decision making process, as it is usually rare to find two or more cable companies that operate in the same area.
