Cable Internet uses the same infrastructure as cable TV and can provide ample upstream and downstream bandwidth. It is available in most locations served by cable TV, but service degradation can occur during peak usage. Cable companies are usually the ISPs, but resellers may offer discounted connections.
Cable Internet is the type of high-speed Internet access that uses the same infrastructure as cable television. To access this type of broadband Internet, a customer typically plugs a cable modem into the same coaxial output on their television, sometimes using a splitter. At the other end of the connection is a type of cable modem termination system (CMTS), which can provide connectivity to anywhere between 4,000 and 150,000 subscribers within a 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius. Cable Internet often offers ample upstream and downstream bandwidth, although both can be limited if a large number of users are connected at the same time.
A large portion of broadband Internet service is provided over existing cable or telephone line infrastructure. Each of these types of broadband has inherent advantages and disadvantages, and a number of other options have also emerged, such as WiMAX and power line broadband (BPL). Cable Internet is often available in any location served by cable television, although some remote areas may not have the necessary CMTS. Although the cable network service provided between CMTS and the cable modem is generally known as last mile infrastructure, the actual distance can be 100 miles (160 kilometers) or more, and large networks often have a number of hubs.
Like other broadband services, such as WiMAX, cable Internet uses a shared pool of bandwidth for subscribers in the same local area. Cable Internet systems typically share the bandwidth of the access network, which is the infrastructure that connects the modem to the CMTS. This can lead to service degradation during peak access times, which can result in slow transfer speeds and difficulty staying connected to the network.
Cable Internet providers typically take a number of precautions to avoid service issues during peak usage. The bandwidth used by each subscriber can be monitored in order to provide each user with a fair percentage of what is available. Bandwidth limits may sometimes be instituted if a particular subscriber is using excessive upstream or downstream throughput or has transferred excessive data in a billing period. Such limits can only be instituted when the network is under stress, or they can be left in place for long periods of time.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that offer cable infrastructure access are usually your local cable company. This same company that provides television and voice services will usually also be responsible for operating the cable television termination system and other associated equipment. Subscription to television services is usually not necessary to obtain cable Internet, although it is often less expensive. In some cases, ISP resellers may also purchase connections from the cable company and then offer them to the public at a discount.
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