About Cable Internet
Over 200 companies in America provide broadband using a cable Internet connection. Cable Internet providers offer service to 89% of the population, so you very likely have a cable Internet provider in your area.
As the name suggests, cable internet works by using the same analog cables traditionally used to deliver cable television. These copper coaxial cables travel from your home to the a neighborhood node, and then to your service provider. Cable internet has a wider bandwidth than DSL, and unlike fiber, it’s already installed in most homes, which makes cable service convenient for getting high-speed internet with minimal installation. And if you’re interested in getting cable TV as well, bundling cable services can often save you money over getting the services separately.
List of Cable Internet Providers
Pros
ProsAvailability
Cable Internet is available in all 50 states with coverage of 89% of the population.
Speed
Cable Internet provides a wide offering of speeds, including speeds much faster than DSL. Cable Internet speeds can reach as high as about 150 Mbps.
Cons
ConsCustomer Service
Cable companies get a bad rap for customer service. While some of the complaints are valid, many issues can be avoided by understanding how prices will change after the initial promotional period expires.
Price
Cable Internet services can get expensive after the promotional pricing period expires, especially if you have TV service too.
Final Analysis
Final AnalysisCable Internet providers deliver good speed and are widely available, just make sure you read your service agreement before signing up so you aren’t blindsided by fees and price hikes.
How easy is it to set up cable?
With a cable TV and internet provider in your area, all you’ll need is some simple equipment, like a modem and router for internet and a cable box for TV. Depending on what cable providers are available where you live, you may be able to rent equipment from them at a low price.
Most cable companies will send a representative to your home to install the TV, phone, and internet equipment. Usually the service provider will set up an installation date shortly after you order the package. The setup should take no longer than an hour. After the setup, the representative will give you a brief overview of how to use the equipment, which is usually straightforward. If you have any technical problems after the representative leaves, call the support line for additional instructions.
If you are feeling tech savvy, many companies provide instructions and equipment for self-installation. For more information, check your cable provider’s website or our internet self-installation guides.
- Cox Self-Installation Guide
- RCN Self-Installation Guide
- Spectrum Self-Installation Guide
- Suddenlink Self-Installation Guide
What about cable TV and internet providers’ availability and coverage?
Per a 2014 survey, 88.8% of the US has access to cable. Although cable internet availability does not cover the entire span of the country, its availability is spreading as providers increase their networks. This should be heartening because, from avid gamers to the periodic web surfer, cable internet caters to a wide range of users.
What are the advantages of bundling with cable companies?
Cable companies tend to make bundling TV, phone, and internet easy, which means lots of savings for you. Not only are bundles cheaper than buying the services individually, they’re also convenient because you don’t have to deal with more than one supplier—that cuts out hassle and paperwork. Use our site to compare prices and check for providers offering phone, internet, and cable bundles.
If I already have cable TV, can I simply add internet?
Almost always! Unless you have a very obscure provider, you can feel confident that your cable TV provider will make it easy for you to bundle TV and internet. They can usually throw in a home phone, too. To see what bundling can save you, enter your zip code below to search for cable internet providers in your area.
Here are examples of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who are also cable TV providers:
Are there any alternatives to cable internet available to me?
The best way to check this is to search by your zip code. If you’re in a more rural area, satellite internet and TV might be an option you want to pursue. Although satellite isn’t ideal for internet speed, it can do the job in a pinch. If you’re in a metropolitan area, you might have access to fiber internet and TV, which is far faster than DSL and most cable networks.
Top 5 Cable Providers Summary
| Product | User Rating | Max Speed | %Coverage | |
| #1 | Comcast | 3.0/5 | 100 Mbps | 32% |
| #2 | Time Warner Spectrum | 3.0/5 | 60 Mbps | 20% |
| #3 | Charter | 4.0/5 | 60 Mbps | 9% |
| #4 | Cox Communications | 3.0/5 | 100 Mbps | 7% |
| #5 | Optimum | 4.0/5 | 100 Mbps | 4% |
| #1 | |
| Product | Comcast |
| User Rating | 3.0/5 |
| Max Speed | 100 Mbps |
| %Coverage | 32% |
| #2 | |
| Product | Time Warner Spectrum |
| User Rating | 3.0/5 |
| Max Speed | 60 Mbps |
| %Coverage | 20% |
| #3 | |
| Product | Charter |
| User Rating | 4.0/5 |
| Max Speed | 60 Mbps |
| %Coverage | 9% |
| #4 | |
| Product | Cox Communications |
| User Rating | 3.0/5 |
| Max Speed | 100 Mbps |
| %Coverage | 7% |
| #5 | |
| Product | Optimum |
| User Rating | 4.0/5 |
| Max Speed | 100 Mbps |
| %Coverage | 4% |
