What is Coaxial cable internet (cable internet)?

Coaxial cable internet (cable internet) is a high-speed internet solution built on existing cable TV infrastructure. It delivers internet to homes and businesses via cable wiring (coaxial cables), which are essentially complex copper electrical wires.

This popular broadband internet option is available to most urban and suburban households thanks to its widespread availability. Installation and setup are typically quick and easy in homes with a working cable TV line.

In this guide, we’ll go deeper into what cable internet is by exploring:

• How it works

• What you need to get it up and running

• Its benefits

• How it compares to other internet types

How does cable internet work?

Cable internet uses coaxial cable wiring to connect your home to the web. The wiring links your home to a local internet service provider (ISP) and plugs into a modem within your household. The modem then translates signals from the ISP into a usable internet signal for your computers, phones, and other devices.

Your location, service plan, and ISP typically determine the speed of your cable internet connection. Download speeds can range from as low as 10 megabits per second (Mbps) to as high as 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).

While cable networks do share bandwidth among multiple users, modern networks use techniques like node segmentation to limit the number of people sharing a connection, helping maintain speeds even during peak usage times.

What do you need for a cable internet connection?

Now that you know what cable internet is and how it works, let’s explore what you need to get connected. Here are the essentials for setting up a working cable internet connection:

• Cable modem: This device is usually a small, rectangular, or cylindrical box. It connects to the coaxial cable from your wall outlet and converts the cable signal into an internet signal your devices can use. You can either buy your own modem or rent one from your ISP.

• Coaxial cable: This type of electrical cable transmits the internet signal from your ISP into your home. Coaxial cables are made of a central conducting core surrounded by insulation, a metallic shield, and an outer protective layer of PVC or another durable plastic.

• Router: If you want a Wi-Fi setup in your house, you’ll need a router. Some modems have built-in routers also known as gateways. If yours doesn’t, you’ll need to connect your modem to an external router via an Ethernet cable. The router will then broadcast a Wi-Fi signal that your devices can connect to wirelessly.

Typically, you can buy or rent these items from electronic stores, online, or from your internet service provider.

Benefits of Cable Internet

Cable internet boasts several distinct benefits that make it stand out from the crowd. Here’s what makes it a go-to option for many:

Speed

Cable internet speeds can reach as high as 1 Gbps. That makes it a dependable option for households with remote workers or members who heavily stream movies or enjoy online gaming. But remember that your actual speed will depend on your chosen plan and ISP.

Wide Availability

One of cable’s greatest strengths is its extensive reach — cable internet service is available to more than 80% of U.S. households. That makes it the most widely available high-speed internet type, particularly in urban and suburban areas.

Competitive Pricing

Cable internet plans typically offer competitive pricing, providing a good balance of speed and value. While prices vary between providers, you’ll generally find plans to fit various budgets.

Bundling Options

Many cable providers sweeten the deal with bundling options, enabling customers to combine cable TV, voice calling, and other services with their internet plans. Bundling all those services under one plan can provide customers with cost savings and convenience.

Hassle-Free Installation

Setting up cable internet is typically straightforward and quick, especially for homes already served by cable TV infrastructure. You might even be able to get your internet up and running yourself with a self-install kit. Otherwise, your ISP can send a technician to handle the installation for you.

Cable Internet vs. Other Internet Types

How does cable internet compare to other popular internet types? Here are quick comparisons that showcase how cable internet fares against other common internet options.

Fiber vs. Cable Internet

Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables to transmit data as light signals, which results in ultra-fast download and upload speeds. Unlike cable internet, which typically provides higher download speeds than upload speeds, fiber internet offers equal upload and download speeds.

We surveyed 168 people who switched from cable to fiber internet, and 64% said fiber is a lot faster than their previous cable internet connection. Kinetic Fiber, for example, offers symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 2 Gbps with 99% reliability (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).

Besides being super-fast, another significant benefit of fiber internet over cable is its high bandwidth capabilities. The high bandwidth lets several users perform data-heavy online activities simultaneously without experiencing lag and other issues.

However, fiber internet isn’t as widely available as cable internet — it’s still only available to less than half of U.S. households. Also, fiber internet can be more expensive than cable, depending on the plan and ISP you choose.

Dial-Up vs. Cable Internet

Dial-up internet’s speed is nowhere close to that of cable internet. While cable internet can reach download speeds of 1 Gbps, dial-up internet maxes out well below 100 Kbps per second (Kbps).

Also, cable internet is more reliable than dial-up internet, which relies on outdated phone lines to provide internet connections. Lastly, dial-up’s limited bandwidth and speed can’t support modern internet activities like online gaming and video conferencing.

DSL vs. Cable Internet

DSL (digital subscriber line) internet uses your phone line to provide an internet connection.

DSL’s speeds of up to only about 100 Mbps are considerably slower than what fiber and cable internet offer. In fact, the farther you are from your phone company, the slower DSL internet typically is. With cable internet, your distance from the cable company or ISP won’t significantly affect your online speeds.

5G vs. Cable Internet

5G internet uses wireless technology and cellular networks to deliver high-speed internet to your devices. Unlike cable internet, which requires staying plugged into the cable network, 5G internet offers the freedom to access the internet on the go with your smartphone or a portable 5G router.

When it comes to speed, 5G is comparable to cable internet — topping out at about 1 Gbps. However, 5G’s availability and performance can vary depending on your location.

Satellite vs. Cable Internet

As its name implies, satellite internet uses satellites in space to beam signals down to a dish installed at your home. The dish then sends the signal to a modem, which translates it into an internet connection your devices can use.

Satellite internet’s primary advantage is its wide availability. You can use it virtually anywhere as long as you have a clear view of the sky, making it a go-to option in remote or rural areas that cable or fiber infrastructure doesn’t reach.

What is cable internet’s biggest advantage over satellite internet? Cable internet generally offers faster speeds. Additionally, cable internet’s speed and reliability are less affected by the weather conditions. And even with perfect weather conditions, satellite internet’s speed maxes out at around 150 megabits per second, though newer satellite technologies can reach speeds of 200 Mbps or more.

Also, satellite internet typically has significantly higher latency (delay) than cable internet, which can impact the performance of real-time applications like online gaming or video conferencing.

Is cable internet right for you?

Is cable internet right for you? Let’s find out.

For those who work from home — sending emails, collaborating over video and voice calls, and sharing large files with their team — cable internet can suffice. Downtime will be rare with the right ISP, keeping you connected with your colleagues.

Cable’s steady speeds are also suitable for streaming HD videos and most online gaming. Serious gamers might want to explore options with even lower latency, like fiber internet.

If your household has high internet demands, you might opt for a cable plan with upper-tier speeds so everyone has the bandwidth they need. It’s always wise to check with the ISP about their network management practices and peak usage limitations.

Lastly, keep in mind that cable internet’s upload speeds, which typically max out somewhere around 50 Mbps, might not be ideal for frequent video conferencing or uploading of large files.

If it’s available in your area and you think you need even higher speeds, look into fiber internet. With speeds up to 2 Gbps (or even more), it supports larger households with several users performing multiple data-heavy activities.

Find a fast, reliable internet plan today.

Cable internet delivers impressive speeds that can handle most online activities with ease — whether for work or play. However, cable internet is not your fastest or most future-proof option.

If you want matching download and upload speeds of up to 2 Gbps (or more) with 99.9% reliability, consider Kinetic Fiber Internet.

Besides its blazing-fast speeds, Kinetic Fiber has a user-friendly Wi-Fi Manager for controlling and monitoring your household’s whole-home Wi-Fi setup. We also offer internet security add-ons to guard against cyber threats.

Check to see if Kinetic is available in your area and explore our high-speed internet plans today.

What is cable internet? FAQs

What is cable internet?

Cable internet uses the same coaxial wiring that delivers cable TV to provide high-speed internet connections. These cables connect your home to your internet service provider. A modem in your home then translates the signals from the cable line into signals your devices can understand, granting you internet access.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of cable internet?

Cable internet’s advantages include its fast internet speeds and widespread availability. You can also easily set it up in your home if you already have cable TV wiring. However, cable internet can experience significant drops in performance during peak usage periods.

How fast is cable internet compared to other connection types?

Cable internet is typically faster than DSL, dial-up, satellite, and fixed wireless internet. Its download and upload speeds can reach 1 gigabit and 50 megabits per second, respectively and in some cases, cable can offer symmetrical speeds meaning equal upload and download speed. Cable’s speeds are comparable to 5G. However, cable isn’t as fast as fiber, which can reach upload and download speeds of 10 Gbps, depending on the ISP.

How does cable internet compare to DSL, fiber-optic, and satellite?

Cable internet is generally faster than DSL and satellite internet but isn’t as widely available. On the other hand, fiber-optic internet provides equally fast download and upload speeds that exceed cable’s. Also, fiber's higher internet bandwidth is better at supporting multiple heavy web users at once.

*About this data: Study includes data from survey conducted by third-party survey research company on Aug. 19, 2024, of respondents aged 18 and up across all 50 states. Participants were recruited using Random Device Engagement (RDE) and do not have a relationship with Kinetic or the survey research company used. More information on methodology here.

99.9% Service Availability: As measured by Windstream from March 2023 to January 2025, Kinetic service reliability is calculated by dividing Available Customer Hours by Total Customer Hours, excluding planned maintenance, emergencies (like hurricanes, winter storms, floods), and other uncontrollable events.