Cable Internet Basics

How, when, where and why cable Internet may be right for your business

Cable Internet is a fast, reliable way of accessing the Internet with a computer network of almost any size. If you have cable television in your place of business or waiting room, you can probably add cable Internet relatively easily and might even be able to save on fees. Negative aspects of cable Internet include slower running times as more computers actively use the network, and access being tied to the presence or installation of active cable lines in your place of business. Many business owners, however, find that the benefits of the service far outweigh the costs.

Cable Internet basics like where to get it, how to get it, and what it can do for you should take the forefront when you're considering whether it's the right broadband Internet access method for your business. Don't forget to take the following into account when investigating the cable Internet basics:

1. Cable Internet access is usually provided through or in cooperation with cable television companies.

2. Speed of cable Internet varies and is dependent upon several factors.

3. If you're ready to select a broadband Internet service for your business, cable Internet has some potential advantages over other methods.

 

Line up cable Internet service providers

Your best bet for finding a cable Internet service provider is to start with local cable television service providers. Once you've determined whether cable Internet is available in your area you'll need to contact your provider of choice and determine whether additional wiring is necessary to provide cable Internet in your office (if there is no cable outlet already in place, one will have to be installed).
Try: Use Cable-Modem.net's broadband Internet availability map to determine whether cable Internet is available in your area. You can also visit cable Internet vendors like Time Warner Cable directly and find out, through their website, whether cable Internet service is available in your area.

Check how fast your high-speed cable Internet really is

Cable Internet companies like to advertise blazing fast speeds, but certain factors--like how many other users in your locality are actively using bandwidth--may affect your actual Internet access speeds.
Try: If you sign up with cable Internet providers, like Comcast, that advertise very high speed Internet, use the C-Net Bandwidth Meter to easily verify whether or not you're achieving the actual speeds you're paying for.

Zoom in on the benefits of cable Internet for business

Cable Internet is reputed to be more reliable than other high-speed access methods like DSL, which uses a telephone line. You--or your IT department--can also easily set up a network so that multiple computers can connect to the Internet through the same cable line.
Try: Visit Web Hosting Geeks to get a feel for how broadband Internet (which includes cable, DSL and other access methods) can benefit your business. Check out High Speed Internet's comparison guide, which can help you pin down the difference between DSL and cable Internet through explaining why cable Internet might be the better choice for your business.

 

• Much like cellular phone plans, some cable Internet services require you to sign up for a specific contract period at the time of enrollment. There are usually extra fees involved if you choose to cancel before the end of the contract period. You can get around this by shopping with services like Time Warner Cable that offer contract free plans, and you can also sometimes get out of signing a contract if you're willing to provide your own cable modem and other equipment.

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