Cable Internet Access
Cable Internet Access or Cable Internet refers to the delivery of Internet service through Cable modems, along with DSL technology, are the two primary types of broadband Internet access.
Bit rate of business cable modem service typically range from 2 megabits per second (Mbit/s) up to 50 Mbit/s or more.
The upstream rate on residential cable modem service usually ranges from 384 kilobits per second (kbit/s) to 20 Mbit/s or more. Many cable operators offer different service tiers, some with ‘home’ and ‘business’ designations.
There are two potential disadvantages to cable internet:
1. Like all residential broadband network technologies (e.g. DSL, FTTX, Satellite internet, WiMAX), a fixed channel capacity is shared by a population of users (in the case of cable internet, users in a neighborhood share the available capacity provided by a single coaxial cable line). Therefore, service speed can vary depending on how many people are using the service at the same time. This arrangement allows the network operator to take advantage of statistical multiplexing in order to provide an adequate level of service at an acceptable price. However, the operator has to monitor usage patterns, and scale the network appropriately, to ensure that customers receive adequate service even during peak usage times. Some operators also use a bandwidth cap.
2. Many cable Internet providers are reluctant to offer cable modem access without tying it to a cable television subscription. They do this by charging higher rates, say $60/month for cable modem only access, than if one bundles it with a cable TV plan where it might be $40/month for cable modem service plus $40/month for cable TV service. This is because you receive free basic TV with just internet service. This has ramifications similar to those of the lack of naked DSL. Cable internet access providers who resell access from cable companies, such as Earthlink, are generally not subject to these higher rates. However, they cannot give you internet access if you don’t have cable service.
Cable Internet Equipment
Broadband cable internet access requires a cable modem (CM) at the customer premises and a CMTS located at a cable operator facility (typically a headend or hub location). The two are connected via coaxial cable or, more commonly, a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial plant. While access network technologies are sometimes referred to as “last-mile” (or “first-mile”) technologies, cable internet systems can typically operate where the distance between the CM and CMTS is up to 100 miles (160 km).
via [Wikipedia]