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Find out more about cable internet plans, how they work and what your alternatives may be with Savvy.
Fact checked
Cable internet plans utilise the same infrastructure as pay television, offering connections which could comfortably outperform ADSL and ADSL2+ plans. However, with the rollout of the NBN, these plans are no longer as common in Australia. You can find out about how they work, as well as what your potential alternatives to a cable internet plan are, right here with Savvy today!
Cable internet is a type of internet plan which makes use of the same network of cables and connections as pay TV, such as Foxtel. Here's a breakdown of how it functions:
Cable internet plans are capable of delivering fast broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps, thanks in large part to their coaxial connection as opposed to copper. However, the exact speed you can expect from a cable internet plan depends on several factors, including your location, your chosen plan and network congestion during peak usage times. Although download speeds are comparable to NBN 100 plans, upload speeds often sit at around 2Mbps, which is slower than NBN 25.
Yes – cable internet is still available in places where the NBN has yet to be rolled out. However, for the most part, this is a stop-gap plan for households and businesses until the NBN becomes available, after which point the cable connection will be replaced. This means that all cable internet connections will eventually be phased out in favour of Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) NBN connections. As of September 2023, only one provider in Australia offers cable internet, so the level of choice is very slim.
Cable internet and ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) are two different technologies used to provide broadband internet access. Here are the key differences between cable internet and ADSL plans:
| Cable | ADSL | |
|---|---|---|
|
Technology |
Cable internet uses a coaxial cable network, typically the same infrastructure used for pay television services. |
ADSL, on the other hand, relies on existing copper telephone lines to deliver internet service. It operates on a different frequency band than voice calls, allowing simultaneous internet and phone use. |
|
Speed |
It often provides faster download and upload speeds compared to ADSL. You can access speeds of up to 100Mbps for downloads, potentially making it suitable for high-bandwidth activities like streaming and online gaming. |
These speeds are generally lower and can vary significantly based on your distance from the telephone exchange. ADSL plans typically offer download speeds ranging from 1Mbps to 24Mbps. |
|
Availability |
Cable internet is only available in specific areas where cable infrastructure has been laid and the NBN isn’t currently available. |
While ADSL connections were far more common, plans today are only available to those without NBN access. |
|
Phone usage |
Cable internet does not use your phone line, so you can use the phone for voice calls independently of your internet connection. |
ADSL shares the phone line with internet access, potentially affecting voice call quality when using the phone and internet simultaneously. |
If cable internet is not available in your area or you're exploring other options, there are several alternatives to consider:
Receive a $50 Woolworths Bonus Store eGift Card when you purchase a Broadband Plan via Savvy's partner, Econnex Comparison. Terms and conditions apply.
Disclaimer:
Savvy is partnered with Econnex Comparison (CIMET Sales Pty Ltd, ABN 72 620 395 726) to provide readers with a variety of internet plans to compare. We do not compare all retailers in the market, or all plans offered by all retailers. Savvy earns a commission from Econnex each time a customer buys an internet plan via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased directly, as all purchases are conducted via Econnex.
Any advice presented above is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an internet plan. For further information on the variety of internet plans compared by Econnex, or how their business works, you can visit their website.
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© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.