Understanding Cable Internet Plans

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*iSelect’s partnered with CIMET to help you compare a range of internet plans and providers. Not all plans or providers in the market are compared and not all plans or special offers are available at all timesthrough all channels or in all areas. Not all plans available from CIMET’s providers are compared and due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, not all plans compared will be available to all customers. Learn more

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How cable internet works
What you’ll need to connect to cable internet
Bundles to help you save on cable internet
What to look out for when you’re choosing a plan
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Unlike ADSL broadband, cable internet is delivered through pay TV cables, and its potential speed can be just as high – or higher – than ADSL.

For that reason, cable internet is a popular option for many Australians who want a fast and reliable connection to meet their internet needs, whether that means streaming video, gaming or working from home.

How cable internet works

Cable internet connections make use of the coaxial TV cable, which is also used for pay TV services like Foxtel. By comparison, ADSL and ADSL2+ internet is delivered via copper phone lines. This means if you’ve already got a pay TV cable running to your premises, you can save money on a cable connection, and be up and running with the internet quickly.

What you’ll need to connect to cable internet

  • A cable internet plan: Telstra and Optus are the two providers who offer cable internet plans in Australia, with each provider running on its own network of cables. Make sure you check which provider is available in your area before you get started.
  • A cable connection: If you’ve already got a pay TV (coaxial) cable, your home is ready for cable internet. If not, you’ll be able to have one installed, though you may have to pay an additional connection fee.
  • A modem: Your cable modem will allow you to connect to the internet from home.

Bundles to help you save on cable internet

Apart from high speeds, one of the biggest advantages of choosing a cable internet plan is the bundles offered by service providers to help you save money. Both Telstra and Optus have entertainment bundles that include cable internet, a home phone and a TV subscription, which will generally be cheaper if you choose a bundle rather than paying for each service separately.

What to look out for when you’re choosing a plan

If you’ve decided that a cable internet plan will suit your needs, there are a few things to keep in mind while you’re comparing providers. One is the type of contract you’ll be looking for – either a fixed term contract or a month-to-month plan.

Another primary consideration for a cable plan is the amount of data you’ll require. This will depend on how often you use the internet and whether you visit content-heavy websites, stream video or play online games. The more content you download and the more often you’re online, the more data you’ll need from your plan.

If you’d like to find out more about which provider is best for you, give one of our friendly team a call on 13 19 20 today. If cable internet is not available in your area, find out more about other types of plans here.

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Let’s help choose the right cable internet plan for you – compare plans here.

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*iSelect’s partnered with CIMET Sales Pty Ltd (ABN 72 620 395 726) to help you compare a range of internet plans and providers. Not all internet plan providers or plans in the market are compared. The availability of plans may change from time to time. Not all plans available from CIMET providers are compared. Due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, not all plans compared will be available to all customers. Some plans and special offers are available only from iSelect’s call centre or website. Click here to view CIMET’s range of providers. iSelect and CIMET earn a commission for every internet plan sold.