Is Cox Fiber or Cable?
Cox Fiber or Cable: What is the Best Option?
Two packages that become available as an Internet service provider in Cox Communications are fiber and cable Internet. But which of the options is preferable at the moment, especially for an average family? Despite both, Cox and fiber being under the category of internet service provision, there are several things that you might want to consider before choosing between the two, Cox fiber and cable.
Speed
Many people decide to switch from fiber to cable internet or vice versa, and one of the main parameters to consider is speed. Fiber optic internet is faster with maximum speeds than cable internet and also has lower latency. Fiber plans offered by Cox have the highest possible speed of up to 2 Gbps while for cable services it is 300 Mbps in most regions. This implies that fiber offers almost 7 times faster download speeds when compared with other networks.
Still, fiber speeds as slow as 100+ Mbps are more than three times faster than the typical cable plan. That is why if your household performs many high bandwidth tasks such as streaming 4k videos, gaming online, video conferencing, and more, the fiber will be able to cope with these tasks and provide greater utilization of devices at the same time without any lag. Fiber also has less latency for real-time applications and services which adds to its advantage over other types of broadband connections.
Reliability
Fiber optic internet also stands out as one that is more reliable and has few downtimes. Copper connections employ electrical signals for the transmission of data while glass fibers use optical signals that are not influenced by external electrical interferences. This makes the connections less likely to drop during storms and power outages, though this could be a problem in some situations. The fiber lines are also well hidden which means that they are not affected by such issues as branches falling on the cables as the above-ground cable lines might be.
Cox cable internet is still a good reliable technology it is just that the amount of bandwidth by a local node is felt more when many neighbors start using it in the evening when many people come home from work. However, a dedicated fiber line is not a shared bandwidth as in the case of the internet, therefore providing consistent speeds.
Availability
Fiber and cable internet are often not the same and the availability also varies significantly from one place to another. Cable internet is older, and it is available in more households; Cox claims that more than 70 percent of homes passed by CoxCable have access to cable internet speeds. However, fiber internet access remains quite limited at the moment as the demand is still growing and providers step up their efforts to deploy fiber networks.
However, to know what internet types are available for your address you can go to the Cox website then type your zip code and it will indicate whether fiber, cable, or other connection types are available in your region. On average, fiber internet is more likely to be provided in newly developing neighborhoods, metro and suburban areas, not in the countryside currently. However, there is an obstacle in Cox reporting rapid fiber growth meaning that even if the fiber is not available in the area, it may become available in a relatively short period.
Price
Pricing is another notable factor of fiber and cable internet, Fiber internet price is slightly higher than the cable internet price. There are two categories: fixed broadband Internet and fiber internet, the latter being considered as an upgrade and offering higher maximum speeds. But this also means that fiber internet is more expensive every month, particularly for most package offers.
For instance, Cox cable internet service goes for as low as $49/month but for lower internet speeds up to 150Mbps. Moving to the Cox fiber connection, the cost begins from $69 per month for a connection of up to 300 Mbps and rises to $109 per month if you require fiber speeds of up to 2 Gbps. Thus, on average, fiber is considerably more expensive, from $10-$50 more for the same tiered speed as compared to cable.
But they can offer occasional prices that are way lower than the monthly charges when they are offering some introduction period. For the substantial long-term speed advantages, some households deemed the higher monthly fee to be justifiable, especially those with smart-home technologies and streaming media. It’s also important to factor in bundling discounts – Cox has special promotions where you can get fiber internet with Cox TV and home phone at a discounted price.
Installation Process
The installation process is also slightly different from fiber optic connection and Cable connection. When subscribing to cable internet from Cox, the new modem is usually easy to install since it will require one to just plug into the outlets. However, some locations demand a pro install for new line and outlet setup and the appointments most times are booked within 1-3 days. The cost of installation of basic cable internet is often extremely low, or completely free.
Copper installation can take a relatively short amount of construction to run the buried copper lines from the street to your home’s ONU box mounted externally. Well, that implies that professional installation is normal for new fiber service rather than DIY. Cox has appointments that are planned a week to two weeks depending on the cable wiring and setting up the equipment, which may take approximately 2-4 hours at the client’s home. The cost of fiber installation may differ from one service provider to another, and the price ranges from $50 to $150 which is occasionally charged as a one-time fee that some service providers offer as a low promotional price.
This means that while cable setup is indeed quicker and can be done without the need for a professional to perform the installation, the process of installing fiber is still relatively speedy and inexpensive for most consumers. And the long-term, future-proofed speed advantages make it worthwhile for many of the same reasons and more.
The Bottom Line
Most households today already deem fiber optic internet as superior to cable in aspects such as the following: superior in terms of speed especially the gigabit speed, lower latency rate, reliability benefits, and the capability to support future needs. Nonetheless, these advantages are achieved at a cost of higher monthly service charges coupled with a little construction work done initially to lay down fiber lines and equipment.
Thus the weights on household budget, amount of online activity that is to be supported, need for the future expansion capabilities, and willingness to spend more time assembling a machine are involved. Cable internet still holds the key for those who are not so intensive internet users, who wish to go online just to find the best deal possible online. However, as the need for connectivity continues to rise, it is easier to appreciate the benefits that come with fiber optic internet. Fiber internet is increasingly becoming the new gold standard since the availability of the service offering is gradually increasing.
Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!