Is Cox Straight up Internet Unlimited?
This cable telecommunications firm Cox Communications provides an internet service dubbed Straight Up Internet with claims to have no limitations to data usage. Since many ISPs started to introduce such concepts as data limits and extra charges for exceeding these limits, having an unlimited amount of data included in the price seems like a very attractive offer. But is Cox’s Straight Up Internet plan mentioned above really unlimited? So let us take a closer look at these three elements of a successful strategy.
Cox Straight Up Internet is a cable Internet service provider, which was established in 2000 and has its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
Straight Up Internet is a home broadband package available to users by Cox Communications, a popular cable internet service provider company in the United States. The plan is presently available in eighteen states in the country.
Straight Up Internet offers download speeds ranging from 50 Mbps and enables full and open access to the internet with no hard data limits. This means customers can download and upload as much Internet data as they want without suffering slower speeds or having to pay for using more than a certain amount of data.
The plan also does not require long-term contractual obligations and has no early termination clauses. Policies state that customers can cancel their service at any legal time and without any repercussions.
Cox Straight Up Internet Pricing is a promotional offer from Cox Communications to customers who want straightforward internet pricing with no gimmicks.
Straight Up Internet has its prices depending on the region, but the basic price goes for as low as $59.99 monthly for 50 Mbps. Faster speed tiers go up to Gigabit (1,000 Mbps) based on the region and the internet service provider. Installation and WiFi router rental fees also apply:
- 50 Mbps: $59.99/mo
- 100 Mbps: $69.99/mo
- 300 Mbps: $99.99/mo
- Gigabit: $119.99/mo
Sometimes, the service may be offered at a lower rate for a specified period through promotional pricing or bundled with TV or phone services. Extra taxes and charges are usually included in the monthly price and can amount to approximately 10-20%.
What Does ‘Straight Up Internet’ Mean, Is Cox Internet Truly Unlimited?
As noted by Cox Communications, Straight Up Internet promises to deliver internet service that comes with no hard data caps. This implies that customers are free to use as much data as possible without putting them through the extra cost.
However, the fine print in Cox's acceptable use policy still gives them leeway to manage network resources as needed:
Fear not, though, Cox does watch over its network to shield consumers from such threats as viruses, spam, phishing scams, and illicit Web sites We further practice reasonable network management so that customers obtain high-quality levels of service.
Thus, although they proclaim that they offer unlimited data, Cox can still slow down the connection or even block accounts that are associated with the activity that they consider detrimental. However, these restrictions will only apply to distressingly high usage levels. A vast majority of customers should have open access to a high-speed connection on the side of the service.
Cox Straight Up Internet does not have charges for going over these data limits either. As with other providers, exceeding set limits usually attracts additional charges or drastic throttling as they decrease your speed. Hence, there are no specified parameters to keep an eye on – the usage is unrestricted in that sense.
Some Possible Benefits of Unmetered Data
The first advantage of opting for an unlimited and uncapped package such as Straight Up Internet is leaving behind the controlled and limited data plans that most cable and DSL providers are implementing. Activities such as streaming videos in high-definition, gaming, video conferences, and running smart home devices can also contribute to the usage.
When you are streaming, using social platforms, or playing games with no limit on high-speed data, time is not a factor to worry about. At home, customers can use the internet without restrictions and do not feel that they need to control the utilization by devices or family members. That way it helps in saving time and being punctual as it’s one less thing to remember to do.
Of course, corresponding fast internet speeds which can handle this amount of capacity allow for multiple uses at once. Meaning, that large users with multiple users or applications which require extensive bandwidth are the ones who will benefit the most from unlimited data.
Possible Drawbacks of Untethered Data
Can one find any negative sides in having an endless amount of data to spend on the internet? Well, no, except for the fact that one can end up paying slightly more for the monthly fees in some situations, as compared to such other regional caps from other carriers.
This is because even those who will be able to afford only a limited plan will have to go for mixer and matching according to the needs of the household. Control of usage and restrictions on streaming can go a long way in ensuring that the amount of data used and hence the costs borne are reasonable. But for all those middle to high-usage consumers, these ‘unlimited’ offers do make sense.
The critics have expressed their opinions saying that free data carries the disadvantage of denying customers an opportunity to ration the usage of the internet. Consequently, networks could reach oversaturation levels, while providing an unfavorable environment for innovative software applications. But today’s cable networks, most certainly in the developed world, have plenty of headroom for more broadband Internet subscribers, especially as the transition to DOCSIS 3.1 and fiber networks is already on. Moderate management policies also play a role in preventing abuse of networks by unauthorized users.
They also do not enhance latency and jitter when necessary for applications such as online gaming when networks become congested during evening usage. While bandwidth is simply one of the aspects that determines the overall quality of the internet connection, being able to avoid having to ration usage is still a positive aspect.
Argument One: Contradiction between Cox’s Claim to congestion-free networks.
How does Cox bolster its argument that it can supply data as unlimited across its networks?
Other than reasonable limitations on usage, Cox opines that upgrades in the network make it possible for it to provide for unlimited usage. The new cable broadband standard was DOCSIS 3.1 and the company steadily stepped up its rollout after the second quarter. All our markets can deliver Gigabit speeds through the use of this latest technology.
There are still network constructions as well, especially in fiber optics but these are geared towards business at the moment. It brings a tremendous amount of bandwidth margin to maintain speed when the relevant core infrastructure and regional peering are migrated to fiber.
In a statement on its website, Cox says:
“As for our network, we designed it to be fast and reliable – while we guarantee the speed you subscribed to, in most instances, you are likely to get it, even during rush hour.”
However, as providers of cable internet said it is still a shared bandwidth, they have improved their infrastructure and they do not have specific data caps which means that congestion that leads to slowdown for users who have unlimited data will be rare. Lack of timeouts related to inactivity should mean Straight Up Internet provides maximum speeds at any time of the day.
Can Cox Straight Up Internet meet your needs?
In conclusion, Cox Straight Up Internet offers a dependable unlimited data package for cable broadband. The unlimited claim endures moderate scrutiny well when closely examined. It is, however, important to recognize that most of these ISPs have made their unlimited use fine print caveats of having extreme use cases in mind, which means that the ordinary household should not expect any caps or throttling to be implemented on their usage.
The fact that it can be done at user-defined speeds gives related options. The latter can choose the cheapest 50 Mbps offer for minimum expenses keeping in mind that they are light internet users. Gigabit is available to power users willing to pay a premium and allows the customers to have no data usage restrictions.
As always, the requirements and resources allocated to the Internet also differ. However, if you need unlimited data and wish to avoid any hidden charges such as when you exceed a certain limit, then Cox Straight Up Internet does this. For those households requiring moderate to high use but do not want to scrutinize usage to the last detail, it is a fairly attractive solution.
This is only when you compare all the ISP options available to you in terms of the two-speed tiers and data plans. There may be another regional provider with a plan that would fit your data needs better. However, in many regions, Cox offers an unlimited data plan which is not that expensive if compared with other providers offering unconstrained internet.
Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!