What Network does Cox Use?
Cox Communications is among the leading telecommunication companies in the United States of America with its cables and internet services touching over six million inhabitants and companies in eighteen states. But which network does Cox use to bring consumers its television, phone, and internet packages? Here is an overview of the key networks and infrastructure that power Cox Communications:
Cox Network Infrastructure
Regarding physical networks, Cox can rely on its cable network infrastructure to provide services to the customers. This includes:
- Fiber optic cable network – Cox has installed thousands of miles of high-capacity fiber optic cable in its network territory. Fiber is utilized as the structural infrastructure to link headends and distribution centers within Fiber’s network.
- Hybrid Fiber Coaxial Network (HFC) – The core network used to deliver cable services to most of Cox’s customers is a HFC network. Neighborhood nodes are connected with fiber optic cables and the last mile is through coaxial cables to the homes and commercial buildings. It can deliver gigabit internet speeds through this network.
- Metro Ethernet: For its business clients, Cox provides dedicated metro Ethernet service of up to 10 Gbps over fiber. Metro Ethernet delivers direct fiber connectivity between sites.
- WiFi network – In addition to broadband connectivity, more than a million people with Cox High-Speed Internet can connect to the Cox WiFi network, with access to more than 650,000 spots. This network gives an extra opportunity for connectivity when one is on the road.
This Cox network has been developed over time and today Cox cable has one of the most modern, extensive, and high-capacity national cable networks. More specifically, Cox has invested over $15 billion of capital expenditure over the last decade in infrastructure to increase the speed, reliability, and capacity of broadband networks across its operational regions.
Cox Broadband Networks
When it comes to the specific networks used to deliver Cox’s internet and bandwidth services, Cox leverages multiple connectivity options:
- Cable broadband network – Cox’s DOCSIS 3.1 hybrid fiber-coaxial network provides cable broadband internet services including basic broadband high-speed internet and higher tiers of up to gigabit services. The network is capable of handling the gigabit bandwidths and is certified under the 1 Gigabit Cable Labs certification.
- DSL network - Although this is less common, cox does offer DSL internet service in other locations where its cable commercial service coverage might be limited due to its partnerships with regional telephone companies. Even so, maximum speeds do not exceed 25-50Mbps.
- Mobile broadband - To address the connectivity needs of those consumers and businesses that require constant connectivity while on the move, Cox has a wholesale relationship with the major cellular network operators (Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA, Sprint Corporation) whereby Cox offer cellular data plans as their network but using the infrastructure of the aforementioned operators.
- Metro Ethernet fiber – Dedicated point-to-point fiber connection to large businesses as well as enterprise-level customers at up to 10 Gbps through Cox’s national Metro Ethernet fiber network. This option provides reciprocal, unencumbered access to the Cox fiber infrastructure without any intermediate network.
Cox Television Networks
When it comes to delivering TV programming, Cox taps into a blend of proprietary connectivity along with partnerships with sat casters: When it comes to delivering TV programming, Cox taps into a blend of proprietary connectivity along with partnerships with sat casters:
- Cox local broadcast TV network – The Cox cable company has its own local broadcast television system in most of its service areas using the ASC agreement that allows it to transmit local broadcast channels through the cable system instead of antennas.
- Headend infrastructure - Programming is made available in each of the Cox headend video hub locations in a particular region through an antenna and satellite reception, coding and decryption, and then transmission through a hybrid fiber-coaxial network to the customers.
- Satellite networks - Current Cox original programming is limited, and most channels offered by the company originate from partners like Discovery, Viacom, and NBC Universal, among others that are beamed via satellite to customers on the Cox network or through streaming apps.
Cox Phone Network
Unlike many cable providers that rely purely on internet-based VoIP solutions for phone service, Cox operates an extensive private IP telephone network to ensure reliable call quality and standalone functionality:
- Softswitch architecture – Currently at the core of the Cox phone network is an intricate interconnect routing softswitch IP-based organizing customer calls within the Cox footprint.
- SIP technology – To provide connectivity to external networks and for interconnection, Cox uses SIP trunking services to transfer calls through public and private VoIP infrastructures.
- Cox phone customers - 91 percent of the telephones include backup batteries to support service for up to 8 hours in case of power loss.
Being a privately managed platform developed on IP infrastructure the core functionality is assured and problems that may affect the voice line such as congestion that might affect purely IP-based phone services are eliminated.
Ongoing Network Investments
Being one of the largest private telecom operators in America, Cox understands that valuable networks are the key to keeping clients connected in today’s digital environment. The company fully lives up to its mantra of providing connectivity choice, reliability, and performance, all of which are underpinned by a unique combination of the firm’s dedicated network infrastructure and access to high-tier nationwide networks. Since Cox has more than a hundred network engineers on its payroll, it will inevitably keep on enhancing infrastructure solutions requirements within the communities it operates in the future.
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