In the mid-90s, when the internet started to gain popularity, cable internet providers offered download speeds of 512 Kbps or 0.5 Mbps. The speeds have greatly improved and this is due to the advancements in internet network technology.
Many homes and businesses in Canada are connected to the internet via cable. Cable internet is relatively fast and offers speeds between 20 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The data rates depend on your internet provider and network conditions.
The Role of a Cable Modem in Determining Cable Internet Speed
The technology behind cable modem adheres to the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) industry standard. Older cable modems also known as DOCSIS 2.0 offered download speeds of 38 Mbps and 27 Mbps upload. These types of modems were efficient when cable ISPs offered internet plans with 15 Mbps or lower.
Cable technology has improved and this created a need for faster cable modems. The DOCSIS 3.0 improved the performance compared to the older versions. The DOCSIS 3.0 and newer modems support internet connection speeds of over 150 Mbps and are, therefore, ideal for today’s ISPs offering about 50 Mbps downloads.
With the newer modems, you achieve the best internet rates.
What Might Be Slowing Down Your Cable Modem
With cable internet, a single cable line connects all other subscribers in your neighborhood. The network bandwidth is, therefore, shared among all subscribers. If all the subscribers in your neighborhood access the internet at the same time, there is a big chance that everyone will experience slow internet speeds. Other causes of the slow internet are:
Service glitch: if the ISP that you’ve connected to experiences some technical issues, your speed will decrease. This usually lasts a few minutes or sometimes, a few hours.
Bandwidth cap: some ISPs may throttle your internet speed based on the agreement that you agreed to. The terms and conditions might state that if a customer exceeds the monthly allotted bandwidth, you won’t be able to hit maximum download speeds.
A malfunctioning or misconfigured router: the router is the device that receives the connection from the main line to connect all your home devices. If the device is defective, overloaded or overheating, then your speeds will go down.
Issues with the device: if your internet enabled device is old and lacks the necessary processing power to keep up with the connection, you will not get the expected speed rates. Check whether there are some applications running in the background that are using up your resources.
If you constantly experience slow internet speeds, then your internet service provider might be the issue. Contact GTA Internet to avoid slow internet speeds.