Cable Internet is a broadband internet access that uses the infrastructure of cable TV network to provide internet services. Cable Internet provides connectivity from the internet service provider (ISP) to the end users in a similar manner as digital subscriber line (DSL) and fibre to the home (FTTH). In telecommunications, cable Internet access, shortened to cable Internet, is a form of broadband Internet access which uses the same infrastructure as a cable television. Like digital subscriber line and fiber to the premises services, cable Internet access provides network edge connectivity (last mile access) from the Internet service provider to an end user. It is integrated into the cable television infrastructure analogously to DSL which uses the existing telephone network.
Cable TV networks and telecommunications networks are the two predominant forms of residential Internet access. Recently, both have seen increased competition from fiber deployments, wireless, and mobile networks.
Broadband cable Internet access has a cable modem termination system (CMTS) at a cable operator facility, called a headend. Headend is connected to switching centers by high bandwidth fiber trunk. Each switching center is connected to one or more fiber nodes through fiber optic cables. The local coaxial cable connects to the customer which has a cable modem to receive the services.
Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) System: The system uses a combination of fiber cables and coaxial cables. Fiber cables are used for long haul connections, fiber trunks connect the headend with switching centres and fiber cables connect switching centre with fiber node. Coaxial cables run to the individual houses. The fiber nodes are responsible for optical – electrical conversion of signals.