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If you’ve read up on the pros and cons of cable Internet and decided it is the type of broadband for you, then the next step is to find out if you can actually connect to it from where you live – and the good news is chances are you can! Cable Internet is available right across Australia anywhere the cables used to carry pay TV exist. If you’ve seen the Foxtel van in your street it’s almost certain cable Internet is available in your area. That doesn’t mean you have to sign up for cable TV to become an Internet customer. What is does mean is that because cities and towns in every state are hooked up it is accessible in a lot of places. In the Northern Territory and Tasmania, only two cities are connected in each – Darwin and Alice Springs, Hobart and Launceston respectively. Elsewhere, the majority of the Australian population is within reach.
Save money by bundling
If you’re actually already hooked up to pay TV via cable, however, half the work is done and you won’t need to pay a professional to lay the cable from the street to your house. You will also be able to get cable broadband as part of a package deal, which may mean savings on both. You may even be able to include phone, pay TV and Internet in the same package (this is called “bundling”). Careful of hidden fees though – there may be hefty cancellation fees if you change your mind within the contract service period.
Who do I talk to?
To find out whether cables have been laid in your area you’ll need to contact one of the big telcos: Telstra or Optus. They will take your postcode and let you know if your area is cabled up. A word of advice: do your homework. The cable broadband Internet market is nowhere near as competitive as ADSL or even wireless Internet. You’ll want to hunt around to make sure you get the best deal.
One of the big benefits of cable compared to say, wireless, is speed. If you want lightning quick speeds then cable broadband is for you. That said, some ADSL connections are comparable depending on how close you live to the exchange. Use our comparison page to help you make an informed decision.
