Cox Cable Speed Test FAQ
Cox Internet speed test averages shown in the statistics area above are based on M-Labs data from the past twelve months. M-Labs is one of the largest databases of public speed test information online, and is embedded in Google results as well as BroadbandNow.
Cox speed averages use 90th percentile statistics, which result in a better overall picture of their performance as a provider. These averages drop the low-quality tests near zero, which are almost always due to an error on the client side (malfunctioning WiFi router, poorly configured home network, etc).
Cox Cable Download vs Upload: What’s the Difference?
Cox plans are advertised according to download speed, but many customers don’t realize the upload speeds are much lower. This is actually normal among cable providers, and it’s a problem caused by limited bandwidth in the coaxial cable wires they use to deliver your Internet service.
Netflix, YouTube, and other “over the top” video providers are the highest-bandwidth uses most customers have for their Internet connection. Providers like Cox prioritize download speeds because upload isn’t really necessary for most video services. The exception is video chat platforms like Skype or Twitch, which need to send video files up as well as down. Cox upload speeds are usually above 5 Mbps, which is enough for the average user.
Cox Cable: Is Cable the Fastest Internet?
Cox cable isn’t the fastest Internet option in the USA, but it’s almost always the fastest option in the suburban areas they serve. Fiber is the only technology that outstrips cable in terms of speed and bandwidth. For now, most of Cox’s service areas don’t have fiber to the home — except for those where Cox has built out their own fiber services.