Introduction: Cable vs. Pure Fiber Infrastructure

Cox Communications represents six decades of cable evolution, serving 6 million customers across 18 states with DOCSIS 3.1 cable technology delivering speeds up to 2 Gbps. Metronet, founded in 2005, pursues a radically different strategy: deploy 100% fiber-to-the-home networks exclusively in growth corridors across the Midwest and Southeast, with symmetric gigabit speeds and no data caps. This comparison pits established cable infrastructure against modern fiber architecture in markets where both providers compete.

The technology difference is fundamental. Cox's coaxial cable network shares bandwidth among neighborhood users, creating asymmetric speeds (fast downloads, slower uploads) and potential congestion during peak hours. Metronet's fiber-optic connections dedicate bandwidth to each customer with symmetric speeds—1 Gbps down equals 1 Gbps up. Where both providers operate, fiber's technical advantages typically outweigh cable's longer service history.

Geographic overlap is limited but growing as Metronet expands into markets Cox has served for decades. In competitive zones like parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Florida suburbs, customers face a clear choice: Cox's established cable service with TV bundles versus Metronet's cutting-edge fiber with superior upload speeds and unlimited data. We'll examine speed performance, pricing structures, and real-world value to guide your decision.

Speed Comparison

Cox cable delivers download speeds from 100 Mbps to 2 Gbps depending on market, with real-world performance typically 90-95% of advertised speeds during off-peak hours. The company's DOCSIS 3.1 technology bonds multiple cable channels to achieve gigabit speeds, though shared neighborhood architecture means evening slowdowns of 10-20% are common in dense areas. Upload speeds max out at 35 Mbps on gigabit tiers—adequate for video calls but limiting for content creators uploading 4K footage or large file transfers.

Metronet's 100% fiber network delivers symmetric speeds where 1 Gbps means 1,000 Mbps down AND 1,000 Mbps up. Real-world fiber performance consistently hits 95-99% of advertised speeds with no peak-hour degradation—fiber's dedicated connections eliminate the congestion issues inherent to shared cable infrastructure. Latency typically measures under 10ms to regional servers compared to Cox's 15-25ms, and the symmetric architecture transforms upload-intensive applications like cloud backups, video conferencing, and content creation workflows.

The upload speed disparity represents the most dramatic performance gap. A content creator uploading a 50 GB 4K video project waits 3+ hours on Cox's 35 Mbps upload versus 7 minutes on Metronet's 1 Gbps fiber. Remote workers transferring large datasets, photographers backing up RAW files, and households with multiple simultaneous video conferences all benefit dramatically from fiber's symmetric architecture. For basic web browsing and streaming, both providers perform adequately; fiber's advantages emerge in bandwidth-intensive and upload-heavy applications.

Pricing Breakdown

Cox employs promotional pricing starting at $50-100/month year one, then increasing 30-50% in subsequent years. Add equipment rental ($12/mo), optional unlimited data ($50/mo to remove 1.25 TB cap), and installation ($100), and multi-year costs escalate significantly. A Cox 1 Gbps customer with unlimited data pays effectively $130-160/month after promotional periods expire.

Metronet's pricing starts lower and stays simpler: 500 Mbps fiber at $40/mo, 1 Gig at $70/mo, 2 Gig at $100/mo. All plans include unlimited data, symmetric speeds, no contracts, and free standard installation. No equipment rental if you use your own router. Five-year total cost shows Metronet 1 Gig at $4,200 versus Cox 1 Gbps with unlimited at $7,500+—Metronet delivers 44% savings with superior fiber technology.

Data economics favor Metronet's unlimited approach versus Cox's 1.25 TB cap. Heavy streaming households, remote workers, and gamers frequently exceed Cox's cap (4K streaming consumes 15-25 GB per movie), requiring the $50/mo unlimited addon or facing $10 per 50 GB overage fees. Metronet's no-cap policy eliminates usage monitoring and surprise fees entirely—stream, game, and work without rationing bandwidth.

Coverage & Availability

Cox operates in 18 states concentrated in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Virginia with 6 million serviceable addresses. Metronet focuses on Midwest and Southeast fiber builds in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Florida, and expanding markets—approximately 400,000 current customers with aggressive growth plans. Overlap exists in select Florida suburbs and Midwestern metros where Metronet's newer fiber competes with Cox's established cable. Most consumers will have access to one or neither provider—check both at your specific address as fiber availability varies building-by-building.