Cablevision Optimum Online

Bottom Line

Cablevision Optimum Online provides fast and reliable Internet service to people living in the Northeast, primarily in the tri-state area. Its basic service package offers a respectable 15 Mbps download speed and higher-tier packages increase this significantly. Optimum Online scores well for customer satisfaction, in part because it includes Internet security software in all its packages.

Plans and Speed

Boost for extra speed. Cablevision Optimum Online offers a basic-plan 15 Mbps download speed; an Optimum Boost option increases that up to 50 Mbps download and costs an extra $15 per month. At PCMag,com, Optimum Online comes in seventh place among ISPs nationwide in speed tests, and editors give this service good marks for reliability. Cablevision is primarily available in the Northeast.

Features

Internet security suite included. Optimum Online provides more than 50,000 hotspots for Wi-Fi connection in the tri-state area. After your first connection, you'll be automatically connected whenever you're in a Cablevision hotspot. Subscribers get five email accounts, each with 2 GB of storage space. In addition to email virus protection, all Optimum Online service packages include the Total Defense Internet security suite that includes antivirus, firewall and parental controls software.

TopTenReviews.com editors give Optimum Online 8.2 points out of 10, but say the company doesn't offer DSL or dial-up services for those in rural areas.

Customer Satisfaction

Not much information. In the extensive Internet customer survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, Cablevision Optimum Online performs strongly in the East region where its main geographic coverage is located. There aren't enough subscriber reviews at BroadbandReports.com to form a consensus.