MBC provides all modems that are used to deliver MBC Internet services. MBC deploys the latest cable modem Internet technology available in the industry to delivery Internet speeds up to 1Gbps. MBC does not support customer provided modems.

All MBC issued equipment remains the property of MBC. MBC will replace any MBC issued equipment that does not function properly or fails as a result of normal operation. Customers are responsible for MBC issued equipment that is lost, stolen or damaged. Customers should return MBC issued equipment to any MBC office when they disconnect services.

MBC modems are not available for purchase. MBC provides wired cable modems for FREE to its customers. Wireless cable modems and Whole Home WiFi extenders are available for a monthly rental fee.

All MBC issued equipment remains the property of MBC. MBC will replace any MBC issued equipment that does not function properly or fails as a result of normal operation. Customers are responsible for MBC issued equipment that is lost, stolen or damaged. Customers should return MBC issued equipment to any MBC office when they disconnect services.

MBC wireless modems come with a default network name (SSID) and password. Customers can change the network name for their convenience but MBC strongly suggests that customers change the password to make the network as secure as possible. Detailed instructions for the equipment MBC provides its customers can be found in the Self Help and the Documents portion of our website. Customers can CONTACT US to speak with a Customer Service Representative.

MBC Internet packages vary in price based upon speed (download and upload) and the amount of data a consumer uses each month. MBC offers many options for data use including packages that included UNLIMITED data. MBC customers can monitor their data use by logging in to their online account here.

Because MBC customers are not under any specific contract term for their service, customers can upgrade or downgrade their Internet package at anytime to determine the Internet speed, data use and price that best fits their budget.

Watching movies or TV shows on Netflix uses about 1GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3GB per hour for each stream of HD video.

By default, Netflix sets all accounts to the highest stream rate.  It is possible for customers to exceed their monthly bandwidth data usage inadvertently because they were not aware of the default stream rate of their Netflix account.

Adjusting your data usage settings on your Netflix account is an easy way to reduce the amount of bandwidth used while watching Netflix.  There are four Netflix data usage settings to choose from.

• Low (0.3 GB per hour)
• Medium (SD:  0.7 GB per hour)
• High (up to 3 GB per hour for HD and 7 GB per hour for ultra HD)
• Auto (adjusts automatically to the highest stream rate)

To select a setting that works best for your Internet package, navigate to the Your Account page and select Playback Settings in the Your Profile section.

Netflix also defaults to ‘Play the Next Episode Automatically’.  It is recommended that you deselect this option.  Some customers may fall asleep watching Netflix only to wake up the next morning and find they have streamed several hours of content that they did not watch.

It can take up to 8 hours for these changes to take effect.

Data usage settings only apply to the Netflix profile you are in when you set them, meaning you can have different data usage settings for each profile.  If you are concerned about the total amount of data that Netflix uses in your home, make sure to change these settings for each profile that may be using your internet service.

Much like how leaving your water turned on impacts the cost of water or leaving lights on in your home that you don’t need impacts the cost of electricity, the stream rate and duration of streaming impacts your data usage and your overall cost of Internet service.

MBC has a speed test server installed in its Network Operations Center in Okinawa. This server tests the speed of your Internet connection across the MBC owned and operated network before your traffic is handed off to third party content and service providers around the world. Customers test the speed of their Internet using a wired Ethernet connection between a computer and the MBC issued cable modem.

Click HERE to visit the MBC Speed Test Site.

While all wired and wireless devices are compatible with the MBC 1Gbps service, very few connected devices have the capability to see 1Gbps speeds. While operating systems, web browsers, processors, memory and hard drive type and space are important, the most critical component to getting the most from your Internet connection is the Network Interface Card that resides in your device. Customers who connect an Ethernet cable from the MBC modem to a 1Gbps Ethernet Network Interface Card on their device have the best ability to run speed tests with results approaching 1Gbps.

Many customers may find that their computer has a 100Mbps Network Interface Card. If this is the case, the customer can only see 100Mbps of throughput for that device. Other customers connecting with wireless devices (tablets, smart phones, etc.) may only see speed test results of 500Mbps – 600Mbps. But that’s all OK. Your 1Gbps Internet service is in your modem and available to you.

1Gbps service is not the delivery of 1Gbps to any one device because there are very few, if any, true 1Gbps single use applications. 1Gbps Internet is about the delivery of the maximum available speed to as many connected devices for as many heavy use activities that you want to run.

Here are some common items that can impact the performance of your Internet service.

1. Wired v Wireless Networks – Wired network connections are faster.

2. Number of devices connected – Whether wired or wireless, the number of devices and the type of activity running on each device will impact the speed of your Internet.

3. Unsecured Wireless Networks – Wireless networks should be secured with a unique network name and unique password. Unsecured wireless networks lead to unauthorized access, reduced speed and can put private information at risk.

4. Wireless Congestion – Wireless networks transmit using common radio frequencies. Those frequencies can only permit a certain amount of traffic simultaneously. Most wireless devices are manufactured using certain default channels. In housing locations with multiple wireless networks (especially dorms or barracks) frequency congestion may occur which may reduce wireless speeds. Consider changing the default wireless channel in your wireless router to improve performance.

5. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) mask the presence of your IP address and will dramatically reduce the speed of your Internet service. MBC does not support the use of VPNs.

6. Age / Condition of Computer Equipment – Older computer equipment or devices with viruses or malware may not be able to support the speed of your Internet service. Test your Internet speed using different devices.

7. Time of Day / Network Congestion – Peak evening hours and weekends are times of heavier Internet use. While the MBC network has been built to support customer needs at all times of the day, large file uploads or downloads may perform better during non-peak hours.

8. Website or Remote Server Connection – An Internet connection is only as fast as the slowest connected device. The website or remote server being accessed may be misconfigured or its Internet connection may be inadequate for the number of people accessing it at the same time. MBC owns, operates, maintains and certifies its Internet speeds across its network. If the website or remote server delivering content to you has a slower Internet connection, then that slower speed will be the maximum speed you receive while you are connected to that content.

Click here for tips on how to manage your network.