MoCA 2.5 lets homes use existing coax to deliver fast, low‑latency internet

MoCA 2.5 is a networking standard that uses a home's existing coaxial cable to deliver fast, low‑latency internet, offering an alternative where Wi‑Fi struggles, such as in houses with brick or stone walls.

MoCA stands for Multimedia over Coax Alliance. The MoCA 2.5 version supports connection speeds up to 2.5 Gbps and offers low latency, typically under 2.5 milliseconds. At those speeds you can run seamless 4K (and even 8K where available) streaming, fast large file transfers, high‑resolution video calls, and stable online gaming, while phones and tablets would still use Wi‑Fi.

Using MoCA requires adapters that connect a coax outlet to an adapter and an Ethernet cable from the adapter to a PC. ZDNET's report says TRENDnet's TMO‑321C Ethernet over COAX MoCA 2.5 Adapter is recommended; it is inexpensive (about $65) but its Ethernet port supports up to 1 Gbps, and TRENDnet also offers a 2.5Gb model for around $80. The article also notes the goCoax MoCA 2.5 Adapter if you specifically want a 2.5Gb Ethernet port.

MoCA can revive older in‑wall coax without ripping it out, but actual top speeds depend on your ISP plan, equipment, and cabling. You will need additional adapters for each room where you want a wired connection.