To determine if your Ethernet cable is the culprit, try testing your internet speed using a different cable or connecting your device directly to the modem. If the speed significantly improves, it's likely that the original cable is faulty. However, just like any other component, they can deteriorate over time or become damaged, leading to a poor network connection or even. A damaged network cable can cause connectivity problems, slow internet speeds, or complete network failure. Several factors can contribute to a malfunctioning LAN cable. Some common causes of cable failure include: LAN cables are. What most people don't think about is the fact that an ethernet cable going bad could be the cause of their troubles.