Cable and DSL internet providers, watch out! Fiber is coming. With its lightning-fast speeds and a reliable internet connection, fiber internet is quickly becoming the gold standard of internet. But what is fiber internet, and what does it mean for your family? Let’s dig into that and explore why fiber is rising through the ranks.
What Is Fiber Internet?
Fiber internet is the newest type of broadband internet service available on the market today. It is made up of thin strands of glass or plastic buried underground to transmit data back and forth as light. Unlike traditional broadband connections like cable that relies on outdated copper wires, fiber optic can carry significantly more data over longer distances at faster speeds without interfering with your neighbors connection.
Lightning Fast Download & Upload Speeds
The best feature of fiber internet is its lightning-fast download and upload speeds. If you’ve never had fiber internet before, you’ve never experienced speeds quite like this. Your download and upload speeds will be symmetrical, meaning they’re equal in speed. So say you subscribe to a 500 Mbps internet plan, your download and upload speeds will both be 500 Mbps. 500 Mbps is just an example. Fiber internet can reach speeds up to 10 Gbps, depending on where you live. This is unheard of with any other type of internet service.
Superior Reliability
Simply put, fiber internet is more reliable than other types of internet service. Cable lines have been in the ground since the 70’s, so naturally, they have degraded over time. Let’s not forget that they were installed for TV, not internet service. Meanwhile, fiber is new and is meant to transmit data. It’s also worth noting that distance from your home to your internet provider isn’t much of an issue, unlike cable or DSL. With cable or DSL, the farther away you are from the provider or their nodes, the slower your internet speeds will be. It’s not the internet provider’s fault. It’s just how their technology is.
Enhanced Security
With all the things we do online now from paying our bills, to online banking and applying for jobs; we need secure internet connections. Luckily this is another great feature of fiber internet. Because data is transmitted by light through fiber optic cables, it is so much more difficult for hackers to break into. It’s like an added layer of security compared to other internet types.
Semi Limited Availability
Fiber internet used to be limited to select urban areas only, but that’s changing. Broadband connection providers are rapidly expanding their coverage areas to include many cities and their surrounding suburbs too. Maybe you’ve seen their trucks in your neighborhood. Luckily advancements in technology have made it much more cost effective to expand their coverage, but it still takes time. It’s unknown how long it’ll take fiber internet to reach rural communities.
Slower Coverage Area Expansion
Fiber internet coming into new neighborhoods are much more involved than previous types of internet before them. There’s a lot of leg work; community approval, permits, construction, costs, and more. All their infrastructure is new and unfortunately that takes more time than the next cable provider coming into town using existing lines.
Top Fiber Internet Service Providers(Opens in a new browser tab)
Is Fiber Internet Right For Your Household?
That’s for you to decide. But with its lightning fast speeds, reliability, and security; fiber internet is a solid choice for any household. It’s important to assess your household’s needs and budget before committing to any internet provider.
Discussion about this post