Cable is certainly a step up from DSL and standard satellite service in terms of speed and reliability. You could even enjoy fairly fast connections with cable. However, this particular link to the information superhighway sometimes gets frustratingly congested. This is one of the most compelling reasons to explore the possibilities with fiber optic internet connections.
In short, fiber is a type of internet that delivers the signal via pulses of light through fibers made of glass or plastic. Because there’s no copper, like what’s used with cable, the signal is much less likely to weaken since fiber or glass won’t heat up the same way copper can under certain conditions. Fiber optic connections can be broken down by how the fiber connection gets to you. There are three ways to deliver fiber service:
• Fiber to the home (FTTH): Because FTTH connects directly to your home, this is the fastest way to receive fiber optic internet connections.
• Fiber to the curb (FTTC): A coaxial cable takes the fiber connection from a nearby utility pole to your home with FTTC. There’s a slight bottleneck potential here due to the brief traditional cable link needed.
• Fiber to the node/neighborhood (FTTN): With this approach to fiber internet delivery, the fiber line is somewhere within a mile of your home, so there’s a longer trek required via cable wires to get the signal to your home.
Now let’s talk about the top advantages associated with fiber optic internet connections. We focus on the top ten below.
1. Impressive Speed
Speed is easily the number one advantage of fiber optic internet connections. Fiber’s typical speed is an impressive 1 Gbps. If you compare that to cable, that’s about 10 to 20 times faster than what’s possible with cable’s average speed range of 80 to 100 Mbps. At 1 Gbps, for example, you could download a 2-hour movie in just 40 seconds – and in HD! At cable’s top speed, the same task would take about 7 minutes. And with DSL, you would have time to run to the store to stock up on snacks by the time the 30 minute or so download of the same 2-hour HD movie was completed.
2. Awesome Reliability
Normally, cable internet is fast enough to stream videos from popular services like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu without any interruptions. However, this isn’t always the case during higher traffic times, like the evening hours. Fiber optic internet, on the other hand, is capable of handling such demands at higher speeds with no service disruptions or slowdowns. What’s more, fiber internet doesn’t need energized lines like cable does, so it’s usually not affected by power outages. Fiber’s reliability is even more appealing if you regularly depend on the internet for:
• Gaming and streaming
• Work-related tasks requiring reliable connections
• Remote learning
• Downloading and uploading
• Doing multiple online-based tasks at once
3. No Slowdowns or ‘Throttling’
In order to prevent overloading the system, many cable providers “throttle” their service. This refers to the process of intentionally slowing down speed during peak usage times. The drop-off can sometimes be very noticeable and frustrating. In some instances, this could mean suddenly going from 100 Mbps to 20 Mbps or even lower. Because fiber optic internet connections aren’t as susceptible to overloading, throttling is usually not an issue.
4. Equal Download/Upload Speeds
If you’ve ever tried to download something around the same time as you upload something else, you may have noticed a huge difference in the amount of time involved – at least if you have cable internet. The reason this often happens is because cable providers allow more bandwidth for downloading since this is more common than uploading. Because fiber can handle much more usage demands, downloading and uploading speeds remain equal. So, you can download and upload with less stress and much faster speeds!
5. Better Ability to Meet 4K TV Connection Demands
4K TV is a digital television option that provides an impressive resolution boost that averages around 4,000 pixels for the display. This is worth mentioning since 4K TV sales have skyrocketed in recent years. The crisper pictures possible with a 4K TV require a lot of internet bandwidth. Your cable connection may end up struggling to meet these demands in a way that allows you to get the most out enjoyment and use out of a 4K TV. Fiber, however, can easily step up and handle the extra bandwidth requirements needed for a higher-quality 4K viewing experience.
6. No Gameplay Blips and Hiccups
Online gaming doesn’t suck up a lot of data compared to streaming in HD and similar activities. So, why is it often preferred among avid gamers? Consistently is the main reason. One tiny blip or connectivity hiccup can be incredibly frustrating if you’re in the middle of a battle or other tasks that requires consistent speed and connection access. Because of fiber’s consistent flow and dependability, gamers can breathe a sigh of relief and remained focused on gameplay.
7. Surprising Health Perks
The race is on among top internet service providers and communications companies to blanket the country with 5G service. Its top perk is being able to provide lightning fast speeds that are actually 10-times faster than fiber. The health advantage comes into play because of some concerns that have been expressed about the safety of 5G connections. The World Health Organization, however, states there’s no need to be concerned about 5G. This statement comes in response to claims by hundreds of scientists and medical professionals that 5G connections may increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Because fiber signals remain contained within the cables, this potential risk is greatly diminished.
8. Multiple Device Usage Possibilities
At one time, it was fairly common to have one household computer that was shared by everyone. These days, however, it’s much more common to have multiple devices – from laptops and tablets to smart thermostats, TVs, and appliances – within a single home that need internet access to operate. Thanks to increased bandwidth and steady access to service, fiber optic connections can meet all these usage demands and requirements.
9. Improved Safety
The National Broadband Plan is a Federal Communication Commission plan that was put into place in 2010. It calls for improved connections and access to the internet throughout the United States. Because of fiber’s faster speeds and reliability, connections of this nature can be useful in emergency service situations involving:
• First responder services
• Medical emergencies
• Public or home safety situations
• Disaster or storm notifications
10. Improved Remote Doctor Access
Telemedicine has been on the rise in recent years, especially since the pandemic became a global concern in 2020. Since fiber optic connections are more reliable, remote doctor visits can be done with higher resolution video links and without worrying about connection disruptions or slowdowns. This can be especially beneficial for older adults and people living in areas where it’s not easy to make a trip to the doctor for non-emergency situations or routine care.