Amongst the many internet connection types out there, fiber internet might just be the fastest, most reliable option. With more and more people working online and the majority of the globe using the internet as their main source of entertainment/information, the question of internet connection is a priority.
Some might even argue that it’s one of the first things you, as a homeowner, need to resolve and one of the first questions that a tenant should ask when talking to a potential landlord.
Still, what is fiber internet? With all of this in mind and without further ado, here’s what you need to know about fiber internet.
What Is the Difference Between Cable Internet and Fiber Internet?
The differences between cable and fiber internet are quite astounding. You see, the signal sent through the conventional cable is made of sound, while fiber internet transmits light signals. Seeing as how light is significantly faster than sound, the internet speed between these two connection types is quite astounding.
To make the long story short, fiber internet is faster, more reliable, and slightly more expensive. With that in mind, how fast is fiber internet exactly, and how does this compare to its cable counterpart?
Now, there are a lot of misconceptions about one type of connection being more reliable than another, but the truth is that these differences are, more or less, negligible. Both connection types are reliable, and their infrastructure is quite durable.
One major difference in reliability comes from the fact that cable internet might slightly plummet during peak hours. On fiber internet, on the other hand, consistency is somewhat higher.
Who Needs Fiber Internet?
The answer to this question would be – anyone who has access to it. Comparatively speaking, the internet is definitely not one of the largest bills that you have to pay on a monthly basis. Therefore, even if fiber is slightly more expensive, it won’t breach your budget.
However, it’s a top priority for people who make their living online. Even if you aren’t a Twitch streamer, web developer, or YouTube content creator, the truth is that a fall in connection speed during a peak hour might hurt you.
Moreover, in 2023, we’re relying on the internet for more than just work. It’s also our main source of entertainment and our main source of information. Therefore, making this investment would also be considered a massive quality-of-life upgrade.
Is there a Downside to Fiber Internet?
Sure, we’ve mentioned that fiber internet is slightly more expensive, but the value that you get for the money is so incredible that it’s hard to classify this as a straight-out downside.
There’s no downside to having fiber internet. However, getting it might turn out to be difficult. You see, chances are that it might not be available in your area, and that’s its biggest downside. You see, cable internet uses telephone infrastructure. This is a technology that is present in every house in every city for decades now. On the other hand, infrastructure for fiber internet is just developing, and it will take a while until it’s as widespread.
So, before you even start weighing your options, you might want to start by checking out if you can get fiber internet to begin with. This will help you avoid any future disappointment.
While we do not doubt that fiber internet will soon become widespread across the globe, it might take a while for some areas to get it. Providers are doing surveys, projections, and estimates. The initial infrastructure is quite expensive, so they need to be sure that it’s going to be worth it before they commit. Depending on how urbanized and industrious your area is, it might take longer or shorter before you have fiber internet available.
Does Fiber Internet Need a Modem?
Fiber internet uses the ONT (optical network terminal) instead of a modem. While the function that they perform can be described as similar, the difference is quite significant.
Now, this ONT can often be found in a FOM (fiber optic modem), which is a modem (in a way). While it does have the word modem in the term, and it is used as a connection between an electronic device and an internet network, it’s not quite the same. The way they function is a lot different from how traditional DSL modems work.
Is Fiber Faster than 5G?
The question on everyone’s mind is whether fiber internet is faster than 5G, and the answer is – yes, by quite a bit. Moreover, seeing as how it’s physically connected to your setup, it’s also more reliable.
To put things into numbers, 5G has an average speed of 20 Gbps downlink and about 10 Gbps uplink. On the other hand, the speed of fiber cable is 1 petabit/second and a practical speed of 100 Gbps. To put it into perspective, 1 petabit is 1 million gigabits. This means that fiber internet is, relatively speaking, 50,000 times faster than its counterpart.
Sure, you have to consider the reach, the cost, and the technology itself, but when it comes to speed alone, it’s not even a close comparison.
How Does Fiber Connect to Your House?
The next big question worth addressing is how fiber internet connects to your house, and the answer is simple. It either starts with a:
- Connection to a tap on the nearest phone
- Comes underground from the nearest vault
From there, it connects to your ONT port (which we discussed earlier). This port converts the fiber to ethernet for your devices.
To make the long story short, while the infrastructure and the technology behind it may be different, there’s not that much of a difference in the methodology.
Wrap Up
At the end of the day, fiber internet is simply superior to cable, and once it becomes widespread enough, everyone should switch to fiber. Even if you don’t have access to it, at the moment, it might be worth your while to familiarize yourself with the subject matter so that you can transition more easily in the future.
