Fiber-optic internet (colloquially referred to as just fiber) is a broadband connection that can reach up to 100 Gbps. This is a technology that uses fiber cables that uses light waves as a means of transferring information. Since conventional broadband uses sound waves instead, it’s no surprise that fiber internet is so much faster (since light is faster than sound).
- Still, if fiber internet is superior, why isn’t everyone using it?
- What kind of infrastructure is required for it to be operational?
- Is fiber internet really worth it?
We’ll do our best to give answers to at least some of these questions!
How does fiber internet work?
The technology is simple but not so inexpensive to install. You see, fiber-optic cables transmit data via light signals. The reason why this is so problematic is that there’s no existing infrastructure. Since, traditionally, broadband used telephone wires, there was no problem with availability. After all, phone wires are everywhere, and all you have to do is subscribe (and get a modem).
The problem with fiber internet is that it’s still not everywhere. Sure, the technology is advanced and superior to old-school internet in virtually every way conceivable.
As we’ve already said, the price is not the biggest issue; it’s availability. So, before you plan to switch to fiber, you may want to check if you can get it to begin with. The process is simple; all you need to do is look up the phrase – can I get fiber in my area. The results will reveal everything.
Even the fact that it’s more expensive than regular broadband is related to availability. Since there’s no pre-existing infrastructure, it has to be built from scratch. This is often factored into the price and will continue to be so for quite a while.
What to expect with fiber internet?
For people who switch to fiber internet, there’s an immediate quality of life improvement.
The first difference that you may notice is speed. You’ll be able to download and upload files a lot quicker. You will no longer encounter buffering or quality drops if you’re watching large files. The problem with this is that it may go unnoticed past the first few days. People quickly get accustomed to a higher quality of life and soon forget what things were like before.
There’s also a huge drop in latency. This will result in a massive performance buff for gamers, especially those competing online. Fiber-optic also works well with great distances. This means you’ll have less trouble even if the server is further away.
The key thing to remember is that, nowadays, more and more people work via the Internet. Regardless if you’re just sharing work-related files on collaboration platforms or uploading 3-hour-long videos on YouTube, things will get a lot better.
Most importantly, since this is a work-related issue, you should look at a switch to fiber as an investment, not an expense.
How fast is fiber internet?
While this depends on the provider and the plan you get, most internet providers offer connections as fast as 100,000 Mbps (100 Gbps).
According to some estimates, a device streaming in 4K requires just 35 Mbps. So, does this mean that the 100,000 Mbps you can get with fiber internet is overkill? Not necessarily!
You see, streaming in 4K is great, but it’s not an end goal. With the dawn of 5K technology and rapid technological advancement, it might be a good idea to future-proof your internet capabilities. While fiber internet is incredibly fast at the moment, the potential of this technology is yet to be reached.
Is fiber internet better than Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi transmits the internet using radio waves, classical broadband uses telephone wire, and fiber internet uses an optic cable and light signals. All three technologies are vastly different.
The simplest, most straightforward answer to this question is – yes! Fiber provides a faster, more secure connection than Wi-Fi.
The problem is that Wi-Fi is more versatile and more convenient. Connecting doesn’t require any additional equipment. All you need to do is click Connect and enter a password (provided there is one). With fiber, things are slightly more complex.
Also, availability is the issue that we keep returning to. Wi-Fi, even free Wi-Fi, is virtually everywhere. Walking down the street without catching a dozen connections is a challenge. This is further reinforced by the fact that the Wi-Fi setup is incredibly simple. You can do it with a simple tutorial if you have the right gear (which almost everyone does).
Then, there’s the issue of range. As its name suggests, Wi-Fi is wireless and can be used to send the internet over a larger swath of land. It covers a larger area.
What are some good reasons to switch to fiber internet?
If you’re working from home, switching to fiber internet will mean a huge quality-of-life improvement for a moderate cost increase. Almost anyone would agree that this is a worthwhile investment.
Content creators also have a strong incentive to switch to fiber. Some have even migrated to an area with available fiber internet. When your job uploads videos, doing so in minutes and hours is a massive difference. We’ve previously listed the main reason why professional gamers need fiber.
People who have smart homes or plan to make smart homes should also consider using fiber. Some smart home devices are unsafe when used with unreliable connections. This is why you need the best of the best. Here, fiber is impossible to top. You can use the opportunity while handling your electrical wiring issues to fix your internet issues.
Even without all the smart devices, chances are that your home has some sort of video surveillance. Well, a stronger connection provides greater reliability of surveillance and higher quality of imaging (in real-time).
Wrap up
So, is making a switch to fiber internet worth it? The answer to this question is – most likely. Even if you are not “terminally online” or working from home, your home probably has several smart features. If not, this awaits us all in the near future. So, the sooner you make the switch, the better. If fiber is available in your area, it’s definitely worth considering the switch.
