An internet connection is not enough on its own. In today’s fast-paced world, we need high-speed internet to be able to keep up with our responsibilities. This is where fiber-internet comes in.
You have probably heard of fiber optic internet, but what is it and why is it so popular? We will delve into the details of how fiber-internet works and why so many people all over the world prefer it.
What is Fiber Internet?
Yes, the fiber-optic internet is the most popular type of connection offered by internet service providers (ISP). As the name suggests, the connection uses fiber-optic cables to provide high-speed internet connections to households. The fiber-optic cable is made up of strands that are as thin as human hair. Signals travel through it in the form of light pulses.
The fiber optic connection offers users high upload and download speeds. It offers high upload speeds as well to help users upload content to the internet quickly. The high speed helps in downloading large files quickly, streaming videos without buffering, video conferencing without lags, and performing other tasks simultaneously.
You will need to check with your ISP such as Earthlink internet and find out about their connections. Fiber-optic cables are not available in all areas in the USA. Earthlink internet reviews are good in US but the Earthlink pricing are high. According to statistics, only 45% of US households have access to fiber-optic cable, most of which are located in urban areas.
Types of Fiber Optic Internet
You can find 3 types of fiber connections in the market. The speeds of these connections can vary drastically and depends on how close the fiber optic is to the modem.
FTTH
FTTH, or Fiber to the Home, is the quickest fiber connection in the market. The fiber-optic cable travels to your house and offers high-speed internet.
FTTC
The FTTC connection, also known as Fiber to the Curb, uses a fiber-optic cable to the utility pole near your house. From there it uses coaxial cables to transmit the internet connection to your household. The coaxial cable adversely affects the speed of the internet.
FTTN
Fiber to the Node, or FTTN connections, is the slowest fiber internet. The fiber cable can come as close to a mile from your house. The longer distance between the cable and the household reduces the speed significantly.
Advantages of fiber optic
1. High Speeds
Fiber connections can offer speeds of up to 1Gbps. This speed is a lot faster than all other connection types. The fiber optic cables allow the data to travel at 70% of the speed of light. These cables are not affected by weather conditions, which also minimizes outages and resists electrical interference.
A fiber connection can help you download and upload files in a fraction of the time that it takes cable connections. It can download HD movies in seconds and backup your images and data in a matter of minutes.
2. Dependable Connections
Internet connections need to be reliable and also offer high-speeds. A reliable connection ensures that you have constant access to the internet regardless of the time. Your connection should be able to stream videos without constant interruptions and be able to handle peak traffic times.
Fiber-optic cables offer consistent speeds at all times to households. They can handle adding more users and devices than cable connections.
Even companies are opting for fiber-internet connections to help the business to run smoothly. An up and running connection allows employees to communicate with each other seamlessly, stay in touch with customers at all times, and manage transactions without any delays.
3. Improved Gaming Experience
Your gaming experience can vary drastically as it is dependent on the internet connection you are using. To play online or multiplayer games such as Minecraft, League of Legends, or Fortnite, a high-speed connection is not optional, but necessary. While these games will not use up a lot of your bandwidth, they do require a reliable connection for you to enjoy the experience.
If you try to play games with a slow or unreliable connection, it can cause your game to glitch at the wrong time or take a lot of time to process your commands. To avoid these hiccups, you need a high-speed connection and play a game without any interruptions.
4. No Bandwidth Limits
ISPs can restrict the bandwidth being delivered to your household without informing the user. During peak times, the ISPs throttle your connections by reducing your internet speed to avoid any outages. However, fiber optic internet connections can handle higher loads. Therefore, users are able to enjoy high-speed internet no matter what time it is.
5. Symmetrical download and upload speeds
Unlike other ISPs that offer lower upload speeds, fiber-optic connections offer the same speed for all your work.
Fiber Optic Internet doesn’t allocate speeds for different tasks. Because the technology has no issues with overloading the network, internet providers can provide the same speeds for uploads and downloads. You can easily share files from your end easily and quickly.
6. High-Quality TV Service
Smart HD TVs require a reliable and high-speed internet connection to allow users to stream movies and TV shows. When you choose to view videos on your TV, a lot of the bandwidth is used to display the crystal-clear videos on the screen.
Your TV will struggle to stream shows if you have a low-speed connection. 4K videos require high-speed internet, which fiber-optic connections can easily provide.
7. Handle Higher Loads
Only a decade ago, households had only a few devices that could connect to the internet. But today, every person in a single household own around 2 to 3 devices. Teenagers own smartphones, tablets, and even laptops. The same goes for adults as well. All of these devices are used for various reasons and need access to a high-speed internet connection.
Fiber-optic connections can provide steady signals to all these devices. You don’t have to switch off any devices to disable their connections to prevent them from eating up your bandwidth. All of these devices can function at the same time as fiber internet can handle loads from multiple devices.
In Summary
Fiber connections offer the convenience that is essential to our lives. We have a lot of things to do in a day that cannot be hampered by a slow internet connection. By opting for fiber internet packages, you can enjoy a high-speed internet connection along with TV and phone connections. All of this is bound to make our lives much easier.
