Fiber internet has been the talk of the town for a while. Ever since it has hit the market, it has successfully provided a gateway for accessing blazing fast internet speeds by making use of light signals for transmitting data to and from the computer. The top-notch cable internet service providers are investing and working on fiber-optic infrastructure to switch to fiber technology and benefit from it. This is why you will find Xfinity internet plans offering blazing fast internet speeds by implementing fiber technology. Fiber internet exceeds cable internet in terms of reliability and speeds. Being a newer technology, it has a lot to offer to the users. Though it costs higher it will not be wrong to say that it is worth the money. Here is all you need to know about fiber internet, its types, and why you should invest in fiber optic internet plans. Dive in!
What is meant by Fiber-Optic Internet?
Fiber internet makes use of fiber optic cables rather than copper wires. Light is used to transmit data. The fiber optic cables consist of glass filaments and those cables are responsible for sending data back in the form of light signals. These light signals can travel over long distances with minimal distortion or signal loss. Hence, the attenuation is low. Binary codes are used to communicate with the computers at the other end. The absence of light signal means a binary zero while the presence of light denotes a binary one signal.
Difference between Fiber and Cable Internet?
Cable signals fade or weaken with distance but fiber optic signals on the other hand are not distorted over longer distances. If you are thinking about why fiber is better than cable or any other internet type, you must know that it is because of the fiber optic cable used. Voltage signals are more likely to be distorted or weaken with distance as compared to fiber optic signals.
Faster internet transmission over longer distances
The main problem with DSL or cable internet is the distortion of signals. The farther away from the ISP you live, the weaker the signal strength. It also results in slower internet speeds. This is where fiber internet is a winner since it is capable of faster load times, seamless streaming and lesser going no matter how much is distance. The modulated light is capable of carrying higher bandwidth, unlike metal with certain physical limitations. Another plus of subscribing to a fiber internet plan is that you are likely to receive symmetric download and upload speeds. This is not the case with cable od or satellite internet plans. But with fiber internet, if you are paying for download speeds of 500 Mbps, the upload speeds you will experience will also be 500 Mbps.
Types of Fiber Internet
There are mainly three types of fiber internet:
- FTTP or FTTH
Fiber to the home or premises is the fiber internet connection that makes its way straight to your home.
- FTTN
Fiber to the node or neighborhood allows fiber connection to be transmitted to hundreds of customers within a certain radius of one mile. The rest of the connection from the node to your home is usually via DSL lines. The further you are from the node, you can experience a certain degree of attenuation.
- FTTC
Fiber to the curb refers to the type in which fiber internet reaches the closest pole or utility box. From there, coaxial cables will carry the signals from the curb to your house. So your connection is made of partly fiber optic technology and partly copper wires.
Why should you Choose Fiber internet?
Fiber internet is something every one of us would want to use, which is why we see more providers investing in its infrastructure. However, it has limited coverage since its required infrastructure is not available everywhere.
If you are confused about fiber internet is the right choice for you, then you should know that it is a wise investment when it comes to reliability and blazing fast internet speeds. It is not just the higher download speeds but the faster upload speeds also is a big advantage, especially for those who are dealing with larger files or frequent video calls.
Wrapping Up,
As much as fiber internet sounds amazing, it is not available everywhere. But the good news is that its network is growing and expanding. If it is available in your area, it is worth considering for a seamless and super-fast internet connectivity experience.