I remember the time when fiber-optic Internet sounded like magic to most people. When we were used to the average speeds from dial-up, DSL, and cable Internet, the multi-gig speeds from fiber-optic connections were impressive indeed. These days, however, fiber-optic Internet is standard.
In this complete guide to fiber-optic Internet, I will tell you what it is, how it works, and a few other essential points.
What is Fiber-Optic Internet?
Fiber-optic Internet is a type of broadband Internet connection that uses fiber-optic cables to transfer signals from one place to another. Because these signals are transferred using optical/light signals, connections that use fiber-optic cables can offer incredible speed, bandwidth, and latency. As a result, consumer-grade fiber-optic connections can provide Internet speeds as high as 10 Gbps.
These connections are powerful enough to download a whopping 1.25GB of data in a second. For reference, a typical DSL Internet connection can offer a maximum speed of 100 Mbps, which means you can download only 12.5MB of data per second. The incredible latency you get from fiber-optic Internet connections allows you to enjoy online gaming, content streaming, or anything else with faster response times.
How Does Fiber-Optic Internet Work?
Three major components are required for the fiber-optic Internet to work.
The Fiber-Optic Network
The fiber-optic network is a global network of cables that transfer data in the form of light. These cables are laid on the ocean and work almost every second to connect countries and continents across the globe. The network uses pulses of light signals to move data from one location to another in a fraction of a second.
Fiber-optic cables have become the backbone of the Internet as we know it. Depending on the technology, the network may use infrared or visible light to transfer data using optical cables. Their resistance to common issues like interference and attenuation makes fiber-optic cables suitable for telephone and cable as well.
As of 2020, the fiber-optic network has a total length of 5 billion kilometers, and the network continues to grow as global demand for bandwidth and speed rises.
Fiber-Optic Cables
While the global network is responsible for making the Internet possible, consumer broadband connections rely on several hundred kilometers of fiber optic cables on land. These cables are used to transfer data from the ISP’s location to your home. Depending on the area, these cables are routed underground or aerially.
By the way, the ISP may need additional equipment to distribute fiber-optic Internet services to customers.
Optical Network Terminal
As I said earlier, fiber-optic Internet connections transfer signals in the form of light, but your devices cannot decipher these signals. This is where you use an Optical Network Terminal, which can convert optical signals into data signals that your computers and Wi-Fi routers can understand.
You can use the high-speed data signals from the ONT to create a Wi-Fi network. This network shall provide Internet access to all Wi-Fi-enabled devices connected to it. Because the entire fiber-optic Internet system uses fiber-optic cables, you benefit from the increased speed, latency, and bandwidth I mentioned before.
Benefits of Fiber-Optic Internet
Let’s now look at the significant benefits of using a fiber-optic Internet connection. Of course, these points make sense when compared to other forms of Internet, such as dial-up, DSL, cable, and fixed wireless.
- High Speeds: As I said earlier, fiber-optic Internet connections can offer speeds up to 10 Gbps, making them an easy option for multiple 4K video streams and delay-free online gaming. On average, fiber-optic Internet connections can offer a speed of 200 Mbps without compromising latency.
- Low Latency: Because fiber-optic Internet uses wired cables across the globe, the Internet connection can offer the best latency of less than 20 milliseconds. This low-latency nature makes fiber-optic the best option for online gaming and streaming.
- Incredible Bandwidth: Compared to copper cables used by DSL and cable Internet connections, fiber-optic cables can handle higher bandwidth. This means that a single cable can carry multiple streams of data per second. This is great when you have numerous users with more than one device.
- Reliability: Fiber-optic Internet is also more reliable compared to the other options, including brand-new 5G fixed wireless access. Since fiber-optic networks use multiple redundancies, you don’t need to worry about weather conditions, either.
- Signal Quality: Another impressive characteristic of fiber-optic Internet is its resilient signal quality. In ideal situations, fiber-optic systems can transmit data over a maximum distance of 62 miles. This means users can enjoy impressive speeds even when the ISP has fewer points in between.
- Symmetrical Speeds: Unlike cable or DSL Internet, fiber-optic connections offer symmetrical speeds, meaning that you can enjoy almost-identical download and upload speeds. In other words, many fiber connections offer 10 Gbps upload speed and 10 Gbps download speed with the 10 Gbps plan.
- Durability: The history of fiber-optic networks and cables shows that the connections are durable than most other options in the market. They require minimal maintenance and can be functional for decades, if not centuries.
In other words, fiber-optic Internet connections have become the go-to option for most needs. It is popular in both residential and commercial sectors. The enterprise sector makes use of dedicated leases and other features to get the best out of fiber Internet connections and deliver speeds as high as 100 Gbps.
Potential Drawbacks of Fiber Optic Internet
However, fiber-optic Internet is not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some potential drawbacks, such as:
- Installation Costs: Unlike cable and DSL connections, fiber-optic Internet does not use existing tech or infrastructure. Because cables need to be laid underground or routed aerially, the installation cost for fiber-optic Internet could be on the higher side. However, these numbers are going down in many locations, including developing nations.
- Repair Concerns: Although maintenance issues are relatively uncommon for fiber-optic networks, repair may take a lot of time when required. In these cases, you may face a noticeable period of downtime as well.
- Availability: Availability of service also remains a concern when it comes to fiber-optic Internet. As I said, fiber cables need to be set up between locations and the ISP. So, in places where the terrain is not ideal, fiber-optic connections won’t be feasible.
The majority of limitations you have with fiber-optic Internet deal with availability and costs. However, fiber-optic internet is almost perfect for connecting to the Internet.
Top Fiber-Optic Internet Service Provider
We will now look at the top fiber-optic Internet Service Providers in the United States.
#1 Verizon Fios
Verizon Fios is probably the most popular fiber-optic internet service provider in the United States. Verizon’s network is available in many states, and its plans start at $50 a month, offering speeds between 200 Mbps and 2 Gbps. Only some fiber-optic Internet plans from Verizon Fios are symmetrical, though. Other plans offer a slightly lower upload speed than download speed.
#2 Google Fiber
Google Fiber has been the go-to fiber-optic Internet Service Provider for years now. The company uses fiber-exclusive infrastructure to deliver symmetrical fiber Internet connections with speeds as high as 8 Gbps for download and upload. Although the coverage area for Google Fiber is still under construction, it provides one of the best Internet experiences with minimal downtime. Its plans start at $70, though.
#3 AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber is another major player in the fiber-optic Internet sector. The cheapest fiber-optic Internet plan from the ISP is available for $42 per month and offers a speed of 300 Mbps. However, you can get a maximum speed of 5 Gbps by paying close to $200. The coverage of this fiber-optic ISP is improving, and you can count on its hybrid plans as well.
#4 Brightspeed
Brightspeed is a low-cost fiber-optic Internet connection that you can get in the United States. Compared to other providers, Brightspeed has a cheaper 200 Mbps plan starting at $29 a month. The 2 Gbps connection from the company would cost only $82, which is relatively cheap. Brightspeed is currently available in 20 states, but the company keeps expanding its coverage area.
Conclusion
It is nice to see that fiber-optic Internet connections are becoming cheaper and reliable. Given that you live in an area with existing fiber infrastructure, fiber-optic Internet is an easy choice. It doesn’t compromise any aspect. Things would be different if you needed to bear additional costs for deployment or setup, though. In those cases, you should look for something like fixed wireless access.
