Generally speaking, there are three major types of internet connection access – the traditional cable connection, the DSL connection and the modern fiber-optic internet. The latter is the newest and the most sophisticated technology of the three, which makes it superior in more than one way. Still, does it really make that much of a difference and, if so, what is it that makes this superior performance possible? Well, let’s find out!
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Just how fast is it?
The first thing you need to understand is the speed of fiber internet. Now, in order to put it into the right perspective, we should compare the speed of this connection to some of its more traditional counterparts. For instance, in most areas, the speed of cable internet ranges between 25 and 400 Mbps, while DSL usually doesn’t exceed the speed of 200 Mbps. On the other hand, fiber internet can easily reach 1,000 Mbps, which is a vast improvement over both of these types.
What kind of infrastructure does it run on?
The next question that you need to ask, in order to understand the speed and reliability of your connectivity, is that of the infrastructure that it takes for it to run. For starters, the traditional cable internet uses the old-fashioned phone line while DSL usually uses the same kind of wiring that comes with your cable TV. In other words, these networks are fairly widespread and, as such, universally available even in your area. Fiber internet, on the other hand, sends light through optic cables in order to convey information. This is something that we’ll return to, later on.
Is finding the right provider important?
One more thing that you need to keep in mind is the fact that your overall experience doesn’t depend just on the type of internet access that you opt for. It also depends on your provider. So, when deciding to go for an internet provider, make sure to pick a credible fiber internet provider. What you need to do is look at their offer, compare them to the others in the industry and even do some research on the internet in order to check their reputation. Also, these agencies usually make convenient bundle offers, which is also something that you might want to consider.
What makes it so fast?
In one of the previous sections, we’ve mentioned the fact that fiber internet is much faster than its traditional counterparts. So, now we come to the question of what makes it so fast, to begin with? You see, other than just being outright faster, the information sent this way can also travel longer distances than its traditional counterparts. This is because traditional cables send electricity via copper cables and these signals do get affected by electromagnetic interference along the way. This weakens the signal over the long distance and solving this issue requires a more complex infrastructure.
What are the downsides?
Previously, we went to lengths to discuss all the advantages of the fiber-optic network and what it is that makes it so amazing; however, there are some downsides worth mentioning, as well. First of all, it’s not universally available. Unlike the existing cable TV or telephone wire infrastructure, fiber internet is only available in some areas and it might take years until this option reaches your country, state or city. Second, while it definitely has superior performance, it’s also true that this internet is a tad more expensive than both cable and DSL internet. Still, for those whose performance depends on the reliability and speed of connection, the latter is more than recommended.
What does the future hold?
Even though this question might not be as easy to answer, it’s more than clear that both our social lives and our business efforts greatly depend on the quality and the performance of our connection. This is one more incentive for providers of fiber internet to branch out their offer and spread their infrastructure. The demand is there, which is why one can reliably expect the increase in supply in the near future.
Conclusion
As you can see, fiber is the future, so, if you do have the option, you should definitely go for it. Keep in mind that in 2019, even a brick and mortar establishment heavily depends on their internet connection. For this very reason, a heftier investment in your internet is more than justified, seeing as how it’s an operational expense that’s aimed at improving the efficiency of your organization as a whole. Needless to say, any question regarding your choice of the internet is a major one in the present-day business world.
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