As fiber internet access expands across the United States, its market share will continue to grow. This means more residents who may be less familiar with fiber internet will choose the future-ready option over cable and other outdated services. Making the shift comes with a learning curve, but the right guidance makes the transition much smoother. From the start of construction through ongoing service usage, a solid understanding of fiber internet terminology can greatly enhance the user experience. With this knowledge, customers can make informed decisions and even troubleshoot occasional issues that arise.
Speeds and Performance
- Bandwidth: The maximum data transfer rate of your internet connection. The higher the bandwidth, the faster and more reliable your internet performance.
- Latency: The time it takes for data to travel from the source to its destination and back. Low latency means less lag and buffering.
- Symmetrical speeds: An internet connection with equal download and upload speeds, reflected by improved performance during streaming, video calls, gaming, and more.
- Mbps (megabits per second): Unit of measurement for internet speed indicating how much data can be transferred per second, with 1,000 mbps equating to 1 gig.
- Gig (short for gbps – gigabits per second): Unit of measurement for internet speed indicating how much data can be transferred per second.
Fiber-Optic Technology
- Fiber internet: A type of internet that transmits data using fiber optic cables that are made with a super thin strand of glass, unlike cable internet’s traditional copper cables.
- FTTH (Fiber-to-the-home): A fiber internet service that delivers the fiber directly to your residence.
- Drop cable: The final section of the fiber cables that serves as the connection from your home or business to the local fiber network.
- Backhaul: The data connection that links local networks to the larger internet infrastructure, which is crucial for maintaining fast and stable connectivity.
Networking Devices and Connectivity
- NID (Network interface device): The device attached to the outside of your house. This is where the fiber from the network enters your home.
- ONT (Optical network terminal): This device communicates directly with the local network to bring the fiber optic internet connection inside your home.
- Beacon: A Wi-Fi extender enhances Wi-Fi coverage by eliminating dead zones and improving network capacity within your home.
- Mesh network: A Wi-Fi system with multiple interconnected nodes/devices that work together to provide seamless coverage and optimize network performance.
- Ethernet: A wired networking technology that provides secure internet connections by transmitting data through physical cables to reduce interference and latency.
Internet Performance and Security
- Ping: A diagnostic tool that measures the time it takes a data packet to travel from a device to the target server and back. This round-trip time indicates network responsiveness.
- Lag: A delay in the transmission of data over a network, causing a noticeable slowdown in responsiveness that can result from issues such as network congestion and high latency. The lower the lag, the better the performance.
- IP address: A unique numerical identifier assigned to a device on a network, enabling it to send and receive data over the internet.
- VPN (Virtual private network): A secure, encrypted connection that protects online privacy and security by masking a user’s IP address and routing traffic through a VPN server.
Fiber internet is a powerful, future-ready solution that not only meets the current demands of modern technology but also anticipates the innovations of the future. As customers continue to require faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and enhanced stability, fiber optic technology stands out for its ability to meet these needs while serving as a scalable, sustainable solution.
Still have questions about fiber internet? Check out our breakdown of the most commonly asked fiber internet questions, and discover all the benefits that will make you wonder why you didn’t switch sooner.