The average internet user spends more than six hours a day online. With so much time spent in the digital world, a fast and reliable internet connection is a must. Fiber internet is changing the game with its unparalleled speed and stability. But what is fiber internet exactly? Take a deep dive into all things fiber optic and get answers to the most commonly asked fiber internet questions.
What is fiber internet?
Fiber internet (also called fiber optic) is a type of high-speed internet that uses fiber optic cables to transmit data. Unlike the traditional copper cables used in cable internet, fiber optic cables are made with a super thin strand of glass or plastic about the size of a human hair. This powerful cable uses light to carry data, which means fiber internet truly travels at the speed of light.
Fiber optic cables were invented specifically for ultra high-speed telecommunications and data transfer. Copper cables, on the other hand, were created for telephone communication. These copper cable networks are getting old. Most copper cable networks were constructed in the 1970s, meaning they’ve likely been around for more than 50 years at this point. Copper cables are prone to rusting, increasing the likelihood of latency and glitching while you’re online.
How fast is fiber internet?
Fiber internet speed ranges from 1 to 10 Gbps. This is about 10 to 20 times faster than the typical cable speed of 50 to 100 Mbps. Though you may see options for a 10 Gbps fiber internet connection, even a household with multiple family members using many devices at the same time probably won’t ever need one that powerful.
To give you a sense of just how fast fiber internet can be, check out the download speed comparisons for a typical two-hour HD movie.
|
Connection Speed |
Time to Download 5GB HD Movie |
|
DSL (25 Mbps) |
28 minutes |
|
Cable (100 Mbps) |
7 minutes |
|
Fiber (1 Gbps) |
42 seconds |
|
Fiber (10 Gbps) |
4 seconds |
What are the advantages of fiber internet?
Is fiber internet really that much better than cable internet? In short, yes. Fiber internet is more stable, more sustainable, and faster than traditional cable internet. Find out how investing in fiber internet service can boost connectivity and make daily life easier.
Stability
It’s any remote worker’s nightmare—you’re in the middle of an important video call for work and suddenly, your boss’s face freezes. Is she shocked by your latest report? No, it’s your slow cable internet connection. Luckily, there’s a solution for that.
Fiber optic cables are stronger and more stable than copper cables. They provide a more consistent connection that’s less prone to freezing and glitching. This means you can focus on your work meetings, movie watching, online gaming, and video calls with loved ones without worrying about your connection.
Less buffering
Watching the spinning pinwheel or loading bar that indicates buffering can be incredibly frustrating if you’re eager to get on with your online activity. Buffering happens when your network isn’t fast enough to keep up with playback. The buffering process can last a few seconds or up to several minutes depending on the length of the video.
With fiber internet, the connection speed is typically so fast that buffering becomes a thing of the past. Fiber internet is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference like copper cable internet is, making your viewing experience smooth and seamless.
Environmentally friendly
If you’re concerned about the environment, you’ll be pleased to learn that fiber optic internet is a more sustainable option than cable internet for a whole host of reasons. To begin with, fiber optic cables are made of glass—which is made of sand—and sand is an endless resource that takes much less effort and pollution to manufacture than mining copper from ore.
Fiber optic cables are also more energy efficient than copper cables. Fiber optic cables transmit data via light, resulting in lower power consumption compared with copper cables that use electrical signals. Fiber optic cables generate less heat than copper cables, too, reducing the need for massive cooling systems in data centers and network infrastructure.
What’s the difference between fiber internet and Wi-Fi?
Fiber internet is the physical infrastructure that brings the internet to your home or office. Wi-Fi is a separate technology that distributes that internet connection throughout your space.
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to connect devices to a local network most often through a router. These radio waves deliver packets of data over a frequency of 2.4 and 5 gigahertz. The router acts as an access point for your devices such as a laptop, tablet, cell phone, or smart TV. Fiber internet and Wi-Fi technology work together to give you fast, wireless internet wherever you are in your home or office.
What are download speeds and upload speeds?
Download speed tracks how quickly data can be pulled from the internet to your laptop, phone, or other device. Upload speed is how fast data can be sent from your device back to the internet. One of the best aspects of fiber internet is that download speed and upload speed are usually symmetrical, meaning it takes the same amount of time to download something as it does to upload it. This can make a huge difference when it comes to online gaming, uploading big files, or video conferencing.
Does fiber internet increase my home value?
Yes! Fiber internet can make your home more valuable. Research conducted in 2023 by the Fiber Broadband Association shows that a 3-5% real estate premium exists for single family homes equipped with fiber internet. High quality broadband is also listed as second most important for home and apartment amenities. Demand for fiber internet is going to keep growing as the need for fast, stable internet increases.
How long does it take to install fiber internet in a new community?
Like all good things, fiber internet installation takes time and effort to get up and running. Bringing fiber internet to a new community involves laying a fiber optic cable underground. This cable runs from a central point to various nodes throughout a neighborhood or even an entire city.
Typically, the fiber internet is laid in the public right-of-way easement, which is a piece of land often utilized for transportation or infrastructure-related purposes. An example of an easement is the strip of property found in front of many homes on the other side of the sidewalk closest to the street.
During the construction phase, fiber internet installers follow the locates provided by local officials to make sure existing public utilities (like cable wires, gas lines, utility pipes, or water lines) are not disrupted during installation.
It generally takes a few months to complete fiber internet installation in a new neighborhood. During the process, seed and straw can be temporarily laid across the installation site to limit the distribution of dirt and mud. Once installation is finished, the fiber internet company should restore the affected area back to its pre-installation condition or better.
How can I find fiber internet near me?
Fiber internet is currently available in about 40% of U.S. households. Fiber internet availability is increasing every day. The best way to find out if you have access to fiber internet is to search online for fiber internet near you or to look up your zip code on the website of your preferred fiber internet provider. Find out if Ripple Fiber is in or coming soon to your neighborhood by visiting our homepage and entering your address.
The bottom line
Not all internet is created equal. Transmitting data at the speed of light, fiber internet is transforming the way we live our lives online. With its unmatched speed, stability, and sustainability, fiber optic is paving the way for a future where buffering and slow connections are a thing of the past. Make the switch to Ripple Fiber today and start making the connections that matter.