How Fast is Fiber internet? — A Complete Guide to Fiber Optic Internet Speed
Fiber optic internet is becoming more readily available around the world and emerging as a superior alternative to broadband.
From internet speeds to pricing, fiber internet connectivity is leading the industry in every aspect.
You may have heard that fiber optic internet offers the fastest internet speeds when compared to other connections. No doubt, it’s the fastest internet connection and elevates the performance of various Internet of Things (IoTs). But have you ever wondered how fast is fiber internet compared to other options?
In this guide, we have gathered everything that you need to know about fiber internet speeds and its exciting features. This guide will lead to an expansive view of how fast fiber internet is with a detailed comparison and functionalities.
Let’s start with “what is fiber internet?”
What is Fiber Internet?
Fiber internet has its meaning in the name. As its name describes, fiber internet is an internet connection that works with highly efficient fiber optic cables. These cables are made of glass and filled with Kevlar fibers to transmit data at the speed of light.
As the cables pulse light beams, these patterns carry signals and data throughout the network. Like the speed of light, the data transmission in fiber internet is extremely fast and almost unbreachable. The transmission speed is much higher when compared to DSL copper telephone wires or cable internet.
Unlike copper cables, fiber optic cables transmit light signals instead of RF (Radio Frequency) signals. That’s what makes a fiber connection fast, reliable, and the best choice for growing businesses.
Fiber internet can offer an internet speeds of up to 10Gbps and beyond depending on the internet service provider. With this speed, fiber optic internet becomes the perfect connection to make all of your business processes such as cloud based applications, video conferencing, uploads and downloads of large blocks of data, and secure financial and data transactions more efficient than ever before.
How Does Fiber Optic Internet Work?
We have already provided a brief about the functionality of fiber internet while explaining its operation. Here is a primer on how fiber optic cables transmit high-speed internet.
Fiber optic cables feature two primary components—the glass core and cladding. The core allows light signals to pass through the cladding which wraps around the core. They create a certain angle or refraction of light (usually less than 42-degree) for total internal reflection that is contained inside the cladding and core.
In this phenomenon, the light signals hit the glass wall (cladding) and reflect to pass through the core. Fiber optic cables transmit the light pulses that travel extremely fast using total internal reflection.
These signals are further transmitted to ONT (Optical Network Terminal) which converts light signals to data that is transmitted over the internet.
How Fast is Fiber Optic Internet?
In the previous section, we explored what is fiber internet and how it actually works. But our primary question, ‘how fast is fiber internet’ will now be answered.
Fiber optic internet speed starts from 1Gbps and can even reach up to 10Gbps and beyond depending on your service provider and data plan. The comparison chart below will give you an expanded view of the difference between the internet speed of fiber internet and other types of internet connections.
Fiber vs. Cable Internet:
Cable internet is a type of connection that works with cable TV wires and infrastructure to enable the internet. As it works with outdated technology, cable internet can only offer internet speed of up to 100Mbps. Read more about Fiber vs Cable internet connection comparison.
In comparison, fiber internet offers a speed of up to 10Gbps and beyond which is 100x faster than cable internet. But the differences don’t end here! The speed of cable internet fluctuates due to bad weather and other factors beyond your control. However, with fiber internet your internet speed stays consistent 24/7 throughout the year.
Fiber vs. Dialup Internet:
A dialup connection is another outdated older technology that uses a public switch telephone network to enable internet access. The internet speed of a dial-up connection is the slowest of all possible connections. With a single user, this connection can deliver a maximum internet speed of only up to 56Kbps.
That’s why successful businesses do not use a dial-up connection and have switched to high-speed internet options. Additionally, a fiber optic connection offers an incredible internet speed of up to 10Gbps and beyond to meet your business needs.
Fiber vs. DSL Internet:
A DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection is designed as high-speed internet over a dial-up connection. It may work with telephone lines but have separate frequencies and can deliver an internet speed of up to 25Mbps.
Like cable and dial-up internet, DSL also experiences unexpected breakdowns and slowdowns due to bad weather. In contrast, fiber internet works with massive fiber backbones and can deliver up to 10G+ internet regardless of the weather conditions.
Fiber vs. Satellite Internet:
Satellite internet transmits data from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your business or home through specialized satellites. Consumer-grade satellites are placed in lower orbit to enable a wireless internet connection to the users.
With a satellite connection, you can expect up to 150Mbps depending on the weather and service provider. It may be faster than cable internet but is too slow when compared to the 10G+ internet of a fiber connection.
Fiber vs. Cellular Internet:
Cellular internet is another wireless internet service on which our cell phones are based. It enables an internet connection in your device using the cellular carrier’s network tower as a hotspot. Thus, the internet speed of a cellular network is determined by network congestion and how close you are to the tower.
A cellular network such as 5G can deliver an incredible speed of up to 1Gbps. However, it may cost you over $199 per month if you enable 5G internet in your business. But fiber internet can deliver up to 10Gbps + with 99.99% uptime at similar prices.
In the comparison, you may have noticed that fiber internet offers the highest speed when compared to others. But not every fiber optic connection is that fast! If you want to unlock the true potential of fiber internet, you need to consult a reliable internet service provider near you.
FastTrack Communications owns and operates a massive fiber optic network of over 420 miles in the region. You can enjoy up to 10G+ fiber internet based on our 100G fiber backbone at an affordable price.
Click on the button below to request a quote for your business!
Fiber Internet vs. Broadband Internet:
No doubt fiber internet is leading among all the alternatives we have discussed above. It is the perfect replacement for outdated broadband internet. We have created a separate section to discuss the difference between fiber internet vs. broadband internet.
Let’s see what makes fiber internet better than broadband internet!
Speed:
The higher speeds of fiber internet are the primary reason behind the popularity of fiber over broadband. On average, broadband internet speed ranges from 50Mbps to 150Mbps. It’s a decent speed but is too slow if you’re looking for an internet solution for your business that can accommodate cloud-based computing, large transmissions of data, online learning, and secure transmissions of financial or medical data.
Also, fiber internet is around 100 times faster than broadband internet. You can enjoy a blazing internet speed of up to 10Gbps +. Whether you need secure and reliable data transfer or voice over internet calling (VoIP), it becomes the perfect choice to meet all the internet connectivity needs of your business.
Reliability:
When it comes to choosing an internet connection, internet speed is not enough. A broadband connection works with telephone or copper lines. As discussed above, bad weather conditions can slow down the transmission and disconnect you from the internet.
Weather conditions don’t affect fiber optic internet. We know that fiber optics transmit light signals that offer consistent transmission even in bad weather. On average, you enjoy a 99.99% uptime to downtime ratio if you’re using fiber optic internet.
Price:
There is a difference in cost between broadband internet and fiber internet. You can purchase a broadband connection plan for around $50 per month depending on the service provider and plan.
Business plans for fiber optic internet start at $179.00 per month for the fastest speeds available whereas the slower broadband connections are only about $50. Why spend even $50 for a slow and unreliable connection when you can spend $50 for a fiber internet connection and receive 99.99 % reliability, and faster and more secure data transfers which is better than anything a broadband connection can provide.
Advantages of Getting Fiber Internet for Local Communities and Businesses:
Streamlined Internet Speed:
As we have discussed in the How Fast is Fiber Internet section above, internet speed is the primary focus. Fiber internet transmits data at the speed of light and can offer up to 10Gbps + of internet speed. Unlike cable internet, this speed stays consistent regardless of the number of users.
All you need is to choose the best fiber internet providers to unlock the true potential of fiber optic internet.
Lowest Latency:
From cloud-based applications to mobility operations, low latency ensures the expected responsiveness of IoTs. Fiber internet transmits light signals instead of processing and repeating RF signals. Also, the light signals travel at a speed of over 290 meters per microsecond.
Thus, you can enjoy the lowest latency in fiber internet when compared to other internet connections.
99.99% Uptime to Downtime Ratio:
With fiber internet, you can enjoy up to 99.99% uptime to downtime ratio as it is not weather or distance dependent.
High Data Security:
Most internet connections transmit RF signals that are slow and easy to tap for hackers. However, fiber optic transmits light signals that travel at a speed of over 290 meters per microsecond. It means they are too fast to tap and almost impossible to breach.
Therefore, your business data is safe from the hands of cybercriminals during calling and data transfer.
Feature-Rich Connection:
You may be looking for an internet connection that is fast, reliable, and secure for your business. Fiber internet can provide more than an internet connection. For instance, fiber optic VoIP allows your business to place calls anywhere you want using your existing internet connection.
As fiber internet has the highest bandwidth for voice calls, your business benefits from HD calling with features like call management and voice assistant.
Value for Money:
If you compare the pricing of fiber internet with others, it may look costlier than others. But other internet connections are not as reliable and secure as fiber internet. With many different options for speed with fiber internet you can find a cost solution that fits your budget and you will receive a more reliable and secure connection than broadband.
The choice is clear, fiber internet is the best choice for your business compared to any other internet connection.
FastTrack Communications offers a10 x 10Mbps internet connection with one phone line for just $44.00 per month. With a 100G fiber backbone, FastTrack provides a blazing fast, secure and feature-rich internet connection. Sign up now for a free consultation!
You can also fill out our service request form using https://fasttrackcomm.net/fasttrack-service-request/
Conclusion: Where to Get Fiber Internet Near Me?
This article focused on what is fiber internet and how fast is fiber internet. We examined what makes fiber internet better than other internet connections.
If you’re looking for internet providers in Durango CO, look no further than FastTrack Communications. FastTrack Communications is the only locally owned and operated fiber optic-based service provider in the region.
Let’s see what we have to offer you!
Up to 10G+ Internet:
FastTrack owns and operates a massive fiber network of over 420 miles in the region. With this, we can enable up to 10G+ fiber optic internet in your business. You can get an unparalleled internet speed of up to 10Gbps + with 99.99% uptime at an affordable price.
Fiber Optic VoIP:
VoIP or voice over internet calling allows you to place calls without investing in a traditional telephone connection. Our high-speed fiber internet enables an efficient and feature-rich VoIP service for your business. Besides calling, fiber VoIP offers exciting features like call management, voice assistant, and more.
Data Transportation:
As a business, you may required to share large-scale data files between different departments and offices. FastTrack’s 100G fiber backbone enables you to transport terabytes or petabytes of data quickly and securely.
Please contact us for information and pricing for data transport SERVICE REQUEST
You’re just a call away to enable high-speed internet in your business. Call us now to consult with our experts for free and get a quote for your business at 800-755-0558. If you want to know more about how fast is fiber internet, visit this page of our website for detailed information.
You can request service easily online at our website: SERVICE REQUEST