You won’t believe it, but there was a time when playing Call of Duty or even Counter-Strike with my buddies was an uphill task. Not because I was scared of my wife being upset, but because my internet connection was so bad that most times, online gaming became impossible.
Most times, I was able to play smoothly, but as soon as my wife or son connected their devices, the game would start lagging again. So, in short, my internet connection was a mess, and it was only good for basic tasks like sending an email or communicating with loved ones.
Having said that, a renowned AT&T fiber internet provider started offering their services in my area. Opting for it was a no-brainer, as I knew that fiber was the fastest type of internet connection. And honestly speaking, it felt like I had travelled to the future when I played my first game on it.
Below, I’ll share my knowledge about fiber internet, the technology behind it, how it reaches our home, and all other stuff that a regular fiber internet user should know about.
So, let’s start!
How Does Fiber Internet Work?
Every internet connection type delivers internet to our homes. For instance, cable internet uses coaxial cables, the same technology that is used to deliver TV. Internet signals travel via coaxial cables to modems in our home, which receive those signals and send them to routers.
Similarly, fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables, which are more advanced than coaxial cables and use light instead of electric impulses to deliver the internet signals. A single fiber-optic is made up of glass strands that are thinner than a human hair.
The internet signals travel at the speed of light inside the fiber-optic. And it’s one of the primary reasons why fiber internet exclusively offers symmetrical internet, i.e., similar upload and download speeds.
Types of Fiber Internet
Here, I’ll discuss different types of fiber internet and explain some major differences between them.
- Single-Mode Fiber: This type of fiber connection is used when there’s a need to send data over long distances. The core diameter in single-mode fiber is usually 9 microns, which makes it extremely thin and favorable to send internet signals over greater distances.
- Multi-Mode Fiber: Unlike single-mode fiber, this fiber type is used to deliver the signals over shorter distances. The core diameter is relatively wider than single-mode, around 50-100 microns, which helps the fiber optics cable to carry multiple modes simultaneously.
How Does Fiber Internet Reach Our Homes?
Fiber internet makes its way to our homes in the following three ways:
- Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH): The fiber optic cables directly deliver the internet from the network to our homes. There is no intermediary in the process, and it is considered the fastest option to deliver fiber internet.
- Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC): This option comes into play when fiber-optic cables cannot be installed at your home. Fiber-optics from the network provider is connected to coaxial cables, which then are responsible for delivering fiber internet to your house.
- Fiber-To-The-Neighborhood (FTTN): Fiber internet is delivered to the nearest node connected to coaxial cables. Your house is also connected to the node via coaxial cables, and this is how fiber internet is delivered. Arguably, it is the slowest option to deliver fiber internet and significantly impact its speeds.
Why is Fiber Internet the Best Connection Type?
As I mentioned earlier, fiber internet exclusively offers symmetrical internet speeds. Unlike coaxial cables, there is no electromagnetic interference from nearby connections or devices emitting radio waves.
The light signals move freely in both directions, i.e., download and upload sides, which helps fiber internet offer symmetrical internet speeds. Additionally, such a high-speed connection ensures greater bandwidth to connect more devices or conduct multiple online tasks simultaneously. See more: Adam Demos Height
Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiber Internet
In this section, I’ll explain some pros and cons of fiber internet.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Fiber internet can offer symmetrical internet speeds. | Fiber optics is fragile and prone to damage. |
| It can easily handle multiple devices and users simultaneously. | This internet connection type has limited availability around the country. |
| Although fiber-optic cables are thinner than coaxial cables, they can carry more data. | Installing fiber-optic can be expensive and challenging. |
| Internet signals are less prone to interference inside fiber optics. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a modem for fiber internet?
No, you need an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) instead of a modem to use fiber internet. The ONT is used to connect your home to the fiber network.
Can 5G Home Internet offer greater speeds than fiber internet?
No, 5G Home Internet is not faster than a fiber connection. In some instances, it may even be slower than cable internet.
Which are some of the best fiber internet providers?
AT&T and Verizon are some of the best fiber internet providers.
