The Ultimate Guide to Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is a type of broadband internet connection that uses fiber optic cables in order to provide internet service. We’ll talk more about the cables later, but generally, they are able to transmit information much faster than just about any other type of internet service. It is a wired connection, and there are a few variations, but all utilize pulses of light, allowing data to get transferred at 70 percent of the speed of light. It has become an extremely popular option in larger cities lately, and millions of people are getting it for the first time each year.

The fiber optic cables used in fiber internet originally came out in 1970, and some cities and companies adopted them for communications services. Later in 1996, major fiber optic cables were buried in the Pacific Ocean, allowing for even greater advancements in the internet. Over time, telecommunications companies used these lines to provide internet service, creating fiber optic internet as we know it. 

Fiber internet provides many benefits to users, all of which we’ll review in time. In the meanwhile, here is what you need to know about fiber internet and what it might be able to do for you:

Understanding Fiber Internet

The technology behind fiber internet and fiber optic cables is simple on the surface and complex once you look more deeply into it. While you might just think of them as glass and plastic cables, it’s not ordinary by any means, even if we’ve mastered how to mass produce the cables.

Here’s a bit more information on how fiber internet works:

How Does Fiber Internet Work?

Most other broadband service types will rely on either electrical signals through wires or radio waves to transfer information. Fiber internet instead uses pulses of light over a range of frequencies in order to rapidly transmit information. The cables can efficiently carry this information and have been designed to minimize the amount of signal loss, even over longer distances.

Fiber optic cables are generally installed underground, where they are less likely to be disturbed. While fiber installation can be intensive at the start, overall maintenance costs are rather low, and it is a good investment for many communities. Fiber optic cables are designed to last for at least 10 years but can last longer than this, especially with proper maintenance and little disturbance.

Two Main Components of Fiber Internet

There are two main parts of fiber internet, the optical fibers and the fiber optic cables that carry information most of the way, and the “last mile,” which can vary depending on the fiber optic cable infrastructure setup. Here’s a bit more information on each of them:

Optical Fibers

The optical fibers used in fiber optic cables are what transmit the information. They are made of extremely pure glass coated with another type of glass or plastic. The fibers themselves are very thin (about the width of a human hair), and many of them go into one cable that’s then wrapped in a few layers of protection from physical abuse and the elements. An ISP sends information on these fibers via means of rapid patterns of pulses of light. The fibers are designed to be able to keep this signal going for a very long distance. The cable will be responsible for most distance data travels to a fiber internet customer.

While there have been some slight advancements and adjustments in technology relating to optical fibers, in general, fiber optic cables are still much the same as they were when they were first developed.

The Last Mile

Fiber optic cables go for much of the way, but there is also “The Last Mile” which is a term used to describe the last bit of distance from the fiber optic line to a household. Often cables don’t go directly into homes (it would be expensive to set up), so instead, a “fiber to the node” or “fiber to the neighborhood” setup is used, where fiber optic cables go to a box or outlet and then coaxial cables are used to transmit information the rest of the way. What the last mile consists of will determine the type of fiber setup it is, which we’ll go into more in a bit. However, the longer the “last mile” is. 

How Fast is Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is extremely fast when compared to other service types, though the exact speed can vary. Yet there is more to speed than the download speed measurement in Mbps. Fiber is also the most reliable type of connection given that it’s less affected by the weather and other elements. This means fewer dropped data packets and lost connections. This in turn leads to a smoother online experience where you can almost forget that you’re online in sense. Everything will just work most of the time, and that’s the best possible outcome for getting things done and enjoying yourself.

It is important to note that having fiber internet doesn’t guarantee fast internet speeds, just enables them. Many factors go into internet speed. A wired connection will vary from a wireless connection that stems from fiber internet service. The equipment or devices you use can act as a bottleneck for the internet speed that fiber internet offers. 

If you want to learn more about the average speeds of fiber providers, you can use this speed test tool to get started. It will tell you the information and allow you to check out speeds in your area and what might be available later. 

Benefits of Fiber Internet

Fiber internet is one of the fastest available options and a great choice overall, but why? What are the exact benefits? Here are the main ones:

Fast Internet Speeds

Speed is perhaps what fiber internet is best known for. It is easy to find a fiber internet plan that offers speeds of 1 Gbps download if there is a fiber service provider in the area. This means that the average user won’t have to worry about long load times anymore. They will not experience as many interruptions to their browsing or other online activities due to slow speeds, and buffering will likely be a thing of the past. With a standard gigabit plan, a download that would take other connections hours will instead take minutes or even seconds.

Improved Video Streaming and Gaming Experience

Fiber internet is the best option for streaming and gaming. Lag will be minimal. The latency on fiber internet is generally the best (though many factors affect latency overall). You won’t have to wait at all in most cases for videos to load. Anyone who enjoys media will notice a huge difference.

More Reliable

Fiber optic cables are less prone to damage than most other types of lines used for internet service. They are not affected by electrical surges, and they can be submerged in water without service getting affected. Physical damage and impact can of course affect them, but they are usually buried safely under the ground. This fact helps protect them from the weather. This means that outages are less common with fiber internet.

Better Bandwidth

Fiber internet service is able to provide more bandwidth, which is not speed. Think of internet speed as how fast water flows through a pipe, and bandwidth as how wide the pipe is. Regardless, this results in better video calls, better smart home setups, and simply being able to do more online at once. For this reason, fiber is a great option for larger households.

Faster to Download Large Files

As mentioned, fiber internet can download larger files faster than any other connection type. This can allow you to be more productive with remote work, download games or movies faster, and do much more. On the other side of things, someone can back up their files to the cloud or upload large documents more quickly with fiber internet.

Different Types of Fiber Internet

While fiber internet is fundamentally the same in whatever form it takes, there are some key differences between the different types of fiber internet (and there are several). Here are the main types and what you should know:

FTTH

Stands for “Fiber to the Home” This is the fastest form of fiber internet and means that the fiber lines go directly to the home, with the last mile being practically nonexistent. You might also see it referred to as “FTTP” or “Fiber to the Premises”. Fiber cables eventually stop, but it might be a box outside the home or something similarly close. Only the last few feet of the connection might not be a fiber optic wire.

FTTC

Standing for “Fiber to the Curb”, this type of internet has fiber cables running to almost the edge of the property, perhaps something like a front yard. After this, copper wires will comprise the last mile into the home. It can lead to some signal disruption compared to FTTH, but it is still extremely fast.

FTTN

Standing for “Fiber to the Node”, this type of service will have fiber cables run to a connection hub or “node” in a neighborhood. After it reaches this point, copper cables are used to transfer signals to homes in the area, sometimes up to a mile away. It might also be known as “Fiber to the Neighborhood” and can result in relatively heavy signal loss. The further away a home is from the node, the worse the loss gets. Nonetheless, this form of fiber internet is still better than non-fiber options.

FTTB

Standing for “Fiber to the Building”, FTTB setups are much like FTTC or FTTH setups, though it applies more to an office or apartment building. The fiber cables go as far as the building, and then alternative technologies are used for the last mile to people’s apartments or rooms. The exact means used can vary from building to building.

Fiber Internet Vs. Traditional Internet Connections

Fiber internet stands out, but it’s hard to describe how much it does so in a vacuum.

Fiber Internet

Let’s start by clearly defining fiber internet again and what it can do, if only for a clearer comparison. Fiber internet is a type of broadband internet connection that uses fiber optic cables to transmit information. These cables are comprised primarily of extremely thin glass strands coated in glass or plastic that help them keep signals inside. The cables transmit information via rapid pulses of light and can work over long distances. 

While there is no top speed of note in terms of the technology (a dedicated cable can transmit huge amounts of information rapidly), most consumer users of fiber internet will have 1 Gbps of download speed and often the same upload speed (this can vary). Latency will be low, and the connection will be consistent.

The advantages of fiber internet are clear in that it is fast and reliable, and has more bandwidth than other options. However, it is not as widely available and can be a bit more expensive for a plan (though the plan provides much greater value).

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is a form of broadband service that has the ISP send out signals from a main station to satellites orbiting the Earth. The satellite will then reroute the signal to users who have receivers, allowing people who otherwise don’t have a wired connection to get internet service. A connection is possible if the receiver has a line of sight to the sky and is powered.

In many ways, satellite internet and fiber internet are at opposite ends of the spectrum if you were to compare the two. Fiber internet is extremely fast but is generally limited to more populated areas. It also has much, much lower latency and is overall more reliable. On the other hand, satellite internet is the slower option at perhaps 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed. It is also the more expensive option in most cases. However, it is available everywhere. That means satellite internet users are generally people who don’t have many other options or good options.

Satellite internet also has strict data caps. Fiber internet can have data caps, but the lowest data cap we have seen is 1 TB, which is more than enough for the average family. And going more precisely in terms of cost, while fiber can cost $80-100 a month for the higher-tier plans, that is the basic cost of satellite internet plans. The better options can cost several hundred dollars per month before equipment costs.

While we won’t go heavily into the details of it, also note that there are two forms of satellite internet, LEO and GEO. LEO is only offered by Starlink for the moment and is much faster (80-90 Mbps download speed) and provides lower latency, though it isn’t widely available yet. HughesNet and ViaSat are the other two providers, are GEO providers, and are described by the points earlier in this section.

DSL Internet

Using phone lines to transfer information, DSL internet was a huge step up when it came out to succeed the slow dial-up internet of the time. It is able to use more frequencies on those phone lines than what is used for landline service, therefore not disturbing it like dial-up. 

Compared to fiber optic internet, DSL internet is much more widely available by the virtue that phone lines are more widely installed across the country than fiber optic cables. However, DSL internet is much slower than fiber internet. Generally, the best plan with DSL internet will have 100 Mbps of download speed and 5 Mbps of upload speed, which would be uncommon and inconsistent. Moderate speeds range from 10-25 Mbps. The signals used for DSL internet degrade over distance, leading to some customers paying full price for 5Mbps of download speed.

In practically every way except perhaps base price fiber is a superior choice to DSL. Even when looking at the price, fiber provides a much better value proposition. However, despite its disadvantages, many people might not have a much better choice than DSL.

Cable Internet

Cable internet uses the lines already in place for cable television to transfer information (the internet). Given that cable lines are somewhat widely available, cable internet is a common option across the United States as well, though not as common as DSL.

Compared to fiber internet, cable internet is somewhat slower, usually capable of speeds ranging from 100-500 Mbps, though outliers exist above and below this range. Upload speeds are much slower than fiber, however, and the speeds are not as consistent. Network congestion affects cable internet users more heavily, and speeds can slow considerably during peak hours. It is more widely available than fiber internet and it can be paired with nicer bundles, though fiber customers will likely be happier with their overall experience.

Fixed Wireless Internet

Fixed wireless internet is an option that is more recently becoming available and generally uses 5G technology to provide broadband internet service wirelessly to a home with a fixed receiver. In some ways, it works much like satellite internet, though the latency will be lower and the receiver needs a clear line of sight to the cell tower.

Fiber internet is much faster than fixed wireless, with speeds for fixed wireless internet ranging greatly but averaging 25-50 Mbps to most accounts. Upload speeds are much slower. Latency is slower than fiber internet but better than satellite internet and manageable. Being a newer option, fixed wireless is not widely available yet, but expanding rapidly. It can be a good alternative if fiber or cable internet is not available in your area.

Best Fiber Internet Providers: Compare and Save!

What internet providers are best known for fiber service and what is on offer? 

AT&T Fiber

Primarily serving southern states, the Great Lakes area, and California, AT&T is one of the top internet providers in the country, but make sure you know the difference between AT&T Fiber and other AT&T Internet services (DSL). They offer affordable fiber plans, which usually range in speed from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps, though 1 Gbps is usually available.

Verizon

You might know Verizon primarily through its phone services, but Verizon has also grown to become a major internet provider across the country. Specifically, for fiber service, you will want to look for “Verizon Fios.” This is available in parts of Northeastern states, especially around Boston, Washington D.C., and New York City. Verizon offers 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, and Gigabit connection plans in most areas where fiber service is available. 

CenturyLink

CenturyLink provides internet service to 37 states, but fiber is a more limited option (only available in 20 states, including California, Colorado, and Arizona). Fiber customers will get a download speed of 940 Mbps and will not have a data cap on their plan. Overall, it is the fastest provider in many regions, so be sure to take a look at it if they serve your area.

EarthLink

Another of the largest internet providers in the country, Earthlink also primarily offers fiber service in the Great Lakes area and Southern States, though a fair number of other states have areas of service. Speeds go up to 5 Gbps, though most people will have 1 Gbps available and available as the top option. It is known for its freedom of data usage and the greater number of packages than most other providers.

Frontier

Available in some form in 25 states, you will specifically want to look for “Frontier Fiber” for their fiber service. This fiber service is mostly available in Alaska, Alabama, and Arizona. Customers can expect a fantastic price on fiber internet service (perhaps even $49.99 per month depending on the options chosen). Fiber customers will have either 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps of download speed. Additionally, customers will have unlimited data. However, extras and bundles are limited. 

Windstream

Windstream is available in all 50 states in some form and offers various types of internet service, but their fiber internet is not available everywhere. Interestingly, they offer a fiber-DSL hybrid service called Kinetic in many areas, leading to faster internet speeds in many areas that wouldn’t otherwise have them. Customers can get speeds up to 1 Gbps.

Xfinity

Xfinity is the largest cable and internet provider in the United States and is found in 40 states to serve 100 million Americans. For those who get Xfinity’s top fiber service (it may use a hybrid-cable-fiber network), average speeds usually are around 987 Mbps, with top plans reaching 2 Gbps. Xfinity is a bit more expensive than some other fiber providers but is a highly experienced and widespread provider.

Metronet

A smaller but still notable internet service provider, Metronet operates mostly in the Midwest and North Central regions. No contract is required for residential internet service, and it offers internet, television, and phone services to potential customers. It is primarily a fiber service provider and offers plans of varying speeds from 200 Mbps to 1 Gbps to customers for a reasonable price.

Is Fiber Internet for Me?

If you’re looking for a reliable internet connection, then fiber internet is for you. If you are looking for the fastest possible connection for your home, then fiber internet is the best choice. Fiber internet is the best option for you if you work remotely in social media, digital marketing, or another online-heavy career or industry. Most general users will find the benefits of fiber internet to be worth the cost.

And if you’re interested yet want to know more or want to know more about what options are available in the area, you can use this site to compare all of the major fiber providers. You can also use this site to find providers in your area and get a more detailed listing of plans and options. Be sure to weigh all of your options against your situation and needs.

Conclusion

Assuming it is available, fiber internet will be the right choice for most households. It is faster in every way than its competitors. It is more reliable. And while the monthly bill can be a bit more expensive, the value received is far better than any other option. We hope that you have a better idea of its capabilities and that you are also interested in improving your connection. If you are, we invite you to use this site to do so. And if you need to check information about fiber internet, we encourage you to come back to this page.