In this increasingly fast-moving digital world, having access to affordable and fast internet has become a key part of our lives.
Nowadays, most people and companies consider fast internet to be a necessity for day-to-day operations. While the traditional internet infrastructure is still being used by millions all over America, the recent developments in fiber optic internet make it a popular option for a lot of customers.
And we can’t blame them. Fiber internet brings a lot to the table and is going to forever change the digital landscape from what we currently see. Let’s dive into how fiber optic internet is changing the game for consumers.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Understanding Fiber Optic Internet
What Consumers Get From the Digital Transformation With Fiber Optic Internet
Fiber Internet Availability and Affordability
Government Efforts for Fiber Expansion
The Impact of Fiber on ISPs and Consumers
Understanding Fiber Optic Internet
Traditionally, copper cables have been used to transmit data. The data is converted to electricity which travels through the wires as a pulse. After reaching the other side, these pulses are converted from analog to digital form.
However, there are a lot of problems with copper wires. While the speeds they offer can go up to 10 Gbps, they can usually only provide a stable connection at 300 Mbps. They also have a restricted bandwidth which means that they are unsuitable for transmitting data over large distances.
Fiber optics cable takes a new approach to transmitting data. Instead of converting data into electrical pulses, the data is converted into light pulses, which can travel a lot faster than the data in copper cables.
What Consumers Get From the Digital Transformation With Fiber Optic Internet
There are a lot of things to be excited about when talking about the future of fiber internet, and it’s not just about the speeds. Here are some of the benefits you’re going to get with fiber optic internet:
- Ultra-Fast Internet Speeds
The main benefit of using fiber optic internet over others is that it provides ultra-fast download and upload speeds. This high-speed internet access allows users to stream 4K content smoothly as well as provide fast download and upload speeds, previously unheard of with cable and DSL internet.
Not only are the speeds super-fast, but they are also symmetrical. This means that both upload and download speeds are the same. Upload speeds are generally lower than download speeds on copper cables since the total speed is capped.
This can improve consumer internet experience as well as make gaming, streaming, and cloud computing performance better.
- Improved Reliability and Stability
While speeds are extremely important, latency is another thing that can ruin your internet experience, especially with real-time applications like gaming and streaming.
With fiber internet, the double or triple-digit latency can drop down to single digits. It also reduces jitter, which happens when there are sudden changes in latency. This causes data packets to be sent out of order, which can often ruin your internet experience.
While higher latency happens over Wi-Fi more than Ethernet, fiber optic is clearer and offers a consistent signal, reducing the overall jitter. This makes it more reliable for online education, video conferencing, and telecommuting with fiber optic internet.
- Future Proof Technology
Cable internet is close to reaching its overall bandwidth limit which means that it’s going to become obsolete in the next decade. A lot of the internet infrastructure worldwide has already switched to fiber optics, especially the connections undersea that carry data all over the world.
Fiber optic can provide more than 1,000 times the bandwidth than copper cables. This is why it is a great option since it is being actively developed. This means that you can expect to experience even faster speeds in the future, which makes it an amazing option for individuals and businesses.
- Beneficial for the Environment
Fiber internet is environment- friendly as compared to copper wire connections generally used today.
Fiber optic wires create less heat, making them more energy-efficient. This means that when fiber optic infrastructure is implemented fully all around the world, we are going to have a more eco-friendly internet infrastructure compared to what we had with copper.
Plus, fiber optic cables are durable and have a longer life compared to copper cables. They are also less susceptible to corrosion and unpredictable weather conditions, which means that they have to be replaced less often. This helps reduce the environmental impact that comes with disposing, manufacturing, and installing cables.
Fiber Internet Availability and Affordability
Fiber internet is relatively new when compared to other options like cable and DSL. This is why currently, fiber optic internet is mostly available in urban areas that already have access to fiber optic internet infrastructure.
With fiber passing over 50% of households in the U.S., you’re more likely now than ever to find fiber availability in your area. Fiber internet is more difficult to install compared to cable since it requires laying new fiber cables, which tends to be more expensive.
If you’re wondering whether fiber internet is available in your area, feel free to check out your provider’s website which usually has a zip code tool that allows you to check fiber availability.
Factors like the provider you choose, your location, and download speeds can determine the total cost you can expect to pay for the internet. On average, you can expect to pay around $138 for fiber internet per month, whereas cable internet will cost you around $70.
Cable internet plans by Comcast Xfinity are generally a good budget-friendly cable internet option to use and can help you save money if you bundle it with their TV offerings. Xfinity also offers some hybrid options for internet users (cable plus fiber) which are more reliable as compared to cable internet service.
Fiber internet options, like Google Fiber, provide amazing internet speeds, but are limited availability and cost a lot more compared to cable internet.
This might change in the next few years since the U.S. government is now pushing for fiber internet to take center stage.
Government Efforts for Fiber Expansion
A lot of states in the U.S. have launched initiatives that aim to promote fiber network expansion. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) has plans to invest more than $20 billion over the decade to help deploy fiber networks in rural areas.
The Connect America Fund (CAF) by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also allocated billions to fund the deployment of fiber in rural parts of America.
Because of a lot of funding, the landscape is set to see a much-needed change in the world of internet technology. This is bound to lead to a lot of competition among ISPs to grab their share of customers, which ultimately is going to benefit the customers.
The Impact of Fiber on ISPs and Consumers
In the next decade, we are bound to see a push by ISPs to offer fiber internet at more competitive prices. While this will create a better internet infrastructure in the U.S., we are also going to see other changes to communities that you might not expect.
Installing and maintaining fiber optic networks is labor-intensive, which will lead to the creation of more jobs, ranging from technicians to network engineers as well as customer support. Not just that, it’s also going to open up new opportunities for freelancers and remote workers which will diversify the job market.
With the internet becoming a necessity, fiber internet can lead to higher real estate values as well as attract new businesses, especially tech startups that prioritize a more robust internet infrastructure.
On the surface level, fiber internet just means faster internet for the masses. However, when you look into it further, fiber internet is slowly laying down the foundation necessary for the digital economy, which will help communities stay competitive and adaptable in the global market.
