Is fiber-optic internet worth it for you?

Man using fiber internet on multiple devices

In our fast-paced, tech-driven world where information sharing, entertainment and connectivity are highly prioritized, a high-speed internet connection is essential. If you demand speed and performance from your internet connection, fiber-optic internet could be exactly what you need. This article will explain what fiber-optic internet is, how you can benefit from it and how it differs from DSL internet. Keep reading to see if fiber-optic internet is right for you.

What is fiber-optic internet?

Fiber-optic internet is a high-speed broadband internet connection that has relatively low latency. It's so fast that it can send data over the internet at nearly 70% the speed of light. To do this, it uses fiber-optic cables, which aren't as vulnerable to severe weather conditions as other types of internet cables.

Fiber-optic internet can offer nearly symmetrical download and upload speeds, making it the fastest high-speed internet available. To truly understand and appreciate what fiber-optic internet can do, though, you should know how it works.

How does fiber-optic internet work?

With fiber-optic internet, a connection is established by passing information in the form of a light beam through fiber-optic glass cables. By transmitting information or data as a light signal, the fastest internet speed is achieved.

This is unlike standard cable internet connections, where data is transmitted in the form of an electrical signal through copper cables. A fiber-optic internet network has two main components:

Optical fibers: The most obvious feature of optical fibers is their tiny size. These tiny fibers are combined to form cables used to transmit charged LED light. During this process, information is simultaneously transmitted in binary form.
Last mile: The last mile encompasses the entire process involved in the data transmission, including the distance or route taken from the fiber network's mainline to the end-user. Generally speaking, in the last mile, the charged LED light from the mainline is conveyed to its final destination through optical fibers. The charged lights then get converted into electrical outputs at the optical network terminal as they pass through the ethernet connection to the end-user.

During this process, information traveling in the form of a light beam from the mainline can be conducted through various routes to the end-user:

Fiber to the home or premises (FTTH or FTTP)
Fiber to the curb (FTTC)
Fiber to the node (FTTN)

How is fiber-optic internet different from DSL internet?

The most obvious differences between fiber-optic internet and DSL internet are information transmission and bandwidth.

While fiber-optic internet uses fiber-optic glass cables, DSL internet uses coaxial cables made up of copper wires to transmit data over long distances. While data is transmitted as electricity with DSL internet, it's transmitted in the form of charged LED light particles with fiber-optic internet.

Since light moves faster than electricity, this means that fiber-optic internet tends to offer faster internet speeds. In fact, fiber-optic internet can be as fast as 5000 Mbps.

Take a look at the internet and fiber-optic internet plans offered by Frontier^® Internet today. Check availability in your area.

Benefits of fiber-optic internet

By offering a reliable and fast-speed internet connection, fiber-optic internet stands out among other connection types. Imagine an internet connection so reliable that you can be downloading large files, conducting Zoom meetings and streaming HD videos on multiple devices simultaneously without experiencing any appreciable network latency.

Some key benefits users can enjoy with fiber-optic internet include:

Speed

Fiber-optic internet offers the fastest speeds compared to other internet connection types. And while most other internet service providers focus primarily on download speeds, Frontier Fiber Internet offers nearly symmetrical download and upload speeds on available select plans so you can upload files painlessly and video chat more clearly.

Reliability

A fiber connection offers a more reliable internet connection compared to other internet connection types, such as cable internet. This is because data is transmitted through fiber-optic cables in the form of charged LED lights. This means it's less likely to be impacted by severe weather conditions or network latency issues. It also makes it usable over a longer distance while retaining the same network connectivity quality.

With fiber-optic internet, you won't have to worry about your network suddenly lagging when you just reached the climax of your favorite movie.

Shareability

If your household typically does multiple online activities on multiple devices simultaneously, a fiber-optic internet connection can be a great choice. With enough bandwidth to share, you don't have to worry about your kids playing online games when you're in an important video conference call for work.

Fiber-optic internet is also great for businesses that might be using cloud servers or hosting online webinars and Zoom meetings. All of these require a robust and efficient internet network. A high-speed internet network like fiber-optic allows businesses to share data across servers seamlessly.

Security

Another benefit of fiber-optic internet is that it's inherently more secure, which is a huge bonus to businesses that might be sharing confidential information over the cloud because it's harder to intercept fiber-optic signals. In fact, it's a lot more difficult for cybercriminals to extract data from fiber-optic lines since it's transmitted in the form of light and emits little or no radiation. Radiation during data transmission is a major cause of information leaks.

Is fiber-optic internet worth it for your home internet needs?

Does your network connection or Wi-Fi act up sometimes, making it hard for you to stream your favorite Netflix shows? Do webpages take forever to load when you're trying to put in some work online? How about those fluctuations that occur during important business video meetings with associates? These problems are probably relatable to a majority of internet users.

If you're one of the many people struggling with the bandwidth you currently have, it might be time to try a faster internet option. That is where fiber-optic internet comes in. With internet speeds available through fiber-optic internet you can do more online. Imagine downloading a 5-gigabyte HD movie in about 10 seconds. That should give you an idea of how fast fiber-optic internet can be.

With fiber-optic internet, you can stream your favorite HD shows without interruption, comfortably load webpages without any hassle and access the internet on multiple devices simultaneously. Fiber-optic internet is also largely unaffected by bad weather conditions.

Discover Frontier Fiber Internet availability in your area

In our fast-paced world, almost everything is internet-related. This makes access to faster speeds essential for individuals and businesses to thrive. Frontier^® Fiber Internet allows you to be unstoppable online with a 100% fiber-optic internet connection.

Get symmetrical upload and download speeds on select fiber-optic internet plans and enough bandwidth to share with the entire family. Our fiber-optic plans also come with a price-lock for the duration of the package contract, and there are no activation fees, data caps or overage charges for Frontier Internet services. You can also check to see if an Auto Pay discount is available.

Whether you're trying to get ahead of competitors as a business owner or just looking for a solid internet service provider, see the difference that Frontier Internet can make. Check availability of Frontier Fiber Internet in your area or give us a call.

Get the connection you deserve today with Frontier Internet.

Availability varies by location. Enter your address to find out which internet plans are available in your area. Max speeds are wired speeds. Wi-Fi average, and actual speeds may vary. For details, see frontier.com/internetdisclosures.