What is all the buzz about Fiber internet, huh? We will try to break down fiber internet in a way that’s as easy as pie.
Imagine you’re trying to send a love letter. Now, you could send it by snail mail and it would take forever to get there, or you could beam it directly into your sweetheart’s hands with a laser.
That’s basically the difference between regular internet and fiber internet. Fiber internet uses light signals to transmit data at super-fast speeds, while traditional internet relies on electrical signals which are slower and less reliable.
Contact us to order and discuss fiber internet, or other types of internet access and failover solutions.
GenXtra Communications, we’re here to help.
How Does This Magic of Fiber Internet Happen?
With fiber internet, it’s all thanks to these tiny strands of glass or plastic, thinner than a human hair, bundled together to create an optical cable. These cables carry information in the form of light signals over long distances with minimal loss of signal strength.
Why should you care? Well, if you’re tired of that spinning wheel loading screen when you’re streaming your favorite show, or if your video calls look like a pixelated mess, or if your VoIP calls sound terrible, fiber internet could be your knight in shining armor.
Fiber internet offers faster download and upload speeds compared to traditional broadband. Plus, it’s more reliable because it’s less susceptible to severe weather conditions and electrical interference.
Fiber internet is dedicated internet access. This means that only you can use it. Where cable is often a shared connection with your entire neighborhood.
And the cherry on top? Fiber internet is future-proof. As our need for speed and data capacity continues to grow, fiber has the potential to meet those demands. It’s like having a highway with endless lanes, ready to handle whatever traffic comes its way.
So there you have it, in a nutshell. Fiber internet is like the superhero of the internet world, providing super-fast, reliable, and future-proof internet service. Source
How Does Fiber Internet work?
Alright, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how fiber internet works. It’s like a high-tech version of the game ‘telephone’ you might have played as a kid, but with light instead of whispered messages.
Here’s how it goes:
Data is Transformed
Information that you send or receive (like an email, a web page, or a cute cat video) starts out in a form your device actually understands – electrical signals. This information is then transformed into light signals.
Transmission Through Fiber Optic Cables
These light signals are beamed down thin strands of glass or plastic, known as fiber-optic cables. These cables are bundled together into a larger cable. Each strand carries different data, which means loads of information can be sent at once.
Traveling At Light Speed
The light signals bounce along the walls of the cable at incredibly fast speeds (almost at the speed of light!). This is thanks to a principle called ‘total internal reflection’.
Arrival and Conversion
When the light signals reach their destination, they’re converted back into electrical signals that your device can understand. And voila! You’ve got your cat video.
So, in essence, fiber internet works by transforming electrical data into light signals, sending these signals at lightning-fast speeds along fiber-optic cables, and then converting them back into electrical data at their destination. It’s this process that gives you that sweet, speedy internet connection.
History Of Fiber Optics
Fiber optics, the technology that has revolutionized our world with high-speed communication, has an exciting history. Let’s take a trip down memory lane:
1840s-1880s: Early Foundations: The concept of guiding light by refraction was first demonstrated by Daniel Colladon and Jacques Babinet in the 1840s. In the 1880s, Alexander Graham Bell developed the photophone, which transmitted sound on a beam of light.
1950s: Birth of Fiber Optics: The actual birth of fiber optics occurred in the 1950s when Harold Hopkins and Narinder Singh Kapany demonstrated the transmission of light through bundles of optical fibers.
1960s: Laser Technology: With the invention of lasers in the 1960s, the idea of using these light beams for communication began to be explored.
1970s: First Optical Fiber Cable: In the 1970s, Corning Glass Works developed the first optical fiber cable that could transmit light signals over long distances without significant signal loss.
1980s: Commercial Use: By the 1980s, fiber-optic cables were being commercially produced and installed for telecommunications.
1990s-Present: Ubiquitous Use: Since the 1990s, fiber-optic technology has become the backbone of the internet, telecommunications, and broadcasting industries. It continues to evolve, with research focused on increasing its speed and capacity.
So, from early experiments with light to the backbone of our modern communication, fiber optics has come a long way!
How Is Fiber Internet Different From Other Types Of Internet?
Fiber internet is quite different from other types of internet services, such as DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and Cable. Here’s how:
Dedicated Internet Access
Fiber internet is dedicated internet access also known as “DIA”, “Private-Line Circuits” and more. Fiber internet is not shared with other customers and is exclusively for your use only. While it typically does cost a bit more, it provides business-grade features and higher speeds when compared to traditional shared-access internet access. For example, Cable Internet (Coax) is shared with everyone within the same area.
If you on cable internet now, do random speed tests throughout the day and you will see it fluctuate. This is because your business neighbors employees are watching those funny cat videos and more.
Speed
Fiber internet offers much faster speeds compared to DSL and Cable. While DSL and Cable may offer download speeds up to 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps respectively, fiber internet can offer speeds up to 10,000 Mbps (10 Gbps), and even higher in some areas.
Signal Strength
Signal strength in DSL and Cable deteriorates over distance, meaning the further you are from the service provider’s central hub, the weaker your signal will be. Fiber internet does not have this issue, as it can transmit data over much longer distances without loss of signal strength.
Data Transmission
DSL and Cable use electrical signals to transmit data, which can experience interference from other electrical or radio signals. Fiber internet uses light signals, which are immune to such interference, leading to a clearer, more reliable connection.
Bandwidth
Fiber internet has a much higher capacity for data transmission, which means it can handle higher demand, heavy usage, and multiple users far better than DSL or Cable.
Symmetrical Speeds
Many fiber internet services offer symmetrical speeds, meaning upload speeds match download speeds. This contrasts with DSL and Cable, where upload speeds are often significantly slower than download speeds. The upload speed is critical for crystal clear voice calls, high quality video conferences and more.
So, in essence, while DSL and Cable can be sufficient for basic internet usage, fiber internet shines when it comes to speed, signal strength, reliability, and handling heavy data usage. Source
What Are The Benefits Of Fiber Internet?
Fiber internet has many advantages over traditional types of internet like DSL and Cable. Here are some of the key benefits:
Superior Speed
Fiber internet offers incredibly fast download and upload speeds, often up to 10 Gbps or even more. This makes it excellent for activities that require high bandwidth, such as streaming videos, gaming, video conferencing, and downloading or uploading large files.
Reliability
The signals in fiber-optic cables are less likely to degrade over distance compared to traditional copper cables (coaxial (cable) and DSL use copper). Fiber is also immune to many of the issues that can cause outages or slow-downs in other types of internet, like electrical interference.
Symmetrical Speed
Unlike many other types of internet, fiber internet often provides equal upload and download speeds. This is particularly useful for businesses, where large amounts of data may need to be uploaded regularly.
Bandwidth
Fiber-optic cables can carry a much higher volume of data than copper cables of the same diameter. This means fiber networks are able to handle higher demand, support more devices, and experience less traffic congestion.
Security
Fiber internet is more secure than other types of internet, as data can’t be intercepted as easily. This makes it a good choice for businesses dealing with sensitive information.
Future Proof
As demands for data continue to grow, fiber internet is well-positioned to meet these needs due to its large capacity for data transmission.
So, from speed and reliability to security and future readiness, fiber internet offers numerous benefits over traditional internet connections.
Interesting in getting fiber internet for your business? It’s easy, get a quote or contact us to learn more.
GenXtra Communications, we’re here to help.
