Fiber internet has been in the news a lot lately. It’s expanding in New Hampshire, thanks to government investment in high-speed internet infrastructure, and is opening opportunities in rural areas where internet service has traditionally been spotty to non-existent. Fast internet service is essential today, and this cutting-edge technology offers lightning-fast internet in cities and small towns across the country.
But what is fiber internet service? Is it reliable? Is it better than cable or DSL? This post will tell you what you need to know about fiber internet and how it stacks up against other types of internet service.
About Fiber Internet
Fiber internet, sometimes known as fiber-optic internet or just fiber, is a broadband connection that uses fiber-optic cable to deliver internet service to a home or business. Fiber optic cables carry pulses of LED light that transmit data up to 70% of the speed of light and are more resilient against harsh weather conditions and electromagnetic interference than conventional cables. Fiber internet also offers symmetrical uploads and downloads, meaning upload speeds are just as fast as download rates. Fiber can achieve rates of up to 2 Gbps with little lag time.
When compared to cable or DSL, fiber internet is a newer technology, offering better reliability, more consistency, and faster speeds. Although it is not available everywhere, it is available in a number of rural areas in New England and Hub66 is currently working with communities in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region to expand service.
How Does Fiber Compare to Cable and DSL?
Because fiber internet is the latest technology, it has a number of advantages over DSL and cable. For one, fiber uses advanced cable technology, not copper wires, to send information. This is not only faster, but also sends information with much less distortion and interference than cable and DSL internet.
You’ve heard fiber internet is faster, but by how much? When comparing download speeds, cable Internet can be up to 100X faster than DSL Internet, and fiber Internet can be up to 100X faster than cable. And when looking at upload speeds the difference can be even greater. This isn’t just a subtle difference when you’re on an important conference call or streaming the latest movie with your family. Fiber internet is exponentially faster than all other methods of broadband delivery.
Another great thing about Hub66’s fiber service is that there are no data caps. While some internet service providers (ISPs) limit the amount of data you can use in a given month to send and receive email, movies and images, Hub66 provides plenty of bandwidth without overages or speed throttling.
Want to know more about how fiber internet compares to cable and DSL? Read our post, “DSL and Cable vs. Fiber: Which Is Better?”
Can I Get Fiber Internet?
As we noted above, fiber internet is unfortunately not available everywhere yet. The good news is that it is getting easier to find in New England, and Hub66 is currently expanding into small towns across the area.
Thanks to a $3.7 million American Rescue Plan grant, the Grafton County Broadband Committee, in collaboration with Hub66, is conducting the engineering for expansion in all 39 towns within the county. This would provide all residents, schools and businesses access to high speed internet. This is in addition to the area already serviced by Hub66 in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Want to know about fiber internet service and if it’s available in your area? Contact our support team.