Having the internet in a world that keeps on changing, no longer gives you an upper hand, rather it has become a necessity if you want to stay up to date. To fulfill this increasing demand for connectivity a lot of internet technologies are being developed. Among these is the fiber optic internet. It is the better service option because it offers the speed and reliability you need to flawlessly go about your day-to-day tasks like a conference call, sending large data files, or just streaming 4k movies.
As of 2024, more than 99% of the world’s international communication is carried over fiber optic cables. and more than 77.9 million US households are now connected to fiber services. and is preferred by two-thirds of the US population. There are a lot of fiber providers in the US, but which one provides the best service, and which ISP is more reliable?
That’s what we are going to find out in this blog. We will discuss in detail what fiber internet is and its types, what speeds and performance you can expect from it, and the top ISPs in the country. So, let’s start!
Understanding Fiber Optic Technology
Fiber optic internet is a high-speed internet connection that uses thin strands of glass or plastic called optical fibers to transmit data. Unlike traditional copper cables, fiber optic cables use light pulses to send information.
The Process
- Data Conversion: When you request information (like a webpage), your device converts that data into digital signals.
- Light Conversion: These digital signals are then transformed into light pulses.
- Transmission: These light pulses travel through the fiber optic cable at nearly the speed of light.
- Reception: At the other end, the light pulses are converted back into digital signals.
- Data Interpretation: Your device receives and interprets the data, displaying the information you requested.
The types of fiber-optic internet can be divided into a lot of categories based on the tech, connection type, or wire. Let’s discuss the types based on the type of wire.
Types of fiber optic wire
Glass fiber:
Glass optical fiber wires are more capable of carrying light without letting it escape to the surroundings which eventually protects the information being carried with the light through the wire. Glass fiber is ideal for damp and dry weather conditions like heat waves or snow storms because they can endure these conditions without decreasing the performance quality, but this feature comes with a hefty price.
Glass fiber wires have different ranges, they vary from medium to long range. Long-ranging fibers are more commonly used in large-scale commercial activities, while fibers with medium range are used for small-scale commercial activities. Glass fibers are fragile and are damaged easily which can then add up the installation costs.
Plastic fiber:
Plastic fibers are flexible and even more ductile than wires made of iron. Plastic fibers are very light in weight allowing easy installation, and hence decreasing the price band. Plastic fibers are used for short ranges usually used in household activities.
Comparison with other technologies: DSL, cable, and satellite
Fiber:
Fiber optic network was first introduced in 1920 way before any of today’s existing broad bands were invented like satellite, cable, and DSL. In comparison to other technology’s internet speed, fiber internet has set a world record as of 2023 with an internet speed of 22.9 petabytes per second while other connections like DSL can only reach a maximum speed of 100 Mbps. However, the maximum fiber internet speed available for residential purposes is about 50 GBps.
The internet speeds provided by optics are symmetric, which means that you get equal download and upload speeds.
Satellite:
Satellite internet was first introduced in 1996 and the first DSL modem was made in 1991.
In terms of cost, satellite internet is the most expensive connection. If you choose to go for a very high-speed and unlimited internet connection, the price can get significantly high. Plus, the service is not very reliable.
DSL:
The average cost of DSL internet is a bit difficult to research, as they vary in terms of your location and the type of plan you want. A lot of companies like AT&T and EarthLink offer DSL plans, however, their prices are almost similar to fiber plans, so it’s always better to opt for fiber.
Speed and Performance
The upload and download speeds of fiber optic internet connection are pretty much the same, allowing you to upload and download data at the same speed. For instance, a fiber optic internet connection only takes up to 5 minutes to download or upload an HD movie. Whereas, it takes DSL, 1 to 14 hours to download similar files.
The download speed depends upon the type of internet plan you have, but on average the download speed of fiber internet can vary from a range of 200 Mbps to 8 Gbps.
As I mentioned earlier, for fiber internet plans the upload speed is the same, however, for DSL or cable internet plans the difference between upload and download speed is huge. On average, the upload speed of DSL and cable plans is only 10% of the download.
The consistency of a fiber internet connection remains steadfast no matter the usage time or the number of devices connected. Plus, the distance between your house and the internet provider also doesn’t matter, unlike cable and DSL which vary according to the distance from the provider and the location.
Along with high speeds, fiber-optic also provides low latency, which is important for gaming and online activities. According to the worldmetrics.org report the average latency of fiber internet in the USA is 17 milliseconds, which is significantly less than other types.
Reliability and Stability
Compared to DSL and cable, fiber is better because of its nonmetallic wires which don’t let any foreign signals interfere in its path.
This is also backed up by numerous customer reviews on Reddit, where customers have significantly praised fiber over other types of connections.
Availability and Installation
Growing availability in urban and suburban areas
Fiber internet technology is spreading at an ever faster rate. Both internet companies and the government are making efforts to increase the adoption rate of fiber. For instance, programs like Lifeline, or ACP support internet connection in rural or low-income areas.
Considerations for installation: What homeowners need to know
Before buying any internet plan from a company, users should know that there are different types of fiber connections that you can get. The types in the USA are:
Fiber to the premises (FTTP):
FTTH means that the fiber wire from your ISP is directly connected to your house panel without a change of cables. FTTP is also called pure fiber and it provides the best reliability and speed.
Fiber to the node (FTTN):
A setup in which the optical fiber connects to the network cabinet or node and passes the signal to copper wire at that point. A fiber to the node means the the fiber internet cable is connected to a central point and then distributes the internet to several houses
Fiber to the street (FTTS):
Fiber to the street means there is a fiber cable connected to the street panel and from there, a copper wire is connected to your home.
Top Fiber Internet Providers in the USA
In the USA the top 3 fiber providers are AT&T, EarthLink, and Verizon. Let’s discuss each of them briefly:
AT&T:
AT&T is the best internet provider in the country. Out of the 77.9 million fiber internet users It serves over 21 million+ people across all of the states. The company is most famous for its reliable fiber internet plans. Currently, AT&T offers 5 fiber plans, that start from the basic 300 Mbps plan and range up to 5 Gbps.
The prices start from $55 per month for the 300 Mbps plan and go as high as $245 per month for the 5 Gbps plan. For all fiber plans, there are no data caps, contracts, or equipment fees.
EarthLink:
One of the advantages of choosing EarthLink as your service provider is that any natural happening like flooding or fiber cuts won’t interrupt your connection. EarthLink’s fiber services are the best for gaming and streaming as they are highly reliable.
The company also offers the best plans and affordable prices. Their fiber internet plan speed starts at 100mbps for $59.95/per month and goes up to 5,000 Mbps for $189.95/per month. Fiber 1 gig is their best fiber plan starting at $89.95/per month.
To get more information on EarthLink plans, check out this detailed EarthLink reviews blog.
Verizon:
Verizon offers the best value for internet service, Verizon’s fiber internet service plans start at,$49.99 for 300mbps if you are not an existing postpaid mobile customer of Verizon. If you are then it is $35/per month, and the fiber 2 gig plan starts at $84.99/per month for 2300 Mbps. Plus you can add the entertainment services you want to the internet plan.
Verizon comes out fourth in the top five best internet service providers and has a total of 10.7 million fiber users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fiber optic internet is the best for household activities and large- and small-scale commercial activities. Installing a fiber connection is a one-time investment with long-term benefits. There are many internet service providers that you can choose from, and a ton of internet plans that range from just 10 Mbps to 8000 Mbps.