By this point, you’re probably familiar with the term “fiber internet,” but may not know: what exactly is fiber internet and how can it benefit your home? To help answer all your burning questions about how fiber internet works and why you should consider upgrading your plan, check out our simple guide below.
What is fiber optic internet?
Fiber optic internet is an alternative to copper wire or satellite internet connections. Traditional copper internet sends your signal down a copper cable, whereas fiber internet uses glass fibers that transmit signals even faster than copper and satellite connections. While copper lines use electricity to send data, fiber uses light.
Fiber lines are being installed across America, as well as across ocean floors to bring top speeds throughout the world. Currently, fiber internet is available in over 40% of the US, and 75% of Americans in a recent survey indicated that they’d switch to fiber internet if it becomes available in their area.
How fast is fiber internet?
Fiber internet delivers the fastest speeds available in the country, generally up to 1,000–2,000 Mbps. For context, the national average internet speed is 99.3 Mbps. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers a 25 Mbps download speed to be high-speed internet, but four American senators have recently called on the FCC to update their definition to a minimum of 100 Mbps. While that change has yet to come, the request further proves that fiber is a necessary boost to keep home connections high-speed.
Why should I upgrade to fiber internet?
Not only is fiber internet significantly faster than copper and satellite internet, it’s also more reliable than traditional internet connections due to the nature of the glass fibers. Even more, fiber cables are more secure than copper internet, which better protects your information from hackers. If you haven’t been convinced just yet, less lag while watching your favorite shows or playing your favorite games is another huge perk.
Is fiber available near me?
Windstream currently provides fiber internet across 18 states in America and is continuously expanding the network. Check out the GetWindstream availability page to find out if fiber internet is available near you.