What Is Fiber Internet?

Whether you receive Tachus service, follow us online, or are visiting our website for the first time, you’re definitely familiar with the term “fiber-optic Internet,” or “Fiber Internet.” You know that it’s the next generation of Internet service, and you know that it’s fast—very fast. But what makes it so fast? And what makes it better than DSL and cable connections? In this post, we talk about fiber-optic Internet, how it works, and how it’s better than services that use copper wires.

What Is Fiber Internet?

Fiber Internet is a type of Internet service that utilizes fiber-optic cables, which are made from bundles of glass strands that transmit data. Data is transmitted through these glass strands as pulses of light. Using these pulses to communicate data at the speed of light, a fiber-optic Internet connection offers high-speed upload and download times. This use of light is also the reason why Fiber Internet speeds do not degrade over long distances like copper based Internet connections do.

Is Fiber Internet Better?

Fiber-optic Internet is better than DSL and cable for many reasons. It's currently the fastest and most reliable Internet service available. Fiber increases download and upload speeds, and offers users faster access to various media types and larger file sizes, making it great for anyone who works from home. You can log onto videocalls as well as download and upload large files more easily than ever with a Fiber connection.

It's also great for gaming and streaming TV. Fiber-optic Internet provides lower latency, or less lag, and can download games and movies at a much faster rate than traditional cable connections. This is why many support Fiber as the ideal solution for both gaming and HD video streaming.

Fiber Internet is also the best option for those who want to use smart appliances and other IoT technology in their homes. A fiber-connected household can deliver an exceptional experience across all devices and Internet-connected systems, from home security to smart thermostats, smart ovens, smart refrigerators, and other appliances. A Fiber connection's symmetrical upload and download speeds are also ideal for this kind of technology, as both are needed to use devices such as Ring doorbells, Amazon Alexas, and Google Homes.

What Makes Fiber Better?

Fiber-optic cables can carry more data than the copper wires used in DSL and cable networks. For users, that translates to faster download speeds and much faster upload speeds. Fiber's light signals travel faster than the electrical signals used in cable and DSL, so it takes less time for your information to travel to provider's central hub and back.

By relying on light instead of electricity to transmit data, fiber-optic signals can travel about 100 times further than copper without degrading, and the infrastructure supports enough bandwidth to avoid network congestion. Do you ever experience slowdowns at 5 PM or during weekends? Fiber to the Home Internet users don't.

Fiber is also more reliable than copper, due to its resistance to interference, temperature changes, and moisture. It's also more secure, being much less susceptible to being tapped than copper due to the fact that copper uses much more electricity. Durability is another important factor to consider; copper's average lifecycle is five years, while Fiber can last decades without needing repairs.

One of Fiber's lesser known qualities is that it's more environmentally friendly than copper wires. This is because unlike the mining of copper, fiber's production does not have a very large environmental impact. Fiber reduces waste and helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Also, its utilization of light enables it to use up to twelve times less energy than copper.

Fiber in Your Home

Fiber has many advantages over the copper wiring used by DSL and cable Internet services. You could be missing out on the speeds you're paying for because of many different factors that affect outdated copper networks, but not fiber. Symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps, durability, reliability, and a smaller environmental impact are just a few reasons why it's the Internet service of the future. Once you start connecting with fiber, you'll wonder how you ever used anything else.

Interested in getting Fiber Internet in your home? Tachus is expanding its fiber-optic network across both Montgomery County and Harris County. Check availability today and see if you can get Fiber Internet service where you live!