HOW DOES FIBER-OPTIC INTERNET COMPARE WITH THE COMPETITION?

Because of the cost of installation and natural resistance to change, many businesses and individuals are hesitant to pursue a Fiber-Optic connection. This decision is perfectly rational when it comes to a home environment: if you are happy with your current connection, then why change? When it comes to commercial use, however, the stakes are a bit higher. Your competition may already be utilizing this technology of the future, whether you have invested in it or not. And the benefits which Fiber-Optics offer are undeniable.

 

Let’s take a look at what sets fiber optic internet apart from alternative internet options — and why such a connection may be a smart investment for your business to make.

 

Dial-Up Internet

 

Though its use is now mostly limited to extremely rural areas and the homes of the incredibly stubborn, dial-up does still exist, and this method continues delivering slow-speed internet using telephone lines.

 

Practically the only advantage of dial-up is that it is available pretty much everywhere — its disadvantages include being infuriatingly slow and blocking your telephone line!

 

Digital Subscriber Lines

 

Part of the reason why we bothered mentioning dial-up (aside from it being a good example of how foolish over-resistance to change can be) is the fact that DSL connections actually operate in a very similar manner. These options also use telephone lines — the only difference is that they do so in a manner which does not impede phone calls, and they deliver more modern speeds.

 

The main advantages of DSL connections? They offer consistently decent speeds, and Digital Subscriber Line connections tend to be reasonably affordable. The disadvantages? DSL is slower than most of the options we will discuss next — and its speed and reliability both depend upon your distance to the central office of your DSL provider.

 

Cable Broadband

 

One of the first widely-available internet options to not rely upon telephone lines, cable broadband shares (as you might imagine) the same infrastructure used to deliver cable television to homes and businesses around the world.

 

The second-fastest option on the market (next to Fiber Optic connections) cable broadband suffers from two main drawbacks. It tends to be rather expensive, and it tends to slow down during peak internet/cable usage hours.

 

Satellite

 

We mentioned earlier that internet options can sometimes be limited in remote areas — and one useful solution (and merciful alternative to dial up) that has been developed in recent years is satellite internet.

 

The downside of this method? Satellite connections are slower and more expensive than every other modern broadband option. The upside, of course, is that at least it’s not dial-up!

 

Fiber

 

So, now that we have presented all the major alternatives to fiber optic internet service, let’s talk about what makes Fiber Optic internet special. First and foremost, it is worth point out that the technology that makes these networks possible is truly incredible — utilizing ultra-thin glass cables that literally transmit data using light!

 

Of course, businesses aren’t investing in fiber optic internet simply because its hardware is impressive. Fiber Optic offers, by far, the fastest and most modern internet connection available. Download/upload speeds over 50 times faster than even cable connections, improved cybersecurity, more reliability, and the potential to offer a lower lifetime cost than other alternatives are just a few of biggest advantages to Fiber Optic connections.