Fiber-optic internet, commonly called fiber internet or simply “fiber,” is a broadband connection that can reach speeds of up to 940 Megabits per second (Mbps), with low lag time. The technology uses fiber-optic cable, which amazingly can send data as fast as about 70% the speed of light. In addition, fiber-optic cables are not as susceptible to severe weather conditions as other types of traditional cables, which helps minimize outages. It also resists electrical interference effectively.
Fiber is ideal for multiple users to connect several devices at once. With CenturyLink Fiber service, you can:
- Upload and download files quickly
- Enjoy smooth online gaming and video chatting with friends and family
- Back up your entire hard drive to the cloud, including large photos and videos, in minutes instead of hours
- Download a 2-hour HD movie in seconds, compared to waiting 30 minutes or more over a 20 Mbps traditional internet service
How does fiber-optic internet work?
Fiber-optic internet is a complex technology that allows the transmission of information in the form of light rather than electricity. There are many pieces that make up this advanced technology, but two key components are optical fibers and the so-called “last mile” of the fiber-optic network.
Optical fibers
Optical fibers are tiny — about 125 microns in diameter, or slightly larger than a human hair. Many of these fibers are bundled together to form cables (not to be confused with coaxial cables, which are made of copper). The optical fibers carry pulses of laser or LED light down the line, transmitting information in “binary” form, similar to the 0s and 1s used in electronics.
The last mile
Once these super-fast pulses of light reach their destination, they are converted into electrical output that your devices can understand and use. This is performed by a special piece of equipment called the optical network terminal, which then sends the signal through an Ethernet connection to the user. The stretch between the main fiber network line and the end user is referred to as the “last mile” (though it is often much shorter than a mile).
“Pure fiber” refers to fiber connections that run all the way to the end user’s home, business or desktop computer. This is the fastest and most expensive “last mile” option, as it brings the full speed and reliability of fiber straight to the consumer.
As an alternative, copper cables are often used to carry the fiber connection from a terminal called a “street cabinet” to a whole housing block, campus or residential building. This option is less expensive, but a small amount of the fiber speed is lost in the “last mile.”
2-minute history of fiber optics
Though many people think of fiber-optic as a new technology, it actually dates back to the 1970s, when it was first used in telecommunications.
In 1988, fiber-optic cables were laid beneath the ocean, connecting the U.S. to Europe. Over the years, more and more lines were laid under the sea, so today a huge network of fiber-optic cables stretches around the entire globe. Growing fiber networks, with their high-speed capabilities and reliable transmission of data, have allowed for dramatic progress in the telecom field — in fact, some say fiber-optic technology is what made the Information Age possible.
In developed nations, fiber-optic lines replaced the older copper lines years ago, forming the core or “backbone” of our current internet networks. Only recently has it become more cost-effective to install fiber lines than copper ones. So, as the technology keeps improving, fiber-optic networks are expanding rapidly across cities and directly to homes.
How is fiber different from other types of internet?
The main difference is that fiber doesn’t utilize electric current like other types of internet connections do. It uses light, delivered through the fiber glass core.
Internet technologies have evolved dramatically over time. Here is a brief synopsis of the main types of connections that are still used, and how they work:
Dial-up internet
Dial-up, which is far less common than it was 20 years ago, utilizes existing telephone lines, which are usually made of copper. Dial-up uses the audible frequency of the landline, which is why you hear a series of beeps and noises when it connects. And, you can’t use the telephone and the internet at the same time because they share the same line.
The average speed of dial-up connections is about 56 Kbps (that’s about 0.05 Mbps) for downloading and uploading.
DSL internet
DSL (digital subscriber line) internet also uses telephone lines to transmit data. But in contrast to dial-up, DSL uses inaudible frequencies, so it doesn’t compete with your voice phone service.
Average speeds for DSL are between 1 and 100 Mbps for downloading and up to 20 Mbps for uploading.
DSL (digital subscriber line) internet also uses telephone lines to transmit data. But in contrast to dial-up, DSL uses inaudible frequencies, so it doesn’t compete with your voice phone service.
Cable internet
Cable internet uses the same line (or at least the same type of line) that your cable TV service uses, known as “coaxial cable.”
Speeds for cable internet can vary widely, anywhere up to 940 Mbps for downloading and up to 50 Mbps for uploading, on average.
Is fiber internet faster?
High-speed internet connections transmit data at different speeds. In addition to being faster, fiber is widely considered to be more reliable, and is an excellent choice for telecommuters, gamers, multi-user households and businesses.
CenturyLink Fiber service can deliver symmetrical download/upload speeds of up to 940 Megabits per second (Mbps) over a wired connection to your router.
In thinking about speed, you can’t ignore the impact of WiFi. The everyday connection speed you experience can be limited by the use of wireless technology, which tends to lose signal strength (meaning reduced bandwidth) as compared to the wired connection that enters your router.
What are the benefits of fiber for internet users?
Fiber internet is a great choice for high-bandwidth households where multiple users want to stream video, play online games, back up data, or send and receive large files at the same time, especially over long distances.
A fiber-connected home can deliver an exceptional experience across all devices and internet-connected systems, from home security to smart thermostats, ovens, refrigerators and other appliances.
With faster speeds, you also don’t get as much buffering with on-demand streaming. “Buffering” refers to the loading time that occurs when a video pauses and has to catch up. Fiber Internet from CenturyLink, for instance, lets you download a full-length 4K or HD movie in seconds.
As an example, this is how long it would take, on average, to download a large media file (6.5 GB) by internet type:
- Dial-up 11 days
- DSL 1 - 14 hours
- Cable 1 minute - 14 hours
- Fiber About 1 minute
What is dark fiber?
You may have heard the terms “dark fiber” and “lit fiber” and wonder what they mean. Well, it may surprise you to learn that the biggest cost of building a fiber-optic network isn’t the cable itself, but the cost of digging up the ground to bury the cable. So, once they’ve completed the digging, many telecommunications companies lay down extra fiber-optic cables to enable future development. “Dark fiber” refers to those cables that are not yet being used, while “lit fiber” refers to the lines that are already connected (or “lit”) and are being used by telecom companies to deliver fiber internet services.
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