Many businesses are turning to fiber optic networks due to its fast and high-quality rate of data transmission. Fiber makes use of light instead of electricity to send and receive data and this facilitates faster internet that can handle higher bandwidth.
Fiber Optic Internet Advantages for Businesses
Bandwidth
Installing a fiber optic network will increase the bandwidth potential for a business. Cable internet that uses copper wires and TDM technologies were initially made for transmitting voice calls and this shows that they are limited. For example, T-1 can only transmit 1.5Mbps of throughput and because it relies on electricity, it is also limited by distance.
Download and Upload Speeds
Fiber optic internet offers faster internet compared to cable. A download that takes 22 minutes to complete over cable internet takes less than 8 seconds on fiber internet. With fiber internet, there is no buffering or “waiting for things to load”.
Distance
The signal of copper internet deteriorates the further you are from the main access point. With fiber internet, your signal is not in danger of going down within the fiber rings that serve your business.
Security
Copper cable internet is easily intercepted by connecting taps to the line to pick up electronic signals. Fiber internet cannot be tapped as it’s quick to find compromised cables as they visibly emit light from transmissions.
Reliability
Copper wires are affected by temperature fluctuations, moisture, severe weather and they all lead to a loss of connectivity. The copper internet also experiences radio and electronic signal interferences.
Copper cables are also easily tampered with by telephone company staff who might make the wrong connection. On the other hand, fiber is usually independent of the phone company’s equipment and termination points.
Cable Size
Cable internet speeds are determined by the size and weight of the cable used. For a business to get high internet speeds, more cable is needed and this requires more space.
Fiber is light in weight, easy to use and less demanding.
Cost
Installing fiber is expensive than copper in the short-term but the investment is worth it. Fiber is more durable, cheaper to support and needs less hardware.
Installing fiber is a way to future-proof your business as you will be able to handle all internet needs of future devices.
Fiber is Sturdier
It only takes 25+ pounds of pressure to damage copper wires while it takes 200+ pounds of pressure to compromise fiber. This means that you are more likely to damage copper wires while carrying out maintenance operations.
Conclusion
The benefits of the fiber-optic internet over cable internet are clear to see. Businesses that make use of fiber find speed, bandwidth potential and total cost of ownership as noticeable gains.