Fiber optic internet is by far the fastest internet connection money can buy.
While writing about home internet for the first few weeks, I tried to understand what fiber optic internet is all about. It didn’t take me long to realize that fiber optic speeds are much faster than cable, 5G fixed wireless, satellite internet, moderate DSL speeds, etc. Fiber optic is also one of the most popular internet service connections among customers across the country. So, if people who have purchased fiber optic are happy with their internet service, why not recommend fiber optic internet to everyone? Why stick to other internet connection types?
The answer is simple: High speeds and customer satisfaction alone don’t make fiber the best option for every home. Price, availability, rates and other details affect how efficient fiber is for your broadband needs and budget. Plus, most homes don’t have download speeds above 600 megabits per second, according to the latest data from OpenVault, so you may not need the 5,000 or 8,000 Mbps speeds that some fiber providers offer.
But fiber optic internet is still pretty awesome. Fiber optic internet connections harness the speed of light to transmit data, and while it’s a technology we’re still getting used to, it has had a major impact on how we communicate and use the internet.
And it’s an internet connection that CNET has recommended many times (where available): But if, like me, you’re wondering what fiber optic broadband is and how it works, let’s take a closer look at how fiber optic internet works and whether it’s a worthwhile investment.
What exactly is fiber internet?
Fiber optic internet uses fiber optic cables, or long, thin strands of glass or plastic covered with layers of insulation and coatings, to transmit data over long distances using light signals. Technically, the speed of light used for this data transmission is slowed by 30% due to refraction that occurs within the cable, but the speed is still very fast. In fact, the reason you’re reading this article right now is because undersea, super-fast fiber optic cables are powering your internet connection, fiber optic or not.
So what does this mean for you? It means you get symmetrical download and upload speeds at every speed tier, all the way up to the 50 Gigabit (or 50,000Mbps) plan. That’s a huge improvement over upload speeds from most cable internet providers, which typically range from 20-50Mbps.
However, you should also know that fiber optic cables are very expensive, and the process of installing a fiber optic network is also expensive, which means that it may be difficult for some providers to extend their fiber optic network to your neighborhood, especially if you live in a rural area or just outside a major city.
Because fiber optic internet requires an existing infrastructure, or fiber optic network, to function, the speeds you get will depend on which fiber optic internet providers are already operating in your area. Fiber optic providers sometimes share each other’s networks to reduce costs.
How you access a fiber internet connection varies depending on the network, but there are three main ways: It’s important to note that the only true fiber internet connection is a direct connection or fiber to the home connection.
- Fiber to the Home (FTTH): Fiber optic cable runs directly from the network to your home. This is the fastest option.
- Fiber to the Curb (FTTC): If you can’t run fiber directly into your home, you can connect the fiber optic cable to a coaxial cable coming from a pole or cabinet. This will inevitably result in a slower connection, but still provide sufficient speeds.
- Fiber to the Neighborhood (FTTN): This fiber optic internet connection, also known as fiber to the node, runs from a connection hub or node utility pole. Your home is then connected to the network via coaxial cable. This means it has the furthest reach of the three options and is the slowest connection type of the three.
Whether or not you have a direct fiber connection, fiber internet is installed using a small utility box, or optical network terminal (ONT), that a technician places inside or outside your home. The ONT is then wired into the fiber network. You now have the fastest internet connection in your neighborhood.
Is Fiber Optic Internet the Best Internet Connection?
Before calling fiber optic the “best” internet connection type, there’s a lot to consider. While fiber optic is arguably the fastest, it’s also the most limited internet connection type in terms of availability.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, less than half of the population has access to fiber optic internet connections, compared with cable connections that cover 82% of the population, meaning fiber optic providers have some catching up to do.
The cost of fiber optic internet will also determine whether it’s a good option for your home. There’s no doubt that the starting price for fiber optic internet is higher than cable. In many cases, the starting price averages around $50 per month. However, there are some cheaper fiber optic internet providers, such as Frontier Fiber and Ziply Fiber, that start at $30 for 200 Mbps and $20 for 100 Mbps per month, respectively.
If you look at Cost per MbpsFiber optics is often the most cost-effective type of internet connection and doesn’t experience yearly price increases like some cable providers. For example, spectrum and AT&T Fiber Both offer 1,000Mbps for $80 per month, or 8 cents per Mbps. Spectrum plans to increase this price to around $110 per month in a year or two. AT&T Fiber is not raising its prices. It’s also worth noting that AT&T Fiber offers 1,000Mbps upload speeds, lower latency, and better overall reliability than Spectrum’s 35Mbps upload speeds at the same tier.
parable Google Fiberis one of the more expensive fiber optic providers, starting at $70 per month for 1,000Mbps and going up from there, but if you look at the cost per Mbps you’ll see that it’s a pretty good deal for the speeds offered: $125 per month for 5,000Mbps might seem like a lot, but that’s about 3 cents per Mbps.
Again, think about how much internet speed you actually need first to get the most bang for your buck. Not everyone needs 5,000Mbps, but if you’re a remote worker, an avid gamer, or have multiple people in your home who use the internet a lot, a multi-gig internet connection might be the best fit.
Finally, fiber optic internet boasts the best customer service track record compared to other internet services. American Customer Satisfaction Index This reflects a trend of favorable results for fiber optic internet providers over the past few years. AT&T Fiber received an 80 on ACSI’s 2024 Satisfaction Benchmark, with the lowest score being Optimum Fiber’s 66. For comparison, non-fiber optic internet providers (DSL, fixed wireless, cable) scored a low of 56 and a high of 76. T-Mobile Home Internet.
Data Source J.D. PowerAnother customer satisfaction research firm, AT&T, noted that customers were generally satisfied with wireless internet in 2023, but may not have differentiated between fixed wireless and fiber optic services from one provider. For example, Verizon offers 5G home internet and fiber optics through Verizon Fios, but there are no separate categories in the data. Regardless, AT&T, Frontier Fiber, Verizon, and Google Fiber received top scores in all regional surveys.
Which internet providers offer fiber?
According to the latest FCC report, there are more than 1,400 fiber optic internet providers in the United States. Most of these providers are local. Only about seven providers serve more than 1-2% of the population, with Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber providing the widest coverage, at 9% and 12%, respectively.
Conclusion: Is Fiber Optic Internet Worth It?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, but perhaps the most important is whether fiber is available in your area. If you have fiber, it’s absolutely worth it. You might not need the multi-gigabit tier for $100+ per month, but even the lower tiers of 300 Mbps download/300 Mbps upload will beat the speeds offered by cable, fixed wireless providers, and especially DSL. Fiber typically offers unlimited data, plus no contracts or monthly equipment fees (depending on the provider). However, fiber internet is not the only solution to your broadband needs. Expanding fiber optic networks and improving the affordability of multi-gigabit tiers are among our biggest priorities, but while we wait for those improvements, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an internet connection that’s as fast as the speeds you can get from fiber optic.
What is Fiber Internet? FAQ
How fast is fiber optic internet?
The fastest residential internet connection known today is Ziply Fiber’s 50,000Mbps tier, which raises the bar for all internet providers. Some fiber providers, such as Google Fiber, start at 1,000Mbps and max out at around 8,000Mbps or 10,000Mbps. There are also providers with lower starting speeds, such as Frontier Fiber and Verizon Fios, which start at 200Mbps and 300Mbps, respectively.
Is fiber optic internet expensive?
Depending on your internet provider and how fast you want your internet to be, definitely yes. Some of the cheapest fiber optic providers have plans that start at $20/month for 100Mbps (Ziply Fiber) or $30/month for 200Mbps (Frontier Fiber), but most starting prices average around $50.
What is the difference between fiber internet and “fiber-rich” internet?
Cable providers often use the term “fiber rich” to describe their service, but this doesn’t mean you get true fiber internet. It usually means that they have fiber optic cable somewhere in their network, but they don’t have fiber all the way to your home. You can usually tell if your internet provider offers true fiber service by looking at their download and upload speeds. If the speeds are symmetrical, it’s probably fiber.
Where is fiber optic internet available?
If you live in or near a large city, you’re much more likely to have fiber optic internet. That said, you can check if your address is available for fiber by entering your address into an availability checker on most providers’ websites, or by using data from the FCC.
