Menu

(/)
WE'RE OPEN! CALL NOW TO SAVE BIG!
ONLY 12 HOURS & 58 MINUTES LEFT!

1-877-223-4193

Compare: Fiber vs. Cable

Which holds the advantage for high-speed Internet?

Introducing the players

Fiber

Its data sent through pulses of encrypted light. It travels along exible, hair-thin glass bers. Fiber
optics is the latest telecommunications technology (/ber-optic/). Users can stream more than
one HD movie or video conference without interruption.
Fiber Internet often has equal upload and download speeds.
Cable

Its data sent via electricity. It travels along copper wires (/cable/). Cable has delivered TV for
decades, and it also works for TV and Internet. Cable has the infrastructure to serve hundreds of
customers on a single Internet connection.
Cable Internet often has download speeds that are faster than upload speeds.

Fiber vs. Cable: The tale of the tape

Which is best for availability, reliability, infrastructure and future prospects?

Infrastructure

Glass bers dont need electricity. So, high-voltage electrical equipment and power lines dont pose a
threat for interference. Cable operates on copper wires. Those are susceptible to service
interruptions during a power outage. EDGE: Fiber
Future prospects

Copper cables (/cable/equipment/) can be expensive to maintain. Some Internet providers have
already moved to a partial-ber network. Fiber-optic cables (/ber-optic/equipment/) have greater
capacity to handle more broadband demand. EDGE: Fiber.
Availability

Cable Internet operates in major markets and can deliver to customers who receive cable TV. Fiberoptic networks arent as widespread, and serve a growing but select market. EDGE: Cable
Reliability

Fiber-optic Internet delivers to a subscribers home on a dedicated line. Cable Internet carriers
sometimes split your connection with as many as 500 neighbors. EDGE: Fiber

The case for cable

Infrastructure is in place for cable Internet anywhere cable TV is served. Data travels on existing
cable TV lines (/tv/cable/), on different frequencies than TV. Cable speeds exceed that of dial-up, and
sometimes even DSL.
Cable Internet speed (/cable/speeds/) isnt contingent on your distance from a providers home
base, as it might be with DSL. Cable providers sometimes offer incentives such as a free router or
no-contract Internet.
Advancements in DSL and satellite as well as the advent of ber Internet have pushed the
technological envelope for cable, too. Many cable carriers have eliminated extensive contracts
(/contracts/), or done away with them altogether.
Cable Internet providers can also offer access to a national Wi-Fi network for connection capabilities
when the subscriber is out and about. Certain providers offer money-back guarantees and
enhanced speed offerings to keep pace with ber Internet. This includes speeds in excess of
100Mbps.

The case for ber

With speeds sometimes as fast as 1 gigabit, downloads can occur almost instantly. Games, songs
and movies are a snap to load. Fiber-optic networks operate on a higher frequency than cable and
other methods. Fiber-optic Internet users send data faster and over bigger distances than cable or
DSL.
Fiber-optic transmissions of data also suffer less degradation (/ber-optic/speeds/) than cable over
long distances. More than one user can engage in media-rich web activity at once. With equal speeds
for downstream and upstream, common web activity happens in an instant. Upload photos to social
media or download a full-length movie in seconds.

Fiber-optic users can video conference with no lag time. The connection isnt subject to the usage
volume limitations you might experience with cable Internet. A cable connection might serve as
many as 500 customers on a single line, slowing things down when more people are online.
Lightweight cables create an ecient network that is less costly than copper to maintain.

What else is possible with ber Internet?

Bundle TV, home phone or both with ber Internet
TV
Fiber-optic networks can deliver more TV channels, in HD quality. Sound quality with ber-optic TV
(/tv/ber-optics/) is also exceptional. Fiber optics deliver 10 times the resolution of digital TV.
Fiber-optic TV also isnt subject to power surges and static. No signal compression is necessary.
Home Phone
Fiber-optic phone lines bring 99.9% reliability to your calls, and crystal clarity. A ber home phone
wont be subject to dead zones and dropped calls. Fiber phone carriers usually offer plans for
local calls, nationwide long distance and international calling.
Double Play Bundle
From many ber-optic Internet carriers, you can select TV or home phone for a Double Play
bundle (/bundles/). A Double Play bundle would work well for a family with more than one person
who streams movies.
Triple Play Bundle
The most cost-ecient bundle from most carriers includes Internet, TV and home phone. It also
carries a convenience of one monthly bill, from one carrier, for all three services. Plus, the three
services integrate with each other: You can schedule DVR recordings with your mobile device. Opt
for on-screen call waiting, and more, with Triple Play features.

Search...

Halloween Inspired Tech Gadgets You Have to Try

(http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/halloween-inspired-tech/)

How Satellite Internet Works

(http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/how-satellite-internet-works/)

3 Cash-Back Apps to Make Your Wallet Happy

(http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/cash-back-apps/)

Why Switch to Fiber-Optic Internet from Cable or DSL?

(http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/why-ber/)

My Internet is Slow Whos On My Wi-Fi?

(http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/whos-on-my-wi/)

Services

Internet (http://www.internetproviders.com/high-speed-internet/)
Phone (http://www.internetproviders.com/phone/)
TV (http://www.internetproviders.com/tv/)
Shop

Plans (http://www.internetproviders.com/plans/)
Compare (http://www.internetproviders.com/compare/)
Local (http://www.internetproviders.com/local/)
Order Now (http://www.internetproviders.com/order/)
Resources

About IP.com (http://www.internetproviders.com/about/)

Contact Us (http://www.internetproviders.com/contact/)
Shortcut (http://www.internetproviders.com/shortcut/)
Scholarship (http://www.internetproviders.com/internet-scholarship.html)

Copyright 2016 InternetProviders.com All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy (/privacy-policy.html)

Terms & Conditions (/terms.html)