The widespread availability of the internet has disrupted traditional communication. Its impact can be seen across industries. Consumers and retailers alike are getting convenience and comfort, thanks to the internet. Just think about it, when was the last time you visited a local store to get your Spectrum billing details!
Democratization of the internet paved the way for telecommunication companies to introduce new services. First, there was the dial-up, then came DSL and cable. Now, we are living in the age of fiber communications. There’s no denying that companies around the world are eager to capitalize on the tremendous potential of fiber internet.
What Is Fiber Broadband?
Fiber internet is a type of broadband connection that uses fiber optic cables to transmit data. Fiber optic cables are extremely efficient. They can carry data at about 70% of the speed of light. The high download speeds you get with fiber internet are due to these fiber optic cables. Fiber internet speeds usually peak at 940 Mbps (megabits per second).
How Does It Work?
In fiber optics, data travels in the form of light. This type of transmission is different from the traditional connection that carries data in the form of electricity. This explains why fiber internet provides great internet speeds compared to other types of broadband connections. There are two crucial components to the fiber internet. One is the optical fiber cable and the other is the pulse of light or the “last mile”.
Optical Fibers
Optical fibers are transparent fibers that are slightly thicker than human hair. The diameter of a single optical fiber is approximately 125 microns. When bundled together, optical fibers became optical fiber cables. However, it is important to note that optical fiber cables are not coaxial cables. The latter forms when copper cables are bundled together. Optical fibers transmit data in the form of super-fast pulses.
Pulses
Fiber internet uses a technology called the optical network terminal to convert these super-fast pulses into electrical output. Your internet device understands the connection through the optical network terminal via an Ethernet connection. The end-user receives signals from the provider via the so-called “last mile” stretch. In case you are getting the full speed and reliability of fiber internet, this is because of the pure fiber connection installed by the provider.
The Benefits of Fiber Internet
Fiber internet is arguably the fastest broadband internet in the world today. It rarely experiences outages because it isn’t susceptible to severe weather conditions. Using fiber internet can provide additional advantages compared to broadband connections such as DSL and cable internet. That said, here are some benefits of using fiber internet:
- High internet speeds (up to 940 Mbps)
- Super-fast browsing
- Smooth streaming and gaming experience
- Low latency
- Quick downloads
What Is Happening In the World of Full Fiber Broadband?
Full-fiber broadband is the way to the future. It is capable of transforming lives and works. Full-fiber connectivity has the potential to transform economies and bolster jobs. Countries around the world are already making efforts to improve their fiber infrastructure. Singapore, for example, has already gone full fiber. This comes after the island nation’s telecommunication giant, StarHub, switched from cable to fiber. Today, the company covers more than 90% of the country with its fiber network.
The cable to fiber migration is a major success story for Singapore, which is now the first fully broadband market in the world. It also provides a lesson for countries aiming for greater connectivity via fiber broadband. StarHub launched its fiber service in 2013. Since then, it has managed to convince the majority of its switch from cable to fiber internet. Today, it is the undisputed leader in the fiber broadband market.
Countries like the United Kingdom are also aiming to go full fiber in near future. UK officials see full-fiber broadband as key to economic growth and prosperity. The country, however, has not made many advances in the fiber sphere compared to its other European neighbors. Approximately 3% of the country’s population has access to fiber internet compared to the 60-90% in the rest of Europe.
The UK government has promised to provide full fiber coverage by 2025. The incumbent UK Gigabit Broadband Programme is in line with the promise. The UK had announced the initiative in September last year. It hopes to equip five million houses with 100% fiber coverage during the next three years. However, the initiative doesn’t seem possible without private assistance. Companies need to realize the potential of full-fiber broadband and assist the government with the implementation.