What is fiber internet?

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 Brightspeed 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

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 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.

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.”

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. 

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, 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.