Comparison between Fiber and Cable Internet

A sound internet connection is the an ultimate key to effective personal and professional growth. Hence the type of internet connection you choose will have a deep impact on your productivity and efficiency. A normal internet user does not know the difference between the various internet types. All they seek is a business intern1et service that can help them carry out their routine tasks and activities without any slowdowns or lags. 

Most of the internet options claim to deliver you high-speed internet access but the terms, speed range, price, and functionality may be different. There is no denying the fact that speed is the utmost preference when it comes to choosing the right internet type and plan. The two main internet types in this regard are cable and fiber internet. 

Both these types top the list of faster internet speeds. You can find outstanding internet services like CenturyLink en espanol and of the likes who excel in offering high-quality internet services at the most affordable rates. On the other hand, you can find fiber internet providers with blazing fast internet speeds but slightly higher rates. Both have their set of perks and differ in structure, reliability, functionality, mode of signal transmission, availability, and speeds. 

Having said that, here is a closer look at the differences between fiber and cable internet:

Structure

Cable internet makes use of coaxial cables to transfer data. The coax cable has a copper core, coated with aluminum insulation and covered with a layer of plastic. 

Coax cables are used for both internet and TV transmission. This is why the cable service provider can offer both internet and TV services along with exciting bundle offers. However, a modem is needed to access the cable services. 

Fiber internet, on the other hand, makes use of fiber optic cable. It consists of fiber optic cables. The signals make use of modulated light transmitted through fiber optic cables. The main types of fiber include DIA or Direct Internet Access and the other one is broadband fiber-optic network. 

Availability

Cable networks are more readily available as compared to fiber internet networks. This is because the fiber internet infrastructure is more expensive as compared to cable infrastructure. 

There is no denying the fact that fiber internet is faster as compared to cable internet but unfortunately, it is currently available in very limited regions. If you live in a remote area, you cannot expect to have fiber internet access due to the lack of required infrastructure. 

Speed

The biggest advantage of cable internet is that it is easily accessible and has greater coverage. But when it comes to speed, fiber internet is faster as compared to cable internet. You can get speeds up to 1000 Mbps or more with fiber internet. This makes fiber internet a more reliable option for heavy usage. 

Reliability

Both fiber and cable internet connections are very reliable. So it is a close call. But if you live in an area where there are repeated electricity outages, cable internet might not be a preferable option to choose. On the other hand, with fiber internet, you are not likely to experience any disruptions or disconnection issues. It will be safe to say that fiber internet is more reliable as compared to cable internet. 

Price

A cable internet connection is much cheaper as compared to a fiber internet connection. However, fiber internet cost has gone down with the growing fiber-optic infrastructure. In the case of cable internet, you can also opt for attractive bundle offers where you can pair your internet with TV and/or phone service at a more discounted price. 

In the case of fiber internet, you might also have to pay a considerable amount of fee for installation. Often cable providers also charge an installation fee but you can also opt for self-installation. Even if you are not tech-savvy, you can still pull the installation by following the provided set of guidelines. 

Final Take 

For the growing business industry, faster internet speeds are a growing need. Having said that, fiber internet is more suitable to meet the larger bandwidth needs. However, cable internet is a more affordable and preferable option to cater to household connectivity needs.