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Your company relies on a fast, secure internet connection to conduct business on a daily basis. It’s crucial to have the type of internet that will not only meet the current needs of your business, but will be able to keep up with future needs as your organization grows.
There are several reasons why fiber internet is better for your business.
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First Up: What is Fiber Internet?
Fiber-optic internet uses flexible strands of thin glass or plastic to quickly transmit data. These strands are normally just a bit thicker than a human hair. Tiny fibers transmit the data-carrying binary light. This technology allows information to fly at long distances with greater speeds than other types of internet connections.[/av_three_fourth]
According to Reviews.org, internet speed is ultimately dependent on the amount of data any type of infrastructure can process. Copper wires were originally meant for just the transmission of voice. This makes the amount of data they can process very limited compared to fiber internet. While fiber-optic internet is expanding, it currently does not reach all neighborhoods and cities.
How Does Fiber Internet Differ from DSL?
Most internet connections travel through some sort of cable or wiring. This is where the similarities end. There are basically three internet options available to both consumers and businesses.
- DSL – Direct Subscriber Line connects through traditional telephone lines. Most telephone lines are primarily constructed with copper. Download speeds range from 5 to 35 Mbps. DSL normally isn’t as fast as other options, but it will be less expensive. Approximately 90% of the country has access to this type of coverage.
- Cable – Download speeds with cable will usually be in the range of 10 to 500 Mbps. While cable may have relatively fast download speeds, it has much slower upload speeds. Slowdown scans occurs during peak times when everyone in your area is using cable. There is between 85-90% access nationwide.
- Fiber – Download speeds can be in the range of 250 to 1,000 Mbps. Your fiber-optic internet will not be affected by a high regional use. Service is delivered through fiber-optic cables. There is currently about 25% access nationwide.
Related: Cat5 vs. Cat6 Ethernet Cables (and Why You Should Care)
How Does Fiber Internet Improve Your Business?
There are several distinct ways that fiber internet can improve your business. The first benefit of using fiber internet is the increased quality of your overall internet experience. Fiber-optic internet is several times faster than other types of internet. The strength of the signal remains strong no matter how far employees may be from the source.
The second way fiber internet can help your business is by improving cloud access. You’ll be able to more effectively use cloud-based business applications like QuickBooks, Office 365 and NetSuite. Most cloud services and applications require an extensive amount of bandwidth. This is especially true if your business has several people using these applications at the same time.
“Because the glass strands of fiber internet lines don’t conduct electricity, power lines and high-voltage equipment in the area won’t affect fiber internet.”
Fiber internet is also incredibly reliable. You also won’t have to worry about weather conditions affecting your internet connections. Finally, fiber internet also provides greater security than other options.
What are the Pros and Cons of Fiber Internet?
The advantages of fiber internet include the following:
- Reliability – The fibers are resistant to corrosion and bad weather. It’s also immune to radio frequency interference (RFI) and electrometric interference (EI). Fiber lines can withstand 100 to 200 pounds of outside pressure. On the other hand, copper lines will usually only be able to withstand about 25 pounds of external pressure.
- Speed – Fiber-optics uses light pulses to move data along plastic or glass strands. This makes it much faster than cable or DSL internet. There aren’t any frustrating “slow” times, either. You can count on a consistently high-speed internet at all times with fiber-optics.
Related: Your Daily Dose of Fiber [Infographic]
- Security – Because of the high rates of speed as well as the fact that there aren’t any microwave signals, fiber-optics are extremely secure. It also can’t be tapped into like a copper line, making it literally hack-proof.
- Scalability – According to One Ring Networks, fiber cables are much smaller and lighter than copper, making the network easier to manage. This makes it easy to add new equipment over an existing network. This provides you with the opportunity to increase your capacity as your business grows.
- Quality – Fiber internet can improve the overall quality of your internet experience. This improvement can specifically be seen in video and teleconferencing, which has become an integral part of most businesses.
With all the great benefits of fiber internet, there are still a few drawbacks.
What to Keep In Mind
“Only about 25% of the population currently has access to fiber internet.”
- Price – It can be costly to initially install fiber internet. However, you’re offsetting the short-term costs in the long run. Fiber-optic internet is normally less expensive to maintain and there is usually less downtime.
- Availability is Limited – Because putting in new fiber lines can be costly and most areas already provide other options such as DSL, you may have limited availability.
- Potential Damage – While fiber internet presents great security and overall quality, the thin cables are also somewhat delicate. If there is construction or any type of renovation in a building, there is the potential for the cables to receive damage.
If you’re considering upgrading to fiber-optic internet, you’ll need an experienced team of IT experts to help you plan it all out strategically.
Xpert Technologies will access your current IT infrastructure and create a customized IT plan that works specifically for your business. Contact Xpert today for more information.