In this article, you will learn more about this technology and definitely know how fibre optic internet works. Check it out!
Fibre optic internet works from the physical principle of digital data transmission, from the variation of light beams conducted through fibre optic cables.
How does fibre optic internet work? This is a common question for many internet users, driven by curiosity about how this technology works.
For many, when we start talking about fibre optics, it seems like we're talking about something out of science fiction movies.
Small strands of plastic or glass, smaller than a human hair, are attached to cables and transmit encoded signals at the speed of light.
But in reality there is nothing science fiction about this technology and what these fibre optic cables do is provide the fastest Internet service available in the world today.
What is the difference between regular internet and fibre internet?
There are two main types of physical internet connections available today: copper and fibre.
They differ in their structure and this influences the functionality, reliability and even the speed of the service offered.
Cable internet uses the same type of connection as TV, for example. This is called coaxial cable, which has a copper core, insulated by aluminium, with a copper shield and a plastic outer jacket.
Coaxial cable can connect your landline, the internet and your TV at the same time. For that, all you need is a modem and a decoder and everything will work fine.
Fibre internet, on the other hand, works a little differently. Glass or plastic fibres transmit modulated light with digital information over long distances.
When thinking about how fibre optic internet works, it is important to know that there are two types of optical fibre for the internet: fibre for direct access to the Internet (DIA) and broadband fibre (FiOS, FTTB, etc.).
While both services connect you to the Internet, they are designed for different needs.
DIA is designed for companies that depend on non-disruptive network availability so they can run their business. This is called the mission critical network.
Broadband fibre is considered a “best effort” network. It is ideal for residential needs and businesses looking for a low cost. You can find out about our connection types by clicking here. (link to types of connections)
How does fibre optic internet work?
Fibre optic cables consist of extremely thin cables made of glass or plastic. A single cable can have one or two wires, but it can also contain hundreds of them.
A single fibre optic cable is composed of a strand of fibreglass or plastic, approximately 60 micrometers (µm), surrounded by a refraction layer made of glass and a sheath.
The yarn is finished with cable-strengthening fibres and a plastic outer sheath.
Each strand of fibre optics is one-tenth the thickness of a strand of hair and can make the equivalent of 25,000 phone calls at the same time. An entire cable can carry millions of data without losing anything along the way.
In summary, we can describe the process of how fibre optic internet works with the following steps:
What is the average fibre optic internet speed?
When thinking about how fibre optic internet works, one of the most common doubts concerns the speed of this type of technology.
Like any internet service, the download and upload speed of your fibre optic network will depend on the plan you have purchased.
However, unlike copper wires, fibre optic internet is not distance sensitive and ends up suffering less fluctuations than coaxial cable internet.
While cable internet can maintain a download speed between 50 and 500 megabits per second (Mbps), with uploads ranging between 5 and 50 Mbps, fibre optic cable maintains a speed of 250 to 1,000 Mbps in both directions.
This means that many people can access the same fibre optic network without experiencing interference or oscillation – which is not the case with a coaxial cable network.
What is the maximum distance of optical fibre?
A single fibre optic cable can carry information at high speed and without letting anything through for approximately 100 kilometers.
To maintain quality in the transmission of information, fibre optic internet distributors maintain relay huts at a safe distance.
This makes the information reach the new segment in full force and nothing gets lost along the way.
5 advantages of fibre optic internet
If you've read the text so far, you've probably noticed that we can cite well more than five advantages of using fibre optic internet.
Here, we have separated only 5 of the best advantages, so that you have no doubts when choosing the best solution for your home or your business.
1. Lower signal latency
Latency is the term used to describe the delays that occur when processing data over an internet connection.
The higher the latency in your internet signal, it means more data is being lost along the way.
Fibre optic internet eliminates many of the latency issues that users face over cable internet, especially when downloading or uploading high definition data.
In home use, fibre optic internet can eliminate the locks in loading movies and games in 4K, make video calls and improve the quality of VoIP calls.
In commercial use, fibre-optic internet can increase the ability to move and remove files from the cloud, optimize communication and collaboration among employees, and seamlessly download and upload files.
2. The transmission capacity is greater
Optical fibre is known for its high data transmission capacity. The bandwidth of fibre optic wires can reach 1 terabit per second, while the capacity of copper wire remains in half.
Another positive point is the ability to make multiple connections over optical fibre without losing bandwidth between devices.
That means you'll be able to watch a movie in high definition while your kids play state-of-the-art video games, without interrupting each other's signal.
3. Fibre optic installation is easier
Fibre optic internet is good as it is better to install than internet via coaxial cable.
Because of the maximum distance of coaxial cables, distribution centers need more signal transmission booths, which makes the Internet slower and more prone to flicker.
Optical fibre internet, on the other hand, has a much greater maximum signal transmission distance, without data loss. This allows for 70% savings for distributors and a much safer signal for you.
In addition, the maintenance of fibre optic cables is faster and cheaper, which means that you do not suffer from common problems with signal drops like on the internet via coaxial cable.
4. There is less signal degradation
With traditional broadband internet, which uses a copper cable connection, the signal decreases as the customer moves away from the provider.
In big cities this can pose a problem. When providers are centrally located, peripheral areas suffer from weak internet signals.
The same can happen with central areas, when providers are located on the periphery.
The fibre optic signal does not degrade as quickly with distance. This means that, regardless of whether the provider is near or far from you, your internet will not suffer from the weak signal.
5. Optical fibre does not suffer from electromagnetic interference
Copper wired Internet that supports broadband is sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which can be caused by the proximity of heavy machinery or a simple microwave.
Internet signals via optical fibre do not degrade or disappear due to electromagnetic interference and as a result you have more stability in the signal.
Conclusion
For those looking for a more reliable and stable internet, fibre optic internet can be the solution.
Fibre optic internet supports higher bandwidth demands with faster data transmission and does not suffer from interference. Furthermore, it has an average speed that can reach 1Tb for download and upload.
With fibre optics, you can use the internet for video and voice applications, server hosting and application hosting without suffering interruptions.
Are you ready for fibre optic connectivity? Click here and discover the ideal plan for you.
To learn more about the benefits of fibre optics and find the ideal solution for your home or business, contact our team of experts.