Difference between Fiber optic and wireless broadband

Wednesday, Sep 29, 2021 · 15 mins

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Difference between Fiber optic and wireless broadband

There are more than 5 billion internet users on the earth in 2021, and the total population of our human civilization is reaching 8 billion. As you finish reading this blog, more than 500 new people will have their very first experience with the Internet. It seems impossible to exist outside this multiverse.

When it comes to getting a new connection, you are left with two options. The first one is fiber optic, and the second is wireless broadband. Today we are going to show you the advantages and disadvantages of both, so you can make an informed decision. So let's get started, shall we?

Fiber optic

Let's first discuss the elephant in the room: the fiber optic connection. If you are interested in learning about fiber optics, we've simplified it for you. A fiber optic is a method of providing internet connection through pulses of light via strands of fiber that are made up of glass or, in some cases, plastic. It might come as a surprise to you, but the fiber optic diameter is equal to the strand of human hair.

Different types of fiber optic connections

Single-mode cable

This has 2 fiberglass cables with a diameter of 8.4 to 10 microns which comes with one mode of transmission. The single-mode is much narrower, from which only one mode can propagate. It has a higher carrier bandwidth in comparison to the multimode fiber.

Multi-mode cable

This one has got a bit more diameter, and 2 fiber cables are used here. Multimode has a higher bandwidth speed for the medium range. On the other hand, due to multiple paths of light, the signal can experience distortion. Thus, multimode isn't recommended for long-distance connections.

Wireless broadband

The world is slowly shifting to fiber-optic connection, but still, the power of wireless broadband has a stronghold. One of the biggest advantages of a wireless broadband connection is that it can be ready in just a few days and used as soon as groundworks are finished. There are tons of permits with fiber optic, and digging work needs to be done before the actual process. So wireless broadband is still one of the fastest ways to connect to the Internet, even in remote areas.

In addition to this, the speed of the Internet in wireless broadband services is almost equal to that of optic cable, but with less hassle. A mid-size tech company can easily manage all the network requirements with a 50 Mbps to 500 Mbps connection, which can be easily transmitted with a broadband connection.

Side-by-side comparison of fiber optic and wireless broadband

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the two technologies, so it is easier for you to understand which one is a better option for you.

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Fiber Optic	Wireless Broadband Connection
The Fibre-optic connection is built around the fiber optics, which uses light to transmit the data.	The Wireless broadband connection works by converting the data packets into electromagnetic waves to broadcast them on a specific channel.
Fiber optic provides the same speed, but the way fiber optic handles the network congestion and provides high speed makes it a better option when a single network is handling many users.	With a wireless connection, you will face network congestion that causes slow load times.
Fiber optic connection's speed and network stability don't degrade proportionally with distance.	The distance can sometimes hamper the speed of your network when you are working with a wireless connection.
Fiber optic cables have been installed in urban and metro cities. But if you are living in the countryside, it will take some time or even years for you to get a reliable connection.	On the other hand, a wireless connection theoretically can be installed anywhere in the world.
The cost of laying down a fiber optic is quite expensive, and it could take months before you could make a connection with the Internet.	One of the biggest advantages of a wireless connection is that it is cost-effective in many ways. Wireless broadband services can even provide internet connectivity in the remotest areas.
If a fiber optic is broken, the cost of replacing that part can be quite high.	The installation process is quite easy, and within a day or two of applying, you will get it installed in your office or home.
Lastly, the fiber optic connection works with a specific set of hardware, and that also comes at a cost that some people might not be comfortable investing in.	No need to buy expensive hardware to get connected to the internet. A wireless connection works with all network hardware, no matter what they cost.

Wrapping up

So, these were some of the major differences between a fiber-optic connection and a wireless broadband connection. When you are deciding to choose the right network connection, it would help if you weighed the benefits and the disadvantages to see which one is a better option for you.

If you are living in a remote area, then instead of waiting for the fiber connection to come, you must go with ACT Fibernet’s wireless connection. It is a much better option in several ways and provides connectivity even when you are living in the countryside. Apart from this, if you have the budget and live in urban areas where the groundwork has already been done, then a fiber-optic connection is the one for you.

Read tips and tricks to increase your wifi speed here