Slow internet speeds? Fiber optics can help

February 16, 2022
Access Tech: Unreliable internet causes a work day to be unproductive. Make sure you get your work done and upgrade your internet cables to fiber!

There is nothing more frustrating than having a slow or erratic internet connection. With the pandemic and remote work, video conferencing and mission critical line of business applications we rely on our internet connections to do our jobs and stay in touch. As someone who works from home with a team that also works remotely, it becomes a hassle and a hindrance on my workday when I can’t get simple tasks done, reach my team and clients and partners because my internet is slow or keeps glitching in and out. Frustration can be avoided through fiber internet — what is fiber internet and how do you get started?  

What is fiber internet? 

Fiber internet works by using bundled strands of glass to deliver an internet connection into your business. It relies on light signals, which are much more efficient and less subject to electrical interference compared to copper phone lines and coaxial cables. Fiber is very efficient and built on new infrastructure to help reduce the amount of delay you’ll experience over your connection. Fiber internet is by far the fastest internet you can get and unlike cable or DSL it is dedicated, guaranteed speed and consistency. 

Fiber optic cable internet doesn’t need energized lines, so it’s not as prone to outages as cable internet. As long as the fiber optic cable stays intact, it can keep delivering your bits and bytes even when the lights are out. 

No throttling 

Have you ever noticed the power goes out just when you need it most? On a hot summer Sunday for instance, when you really, really want your air conditioner to work? That’s because those hot days overload our powerlines. Everyone is maxing out their A/C at the same time. 

The same thing happens with our cable internet systems. Internet providers use “throttling” to prevent those outages. At peak times, your ISP may lower your cable speed from 100 Mbps to 20 or lower to ration their service. Fiber optic internet speed doesn’t throttle because it’s less susceptible to overload. 

Cable internet has different speeds for download and upload, and upload speeds are a lot slower. That’s based on how people use the internet. Most of us do a lot more downloading than uploading, so internet providers give most of their bandwidth to downloads. 

With fiber optic internet speed, that slow upload time goes out the window. Because there’s no worry of overloading the system, fiber optic internet providers can give equal shrift to uploads and downloads alike. That makes it easier to share files and work from home with fiber optic cable internet service. 

How to get started? 

Determining if fiber is right for your business and budget is the first step. Consider the number of employees you have, the number of devices that require internet connection, and the bandwidth necessary for the kind of activities you need to perform. From there knowing who the fiber providers that are already in your building or close. 

Fiber to the premises (FTTP) is a form of fiber-optic communication delivery, in which optical fiber is run in an optical distribution network from the central office all the way to the premises occupied by the subscriber. The term “FTTP” has become ambiguous and may also refer to FTTC where the fiber terminates at a utility pole without reaching the premises. 

Fiber-optic cable being pulled underneath NYC’s streets 

Fiber to the premises can be categorized according to where the optical fiber ends: 

  • FTTB (fiber-to-the-building or -basement) is a form of fiber-optic communication delivery that necessarily applies only to those properties that contain multiple living or working spaces. The optical fiber terminates before reaching the subscribers living or working space itself but does extend to the property containing that living or working space. The signal is conveyed the final distance using any non-optical means, including twisted pair, coaxial cable, wireless, or power line.  

With over 1,500 Internet Service Providers in North America, finding the right one that can reach you requires time and effort. 

Do not let slow internet and inconsistent internet impede productivity and profit. Access Tech understands that you need to keep up with today’s digital world without lagging or waiting. We always make sure to have the fastest speeds available to us to keep our company running. We can help you confidently choose the right provider and plan to best serve your business. Contact us at Access Tech where we can help you on your fiber internet journey and this month are offering a free fiber network map custom to your location(s). We can determine which providers can service your business, negotiate the best price and terms, facilitate a smooth installation, and provide ongoing support. 

For further reading, here is more on fiber networks.