1-866-445-8084What is Fiber Internet? Fiber-Optic Internet Explained
Fiber internet is a type of ultra-fast internet connection for customers who are looking for speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and higher. It transmits data as light (optic) through super-thin, clear strands of glass (or other fiber).
If it sounds futuristic, it is — but the lightning-fast fiber internet speeds you get in your home, office, and home office are the real deal. Now that it’s available in many rural and suburban communities around the United States, fiber-optic internet is catching the attention of internet customers.
So, what is fiber internet? And is it worth it for your household?
This guide to fiber-optic internet for home and office users answers all your questions, including:
How does fiber internet work?
How does it compare to cable, DSL, satellite, and other internet types?
Is fiber internet better?
How do I find the right fiber internet service provider?
How does fiber internet work?
Fiber-optic internet refers to the way your home or office connects to the web. If available in your area, it’s likely to be your fastest internet service option, offering speeds of 1 Gbps and faster.
Fiber internet works by harnessing the science and speed of light — optics — to transmit data to and from your devices extremely quickly. Therefore, fiber internet easily outpaces the electrical signals of traditional cable connections.
From the outside, a fiber-optic internet wire looks like the wires you might already have carrying cable and DSL signals. But within the cables is a high-tech bundle of clear, thin, flexible glass or plastic strands. Digital data is transmitted as light passing through those glass wires, where it internally reflects, pinballing its way through the wire. It’s then converted back into digital signals at the fiber router.
If available, fiber is no more complicated to set up than cable or DSL. While major infrastructure upgrades are underway to install fiber lines across more regions, it’s an easy switch for the customer once it becomes available in your area.
Upgrading Infrastructure for Fiber-Optic Internet
Even though fiber-optic cables have been around since the 1970s, laying the groundwork for fiber internet service has not been an easy task.
Upgrading the country to fiber internet basically means rewiring the nation, coast to coast. It involves installing thousands of miles of new cables across the country. In response to government initiatives and consumer demand, telecom companies and internet service providers (ISP) are investing billions in this massive undertaking.
It’s been a massive lift, but progress is being made — nearly half of U.S. homes now have access to fiber. The payoff of wider access to fiber could be great: faster internet speeds, increased economic opportunities, and a better-connected society.
To connect to the fiber network, you need to replace the traditional modem in your home or office with gateway and optical network terminal (ONT) to handle the light-to-electricity signal conversion. Your fiber ISP would provide the device, and once installed, it’s just as easy to use as any other type of internet.
How does fiber internet compare to other types of internet?
The main difference with fiber internet is that it’s significantly faster than older cable or DSL service. In fact, we surveyed 500 people who switched to fiber, and a majority (77%) said it’s faster than their old internet type, with 57% saying it’s a lot faster (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).
To understand how exciting and innovative fiber-optic internet technology is — and why it offers such faster speeds — it helps to know what’s inside the wires that used to carry your internet service.
DSL — short for digital subscriber line — was the successor to dial-up internet. DSL provides a connection through copper telephone wires but uses a frequency that allows for high-speed internet that will not interfere with landline phone data.
Cable internet uses electrical currents that pass through television (coaxial) cables made primarily of copper. These Internet users will also need a cable modem.
Other less common (but still nationally available) connection types include:
Mobile, cellular, and 5G connections that lets you use a smartphone as a wireless hotspot. The data used comes out of handset data plan is most often not unlimited.
Fixed wireless internet that connects to one of the ISP’s transmission towers through a gateway inside of the home.
Satellite internet that comes into a dish at your home, collecting signals from the ISP’s Earth-orbiting satellites
Dial-up internet that runs on old-school phone lines, meaning you can’t make a phone call and check your email at the same time (this mostly phased out in the early 2000s)
Fiber internet is better than other internet types in four key areas — speed, reliability, availability, and cost. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Speed
Internet speed is measured in both directions, downloading and uploading:
Download speed refers to how fast downloads transfer as you surf the web (i.e., checking email, watching movies, or downloading music).
Upload speed refers to how fast your device transmits data. For example, online gaming sends out a lot of data, as does video conferencing.
DSL is an asymmetrical network with higher download than upload speeds. When you see a speed advertised, it’s usually the download (faster) speed. Fiber internet, however, is symmetrical, meaning upload and download speeds are equal. These symmetrical speeds are better for gaming, streaming and working from home.
Don’t forget, too, that other factors can affect your speed. If, for example, you’re debating between fiber-optic internet versus cable, you’ll be interested to know that you share cable connections with your neighbors. That means your internet speed may be at the mercy of a bandwidth-hogging neighbor.
DSL and fiber-optic internet are not shared connections. Those lines typically go straight to your household, so you’ll only be sharing with your family.
If you can get it in your area, fiber is much faster. Here are the average speeds of DSL, cable, and fiber:
DSL maxes out around 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 35 Mbps upload (although usually closer to 20).
Cable internet ramps the connection up to around 500 Mbps — even as high as 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) download — and upload speeds in the 100-500 Mbps range.
For highest performance and speeds, fiber internet offers an enhanced connection, with speeds
starting at 100 Mbps download/upload and available at up to 2 G Gig.
Other connections might bring connectivity to far-flung regions of the country, but they’re not achieving speeds like DSL, cable, or fiber. Comparing typical speeds, we see:
Satellite can achieve up to 150/25 Mbps download/upload speed with an optimal line of sight.
Fixed wireless can race only to about 100/20 Mbps down/up in clear weather.
Mobile data (home wireless) can get up to 1 Gbps in the right coverage area, but it typically performs more like cable.
Dial-up is not really a viable option for modern households — it maxes at 0.056 Mbps.
You'll need top-end speed to support 4K/8K streaming, remote work, social media, and multiple devices. Check out our full guide to internet speed to learn more.
Reliability
Fiber-optic internet stands out for its reliability due to its unique infrastructure. Fiber cables are designed to handle modern online demands with ease, providing symmetrical download and upload speeds. Unlike other methods, fiber uses light to transmit data, which means it maintains consistent speed and performance even over long distances without any noticeable reduction.
This infrastructure makes fiber-optic connections less susceptible to external factors that might affect other types of internet. Built to accommodate the needs of today's digital landscape, fiber ensures a stable and robust connection, making it an excellent choice for streaming, online gaming, and remote work. The durability and efficiency of fiber-optic lines mean you can rely on them for a seamless and uninterrupted online experience.
This is where you’ll want to recall some of that information about the infrastructure. Remember how cable internet uses electrical currents to transmit data? Well, that transportation method makes it more susceptible to outside forces, such as power outages and weather.
And, because cable and DSL were both built on existing infrastructure, you may run into issues due to aging equipment or lines that affect the reliability of your connection.
Fiber-optic internet cables aren’t vulnerable to the same factors because of their infrastructure. Built with modern online demands in mind, fiber connections handle symmetrical loads (download/upload) and have another trick up their sleeve. While metal wires in cable and DSL lines get weaker over long distances, fiber-optic lines that use light experience no noticeable reductions in speed, even over thousands of miles.
Other less common connections are, in fact, less common in large part due to their reliability issues. Satellite, fixed, and mobile wireless are susceptible to weather, clear lines of site, and similar issues that disrupt the signal to the home’s wireless receiver.
Availability
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data shows that cable internet is available to 83% of Americans, down 1% from 2023. Fiber-optic access increased by 5% from 2023, with 43% of the nation now covered. DSL dropped 7%, with only 4% of the country actively serviced. Fixed wireless covers 42% of the country, and satellite — since it beams from space — covers effectively 99% of the country.
The biggest drawback of fiber Internet is that it isn’t readily available everywhere. That’s mostly because making it accessible means service providers must lay new fiber-optic internet cable, which is costly.
Cost
As DSL and cable are left behind in the fiber-optic rollout, customers are seeing prices drop. According to our same survey, most people (58%) who switched to fiber say it’s priced about the same or cheaper than their old internet plan (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).
Costs will obviously vary by the speed and connection type you select, the market you’re in, and whether you’re bundling services. When fiber-optic internet first entered the market, it cost much more than DSL and cable. Since then, though, the price has nearly leveled out.
Fiber plans tend to be in the same price range as fixed, mobile, and satellite wireless plans but offer much faster speeds.
Why Choose Fiber Internet?
Fiber internet offers numerous benefits, including speed and reliability, making it an excellent choice for many users. If fiber internet is available in your neighborhood and aligns with your budget, there’s no reason to say no.
Symmetrical download/upload speeds at 1 Gbps and above make a world of difference, especially in today’s multi-device households.
Here's a little exercise: Count all the connected devices you have at home. This includes cellphones, tablets, laptops, video game consoles, and smart home technology like televisions, thermostats, lights, and appliances. How has your internet performed thus far? Are you adding any more devices? Are they always connected simultaneously? You’ll want to account for your entire household here to get the most accurate picture.
With its faster speeds, fiber-optic internet is a great solution for those who stream high-definition shows and movies, have abundant smart home technology, need significant upload speeds, or frequently video chat or live stream. Its reliability makes it an especially great option for anyone who works from home
How do I choose a fiber internet provider?
Choosing a fiber internet provider starts with one big question: “Which ISPs have run fiber lines in my area?”
From those options, you’ll want to consider:
Speed
Pricing options
Discount exclusions
Customer support (look for reviews)
Equipment provided
Bundling options
Brand reputation and longevity
Satisfaction guarantee
costs and complexity
To find the right high-speed internet provider, look for speed and prices backed up by a strong reputation and positive customer reviews on third-party websites.
Kinetic Fiber, for example, offers lightning-fast connections with multi gig speeds. We’re not just a service provider — we’re investing in communities to help more people connect.
Enter your address to see if Kinetic Fiber is available in your area and make the switch today.
What is fiber internet? FAQs
What is the difference between Wi-Fi and fiber?
Fiber internet and Wi-Fi are complementary technologies that allow you to have highspeed internet connectivity in your home. Fiber internet is a type of broadband service that provides high-speed and reliable internet connectivity through fiber-optic cables. Wi-Fi is the technology that enables the wireless distribution of that internet connection throughout your home.
What's the difference between fiber and cable internet?
Fiber uses light beamed through clear fibers for faster and more reliable speeds, while cable uses electrical signals over copper wires.
How does fiber internet connect to your house?
Fiber connects to your house through a fiber-optic cable connecting to an ONT, or optical network terminal.The ONT (provided by your fiber internet provider) transforms the light signal into an electrical signal for your gateway to distribute to devices over wired or wireless connections.
Does weather affect fiber internet speed?
In some cases, severe weather might affect internet speed. That said, fiber-optic internet is typically less prone to weather-related interference than other internet types.
Are fiber cables more resilient to weather than other internet connections?
Yes, fiber connections are resistant to electromagnetic interference vs Cable. Extreme temperatures can affect the integrity of cable connections. Cable is made of metal and can corrode if exposed to water. Fiber, connections are constructed out of glass encased in plastic.
*About this data: Study includes data from survey conducted by third-party survey research company on Aug. 19, 2024, of respondents aged 18 and up across all 50 states. Participants were recruited using Random Device Engagement (RDE) and do not have a relationship with Kinetic or the survey research company used. More information on methodology here.
99.9% Service Availability: As measured by Windstream from March 2023 to January 2025, Kinetic service reliability is calculated by dividing Available Customer Hours by Total Customer Hours, excluding planned maintenance, emergencies (like hurricanes, winter storms, floods), and other uncontrollable events.