Is fiber-optic internet better for gaming?

Yes, fiber-optic internet is good for gaming. Why? Fiber internet can provide faster download and upload speeds than other internet types. It also tends to be more reliable and stable, providing top speeds even during rough weather and during peak-usage periods.

With fiber internet's impressive speed and reliability, you can enjoy ultra-low lag and latency, reducing issues like low frame rates and high ping that often spoil the online gaming experience. In fact, we surveyed 241 gamers who switched to fiber, and 74% said it improved their gaming experience. And 27% even claimed that switching to fiber helped them score higher in games (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).

Here, we’ll explore the ins and outs of fiber-optic internet, including how it works, why it’s such a great fit for gaming, and how to get the most out of your gaming experience.

How Fiber-Optic Internet Works

The secret to why fiber-optic internet is good for gaming lies in how it works. So, let’s start there. How does fiber internet work?

Fiber internet is an ultra-fast internet solution that sends and receives data via light signals transmitted through tiny glass or plastic wires.

Because it can transfer more data at once, fiber internet can achieve faster download and upload speeds than traditional broadband internet. This gives gamers the bandwidth to do more online in less time. This is especially advantageous in whole-home Wi-Fi setups for households with multiple gamers or heavy internet users.

Since fiber internet can transmit more data in less time, it’s perfect for online gaming, which works by continuously sending and receiving data. The data exchange keeps the game synchronized between players and the game server. Any disruption to this data exchange, such as slow internet speeds, can cause lag and connection issues.

Speed: Why Fiber is the Fastest Option for Gamers

The most obvious and valuable benefits of fiber internet is its speed, which can exceed multi gigabits per second (Gbps). With such speeds, you can game with minimal to no lag, glitches, picture freezing, disconnects, or reduced graphics quality. Fast internet speeds also reduce load times, so you can spend more time gaming and less time staring at loading screens.

This combination of factors leaves little doubt that fiber internet is better for gaming than other internet types.

Low Latency: The Key to Lag-Free Gaming

Another reason why fiber internet is better for gaming is its low latency. Latency is the delay between you pushing a button and the button’s action happening on the screen. You want the lowest latency possible for lag-free gaming and real-time responses to your button mashing.

Low latency gives you a competitive edge by letting you respond faster than competitors during fast-paced, real-time multiplayer games.

According to our survey of 241 online gamers who use fiber internet, 51% reported less lag, and 42% felt less frustrated while gaming (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).

You can determine internet latency by checking its ping. Ping is the time it takes data entered into your device to reach the game server and return. The lower the ping or time to send and receive data, the better. A good ping for gaming depends on the type of game and the environment you’re playing it in, but 50 milliseconds or less is generally considered acceptable.

Consistency and Reliability in Gaming

Fiber-optic internet isn’t just lightning fast. It’s reliably and consistently lightning-fast.

Unlike other internet types that may lose speed during peak usage periods, fiber internet stays strong around the clock. This means you can keep gaming without drops in internet quality, regardless of what’s happening within or outside your home.

However, you’ll only experience this level of internet quality if you choose the right fiber internet provider. For example, Kinetic Internet’s multi-gig speeds have 99.9% reliability. That way, you stay connected when it matters most.

Bandwidth: Supporting Multiple Devices and Gamers

Fiber-optic internet is good for gaming for reasons other than speed, like its high bandwidth. High-bandwidth internet can support multiple users and devices at once with no or minimal performance loss. So, if you have a large household of gamers, fiber-optic internet is definitely your best choice.

Our survey of 241 online gamers revealed that 27% of respondents can now game with other household members after switching to fiber internet. And 33% of these respondents said they no longer have to turn off other devices that use Wi-Fi while gaming (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).

Besides gaming, high-bandwidth internet lets household members perform other online activities simultaneously without spoiling others’ fun. With Kinetic Fiber, you can seamlessly connect a near-limitless number of devices.

Enhanced Streaming for Gamers

Do you want to be the next Ninja or Pokimane? If so, you need fast internet to stream and upload your gaming sessions with minimal hassle. This brings us to another reason why fiber internet is better for gaming.

Unlike cable and satellite internet, which may offer significantly lower upload speeds than download speeds, fiber internet typically delivers equal download and upload speeds. For example, Kinetic Fiber Internet offers up to 2 gig download and upload speeds.

With a 2 gig upload speed, you can live stream high-resolution content and communicate with your viewers in real time. But don’t just take our word for it. Among the 241 online gamers we surveyed, 39% said the graphics in their games improved after switching to fiber internet, while 28% said they could hear other players more clearly. (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).

If you prefer posting pre-recorded content to live streaming, a fast upload speed can still be advantageous. Why? With a high upload speed, you can upload your gaming videos to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms in less time. Instead of waiting hours to upload a video, do it in minutes with fiber internet.

Future-Proofing Your Gaming Experience

As gaming graphics continue to improve, games will only get more data-heavy. A game that clearly illustrates this is 2024’s Black Myth: Wukong, which requires about 128 gigabytes (GB) on PC. And there are even bigger games out there, such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Red Dead Redemption 2. Both are about 150 GB. With some internet providers, you could spend hours or even days downloading such games. But with fiber-optic’s ultra-fast download speeds, you’ll be playing within minutes. Downloading software updates, patches, and bug fixes is equally fast, helping avoid disconnects that leave you with corrupted files or having to restart downloads. Fiber-optic internet is good for gaming today, tomorrow, and far into the future. Its high speed and bandwidth are more than enough to support quick downloads of even the largest game files. And massive multiplayer games in real time with friends through virtual reality or cloud gaming services won’t be a problem at all.

Is fiber-optic internet worth the investment for gamers?

Yes, fiber-optic internet is worth every penny for gamers. Its benefits over other internet types, such as its high speed, bandwidth, and reliability, justify the investment. This is even truer if you’re a serious gamer who wants consistent top performance, stability, and future-readiness from your internet.

Kinetic Fiber Internet is more than just fast internet for gaming, streaming, and surfing the web. Kinetic offers internet security to protect data and fiber-backed home phone service equipped with popular features like premium call forwarding and spam call alert. And now that you know fiber internet is better for gaming, you’re probably curious to try it yourself. Check if Kinetic Fiber Internet is available in your area today.

Why Fiber Internet Is Better for Gaming FAQs

What type of internet is better for gaming?

Fiber-optic internet is the best for gaming because you can get symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 2 Gbps. These speeds help ensure you don’t lose resolution or experience lag and high latency while playing games online.

Does fiber internet make gaming better?

Fiber-optic internet is good for gaming because its ultra-high speeds improve your overall gaming experience. It’s ultra-low lag and latency during gaming, gives you a competitive edge over other players. Also, since fiber internet can support multiple devices and high-bandwidth apps, other members of your household can join the fun from their own devices.

Do you get better ping with fiber internet?

Yes, fiber internet provides a better ping rate than other internet types, thanks to its fast upload and download speeds. With a low ping (25 milliseconds or less), you’ll experience zero or negligible delays between pushing a button and seeing the button’s action on screen. This can give you a competitive edge because you can respond and move faster than opponents with slower internet speeds.

*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.