Fiber internet. Cable internet. Potato/potahto?
Not at all. These two internet technologies may seem interchangeable, but they’re anything but.
Get your hammer. We’re going to bust some myths.
Myth: Fiber and cable are just different names for basically the same thing.
Fact: Cable internet is a legacy technology that uses electrical pulses to transmit data along copper wires. Fiber-optic internet is a newer technology that transmits data via pulses of light along thin glass strands. Fiber internet can send more data faster and symmetrically. This means that your download and upload speeds are the same, leading to smoother gaming, streaming and browsing. With cable, upload speeds are significantly slower than download speeds, causing more lag and buffering.
Myth: My internet service provider says my internet is “fiber powered.” Isn’t that as good as fiber internet?
Fact: Fiber-powered internet is a marketing term used by cable ISPs to convince customers that they are getting the benefits of fiber internet. These companies are benefitting from fiber internet somewhere in their network, but the last mile of connectivity—the connection that goes into homes—is still cable. Fiber-powered internet won’t bring you faster connectivity or symmetrical speeds, because at the end of the day, you’re still using cable. True fiber internet, what Ziply Fiber provides, is pure fiber-optic connectivity from the network to the local hub and all the way to your home.
Myth: WiFi equipment is all the same
Fact: WiFi routers evolve, but your ISP may not tell you that. At Ziply Fiber, you get the best-in-show WiFi 7 router included in your plan. The WiFi 7 router is optimized to deliver a stronger signal farther into the home. And you don’t need to pay extra, order it from somewhere else, or sit on hold with a customer service rep waiting to ask for it. We just provide it. Because things should be easy.
Read an expert interview about WiFi 7 here.
