Technology Comparison
Fiber vs Cable Internet
Fiber offers faster, more reliable speeds with symmetrical uploads, but cable is more widely available and often cheaper.
⚡
Fiber Optic Internet
Max Speed: 10 Gbps
📡
Cable Internet
Max Speed: 2 Gbps
Performance Comparison
Max Speed10 Gbps vs 2 Gbps
Fiber
Cable
Latency (Lower is Better)1-10 ms vs 10-30 ms
Fiber
Cable
ReliabilityExcellent vs Good
Fiber
Cable
Specification
Fiber
Cable
Max Speed
10 Gbps
2 Gbps
Typical Speed
300 Mbps - 2 Gbps
100 Mbps - 1 Gbps
Latency
1-10 ms
10-30 ms
Reliability
Excellent
Good
Availability
Growing (40% of US)
Widespread (90% of US)
Installation
Professional required
Self or professional
Price Range
$50-$180/mo
$25-$120/mo
⚡ Fiber
Fiber optic internet uses thin glass or plastic fibers to transmit data as pulses of light. It's the fastest and most reliable type of internet connection available.
Best For:
- ✓ Gaming
- ✓ Streaming 4K/8K
- ✓ Remote work
- ✓ Large households
- ✓ Content creators
- ✓ Smart homes
Limitations:
- • Limited availability
- • May require new installation
- • Higher upfront cost in some areas
Top Providers:
AT&T FiberVerizon FiosGoogle FiberFrontier FiberCenturyLink/Quantum
📡 Cable
Cable internet uses the same coaxial cables that deliver cable TV. It offers fast speeds and wide availability, making it the most common type of home internet.
Best For:
- ✓ Most households
- ✓ Streaming HD/4K
- ✓ Online gaming
- ✓ Video calls
- ✓ Downloading
Limitations:
- • Slower uploads
- • Shared bandwidth
- • Data caps common
- • Peak hour slowdowns
Top Providers:
XfinitySpectrumCoxOptimumMediacom
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Fiber if:
- • You need the fastest possible speeds
- • Low latency is important (gaming, video calls)
- • You need the most reliable connection
- • You want symmetrical upload/download speeds
Choose Cable if:
- • You want wide availability at reasonable prices
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