High Speed Fiber Optic Internet

Fiber optic cable uses light to transmit data.

Fiber optic cables are the fastest type of broadband in existence, as of 2010. They get speeds almost 25 times faster than typical broadband, such as DSL and cable. As of 2010, however, fiber optic lines are not pervasive, according to the Fiber Experts website.

The Facts

Fiber optic service (FiOS) for the Internet uses light to transmit data over cables, according to AllConnect. Light theoretically is the speed limit of the universe, so these speeds are much faster than cable or DSL.

Features

Fiber optic wires have about the same diameter as a strand hair and can reach data transfer rates of hundreds of megabytes per second, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Geography

FiOS line speeds get slower as connection gets farther from the provider. In addition, fiber optic lines are expensive to lay, and FiOS connections are only offered in selected areas.

Benefits

The speed of fiber optic connections allows users to stream or download large files, such as movies and television shows, in seconds.

References

• Fiber Experts: FiOS FAQ
• AllConnect: Fiber Optic Internet
• Federal Communications Commission: Types of Broadband
• FiberOpticKernels: The Benefits of Fiber Optics Cables