What Is Fiber to the Home Internet – The Next 100-Year Technology

First Article in AireBeam Content Series Designed to Provide Greater Understanding of Fiber Internet Broadband and Its Role in Society

AireBeam, a visionary Internet service provider and a subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corporation (NYSE: BOC), has introduced a new thought leadership content series called AireBeam Insights on helping consumers gain a better understanding of broadband technologies, specifically fiber Internet. The first installment, entitled What Is Fiber to the Home Internet – The Next 100-Year Technology, follows:

What Is Fiber to the Home Internet – The Next 100 Year Technology

When people think of home Internet services, they immediately turn to cable companies or the traditional telephone companies. Many of these suppliers tout “lightning fast” speeds and use that as a competitive selling advantage. This leads users to think these providers are their only option for reliable, high-speed Internet. But with fiber Internet, all that is changing.

Statistics show that demand for cable Internet service is dropping while innovative technologies such as fiber to the home are becoming more popular. Today, only 43 percent of U.S. households have access to fiber Internet, according to CNBC. However, all of that is expected to change dramatically after the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, which is investing $65 billion to proliferate fiber Internet. In fact, market research firm Future Market Insights estimates that the fiber to the home market will grow by 15 percent by 2029.

With fiber transforming Internet speeds for the better, it would be useful to understand what fiber to the home Internet is and why it is a better option for most people. This article hopes to shed light on this more accessible technology for true high-speed Internet and why it makes sense to consider it.

How Does Fiber Internet Work?

Fiber is the single fastest means in the world for delivering high-speed Internet. It is a broadband Internet connection that uses fiber optical cables, which are more efficient than traditional communication network technology, to relay data at increased speeds with reduced lag times. This modern technology allows for Internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps or more, improving download speeds by as much as 10 times over other so-called high-speed Internet options. Remarkably, it can send data at 70 percent the speed of light.

Fiber optic lines are made of glass. The technology uses flexible strands (or fibers) of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair to transmit light signals that carry digital information over long distances. This material is not only ideal for providing fast Internet, but is also highly sustainable because it is made often times from Silica glass.

Why Is Fiber Internet Different Than Traditional Cable or Telephony Technology?

Fiber Internet is faster and more reliable than traditional cable and telephone technology such as coaxial cable, copper DSL, and satellite Internet, making it the best Internet service available. Cable providers’ coaxial-based networks cannot deliver the speeds of fiber. The old copper-based DSL telephone network was great for the early days of dial up, AOL and CompuServe, but it just cannot compete with fiber’s capabilities today. Furthermore, satellite Internet, while great for hard-to-get-to-places, is costly and still doesn’t provide the performance that fiber Internet can.

A fiber-optic connection with the appropriate Internet plan offers homes several other benefits over these older technologies. For instance, zero buffering allows for uninterrupted content consumption. Download and upload speeds are top-notch and true to what the provider says they are, unlike traditional cable that makes superficial claims about performance. One can stream TV services, movies, and music on multiple devices all at the same time. Fiber Internet offers low latency and ping speeds, providing a superior online gaming experience. It offers improved reliability and reduced susceptibility to inclement weather such as lightning that could interrupt content consumption. And since the technology is so manageable, there is easy remote maintenance so, if necessary, service can be restored quickly and efficiently.

Okay, Fiber Internet Offers a Lot, But What About Content?

Fiber Internet is certainly the best high-speed Internet available and it is great for supporting many application and content needs, but how does one get content delivered to the home over fiber to the home Internet? Cable and satellite offer all the top shows, downloadable games, and more in a bundle. Is the same true for fiber Internet?

With fiber Internet, once service is activated one can sign up online for all the traditional streaming services such as Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, and others to get content and even traditional broadcast services. The same is true for gaming and other content options available via high-speed Internet streaming. And this is only getting better as more traditional content moves to streaming with content providers offering bundles. Learn more about streaming capabilities through the article here.

What About Installation and Set Up?

While cable and satellite service providers offer online support only, which can be frustrating at times, fiber to the home Internet service providers believe they are only as good as their last impression left with a customer. So many are doubling down on their services, such as AireBeam, as a leader in home fiber Internet. AireBeam offers white-glove service, with dedicated customer representatives that walk a consumer through every step of the way.  When activating your Internet, an installer will and can hook up your devices and make sure everything is working properly, even content services from a third party.

Is There a Downside to Fiber Internet?

The biggest downside to fiber Internet is availability. Because it is a recent technology, fiber Internet is not available to everyone, everywhere, and it may take time to roll it out to all areas. But as a faster, more reliable Internet service, fiber provides better service than other options and once available, comes with few to no downsides.

The benefits of fiber Internet apply to both residential and business use. While homes may enjoy faster streaming of movies and reduced lag in video games, businesses can optimize their technology without delay, while using the latest software without worrying whether their Internet can handle the load, avoiding less optimal service from other types of Internet service providers.

Why Does Getting Residential Fiber Internet Make Sense?

Today’s homes are increasingly filled with a range of smart devices, each of which uses up bandwidth to connect to the Internet. Fiber Internet offers homes faster upload and downloads without any significant limits on the number of devices running at the same time.

From smartphones, gaming systems, and smart televisions to computers, tablets and even video doorbells, these devices need ample bandwidth to work well. Problems arise when a resident’s bandwidth is insufficient, especially when all of a home’s connected devices are working at once. Without enough bandwidth, the simultaneous connections can cause speeds to screech to a halt, and even cause the dreaded buffering that leads to painfully slow performance. But with a fiber connection, bandwidths can increase exponentially and speeds can go through the roof, even when multiple devices are connected.

What Does the Future of Fiber Internet Have In Store?

The sky is the limit in regard to fiber to the home Internet because of the capabilities of the technology. While speeds are at 1 Gbps now, many providers are looking at offering even faster speeds in the future, including 2 Gbps and perhaps even as high as 10 Gbps.

With those kinds of speeds, applications and content providers have greater options for more exciting products. Also, as the world of work becomes more hybrid, speeds at home are really performing at levels only seen before in the enterprise.

On top of that, because it is the latest technology, the infrastructure of fiber Internet can easily be upgraded and maintained to introduce even better technology. By installing fiber, the network becomes flexible in many ways for an even brighter future.

Fiber Internet is the obvious choice when it comes to true high-speed Internet service and is on pace to cement its position as the technology of the future – the next 100-year technology that is only going to get better over time.

About AireBeam

AireBeam was founded in 2004 and is one of Arizona’s fastest growing fiber to the home and fixed wireless Internet service providers. AireBeam is locally operated and proudly serves Pinal, Pima and Maricopa Counties, including Arizona City and surrounding areas. Their mission is to provide affordable and accessible Internet access to rural areas in Arizona. AireBeam is a subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corporation (NYSE:BOC).