A fast, reliable internet connection is more important than ever in the modern digital world. Fiber optic internet provides lighting fast speeds that allow you to get more done online, stream high quality video, game without lag, and connect dozens of devices without slowdowns.
After extensive research, I’ve identified the 10 best fiber optic cables on the market this year that deliver blazing fast gigabit internet speeds to your home. Read on for full details on each of these high quality, high performance cables.
What is Fiber Optic Cable?
Fiber-optic cables are made of glass fibers, which are very small and can be attached to copper wires. It makes them very strong and durable.
Fiber Optics, also known as FOS or fiber optics, uses light to transmit data. Fiber Optics is used to transmit data in a very high-speed way that can be faster than traditional methods such as copper wire or fiber optic cable.
The Fiber Optics can help you get faster speeds than traditional methods such as copper wire or fiber optic cable.
Download Activities you can do with Fiber Optic Cable Internet:
- 4K video streaming
- Large file downloads
- Managing some smart-home devices
- WiFi sharing with a large number of other users
- Upload activities that are best suited to fiber internet
Upload Activities you can do with Fiber Optic Cable Internet:
- Participating in Zoom meetings
- Large file uploads to cloud servers
- Organizing live streams
What is Fiber Optic Internet?
Fiber optic internet delivers data through light signals across tiny glass or plastic fibers. These fiber optic cables contain separate fiber strands specifically designed to transmit data encoded into light particles.
Fiber internet works by turning electronic data from your internet provider into light particles, shooting the light through the cable, then decoding the light back into data on the other end.
Top 10 Best Fiber Optic Cables for Fast Internet in 2024
Now let’s explore the top fiber internet providers and most reliable, high performance cables that deliver the fastest fiber optic speeds.
1. Verizon Fios Fiber Optic Cable
Fios by Verizon is the largest fiber optic internet provider in the U.S. The Verizon fiber optic cable offers some of the fastest and most reliable internet speeds across wide coverage areas.
Speeds: Fios plans come in bandwidth increments between 100 Mbps and a blazing fast 940 Mbps. Their 1 Gigabit connection offers max download/upload speeds of 880/880 Mbps.
Availability: Fios fiber is available to over 12 million homes and businesses, primarily across the Eastern U.S. Use their availability checker to see if fiber connections are supported in your neighborhood.
Why It’s Top Rated: Verizon Fios frequently ranks as the fastest and most reliable internet provider based on independent testing organizations like JD Power and RootMetrics. The fiber network manages consistent speeds even during peak congestion times.
Downsides: Installation fee can be pricey. Certain smaller metro areas still lack availability. Plans with speeds below 300 Mbps use older fiber-copper hybrid technology rather than pure fiber cables.
Ideal For: Households or small offices needing truly high bandwidth and low latency connectivity for 4K streaming, video calls, gaming, and connecting dozens of devices without lag or buffering issues.
2. AT&T Internet Fiber Optic Cable
AT&T Fiber is the second largest fiber optic internet provider in the U.S after Verizon. Their fiber plans offer high performance bandwidth using 100% fiber to the home or business rather than any copper lines.
Speeds: Internet speed tiers range from 300 Mbps up to 1 Gig (940 Mbps). Certain metro areas may also qualify for multi-gigabit plans up to 2 Gbps or 5 Gbps.
Availability: Over 14 million locations are covered with AT&T fiber availability continuing to expand. Use the address checker on their site to verify fiber optic connectivity in your neighborhood.
Why It’s Top Rated: AT&T fiber optic cables deliver ultra low latency for video streaming, gaming, and business needs. The reliability scores nearly match Verizon Fios as a top-tier provider. Their multi-gig plans break speed barriers for those needing bandwidth beyond 1 Gig.
Downsides: Install fees are steep for homes requiring fiber cable upgrades. 1 Gig speed plans are still using older tech in some regions rather than fiber. Customer service ratings lag behind competitors.
Ideal For: Households that need consistently fast speeds with 4+ connected devices. The low latency shines for online gaming, video calls, and 4K HD streaming media.
3. Google Fiber 100% Fiber Optic Cable
Google Fiber instantly joins the list of top fiber optic internet providers thanks to plans rolling out to an increasing number of metro regions delivering up to 2 Gbps speeds.
Speeds: Google Fiber offers multiple plans ranging from 100 Mbps up to 2 Gbps (2000 Mbps) by using dedicated fiber lines straight to your home or business rather than any copper coaxial cables.
Availability: Google Fiber is actively expanding into new neighborhoods each year. It’s currently available in parts of 17 metropolitan areas across 9 different states, though mainly centralized around Texas regions at the moment.
Why It’s Top Rated: Google Fiber cracks the top providers list thanks to delivering symmetrical upload and download speeds. The 2 Gbps plans blow even Verizon Fios out of the water in terms of raw speed performance.
Downsides: Geographic availability still lags behind more established national providers like Verizon or AT&T since Google Fiber rollouts require intensive infrastructure investments in each new metro region before launching.
Ideal For: Tech savvy households in covered neighborhoods aiming to future proof with virtually limitless bandwidth capabilities supporting 50+ smart home devices simultaneously. Google WiFi mesh systems pair perfectly with Google Fiber plans.
4. Xfinity Gigabit Fiber Optic Cable by Comcast
Comcast Xfinity uses fiber optic connections to deliver fast gigabit internet speeds by tapping into existing coaxial cable lines already available to many households nationally.
Speeds: Xfinity gigabit packages quote max speeds up to 1.2 Gbps for downloads and 35 Mbps uploads. Actual speeds will depend on neighborhood infrastructure capabilities, with lowest tier starting around 100 Mbps down.
Availability: Comcast Xfinity uses hybrid fiber coaxial line (HFC) technology, tapping into existing cable TV infrastructure to expand fiber availability more rapidly to 25+ million locations and counting. Simply enter your address on their website to check if gigabit or fiber speeds can be activated at your home.
Why It’s Top Rated: Comcast gigabit internet breaks speed barriers thanks to HFC connections pairing fiber optic backbone with coaxial cables straight to your door. The convenience factor is unmatched for getting blazing fast speeds without rewiring homes with pure fiber.
Downsides: Despite quoted gigabit speeds, most customers experience inconsistent connectivity closer to 500 Mbps peaks during congestion times. Uploads are also much lower than symmetrical fiber. Reliability ratings lag behind pure fiber competitors.
Ideal For: Households aiming to upgrade from cable internet that need faster speeds but aren’t quite ready for a full fiber optic installation and equipment upgrades.
5. Spectrum Fiber Internet
Spectrum (formerly Charter and Time Warner Cable) offers fiber internet delivered over existing coaxial cable lines available to millions of homes and businesses. The hybrid fiber-coaxial network powers speed upgrades rivaling straight fiber.
Speeds: Spectrum’s fiber internet plans range from 200 Mbps up to gigabit speeds around 940 Mbps under optimum conditions. Expect average speeds in the 400-600 Mbps range for fiber-powered connections.
Availability: Spectrum cable internet is widely available to over 31 million homes nationally. Fiber-based speed tiers can be activated for most existing customers by upgrading current packages. Availability tool on website checks fiber eligibility.
Why It’s Top Rated: Leveraging existing cable line infrastructure, Spectrum rapidly rolls out fiber broadband to new neighborhoods. The convenience of fiber speeds over coaxial lines eliminates costly install fees associated with running direct fiber cables.
Downsides: Despite high speeds from the fiber optic backbone, last mile coaxial cable connections remain a bottleneck during peak hours resulting in slower-than-advertised speeds for most customers.
Ideal For: Previous Spectrum cable internet subscribers aiming for a speed boost without changing underlying network infrastructure responsible for data transmission.
6. Frontier FiOS Fiber Optic Cable
Frontier FiOS fiber optic internet expands Verizon’s original FiOS fiber network to new locations following Frontier’s purchase of Verizon assets across multiple states.
Speeds: Frontier matches Verizon Fios with speed tiers from 100 Mbps up to nearly symmetrical gigabit speeds around 940 Mbps down and 880 Mbps up.
Availability: Frontier FiOS fiber is available primarily in Western states like California, Texas, Florida and the Pacific Northwest covering roughly 6 million homes in upgraded service areas. Use the address tool on their website to verify availability.
Why It’s Top Rated: Leveraging Verizon’s proven FiOS fiber optic technology and infrastructure, Frontier FioS delivers similarly fast and reliable internet with the capacity to handle hundreds of connected devices per household without slowing down.
Downsides: Customer service ratings lag behind some competitors since the transition of former Verizon networks over to Frontier in various regions. Install fees for getting homes prepped for fiber can be pricey if coaxial cables don’t already exist.
Ideal For: Households in Frontier’s expanded FiOS fiber regions aiming to future proof with fast symmetrical download and upload speeds supporting 4K video streaming on multiple devices.
7. Optimum Fiber Internet by Altice
Optimum fiber from Altice offers high speed fiber optic connectivity primarily in the Northeastern U.S. using a combination of fiber backbone and coaxial cable lines stretching to homes.
Speeds: Optimum service tiers range from 200 Mbps plans up to 1 Gig home internet, with certain areas qualifying for Multi-Gig 2 Gbps or 5 Gbps residential service.
Availability: Over 6 million homes passed in the Northeast with concentrations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and subsets of other states have access to upgraded Optimum fiber internet speeds by inputting addresses online to check eligibility.
Why It’s Top Rated: Optimum fiber internet unlocks faster multi-gigabit speeds up to 5 Gbps in select markets made possible by fiber optic infrastructure upgrades over the past decade across the Northeast. Bundling mobile, TV and smart home additions earns extra value.
Downsides: Despite a fiber optic backbone, Optimum still relies on existing coaxial lines for last mile connections which can hamper speeds during peak hours depending on age of cables. Gig plans aren’t fully symmetrical for equal upload/download capacity.
Ideal For: Past Optimum internet subscribers in the Northeast ready to boost speeds to support numerous connected devices without long buffering waits. Fiber-powered plans enhance streaming, gaming and smart home experiences.
8. Windstream Kinetic Fiber Optic Internet
Windstream Kinetic expands premier fiber internet to underserved rural areas often lacking modern high speed broadband connectivity from the major telecom carriers.
Speeds: Windstream Kinetic features symmetrical download and upload speeds between 100 Mbps up to 1 Gig home internet. Certain regions qualify for commercial multi-gig plans on the Kinetic platform.
Availability: Windstream actively works to upgrade rural neighborhoods across 21 states to fiber connectivity, aiming to reach over 30% of supported locations in the coming years. Check availability by address online.
Why It’s Top Rated: Windstream earns praise for bridging the digital divide by bringing pure fiber optic internet to remote areas typically stuck choosing between pokey DSL, satellite or dial-up access. The network reliability stays consistent without congestion thanks to focused rural infrastructure.
Downsides: Geographic availability remains highly limited just to smaller rural towns despite aggressive fiber expansion plans. High speed options currently top out at 1 Gig with no multi-gig tier offerings.
Ideal For: Rural households finally ready to get blazing fast symmetrical fiber speeds on par with metro area residents. Gaming and 4K streaming works beautifully.
9. Mediacom Gigabit Fiber Internet
Mediacom leverages fiber optic connections to power lightning fast DOCSIS 3.1 powered gigabit cable internet available to homes passed by existing hybrid fiber-coaxial infrastructure.
Speeds: Mediacom fiber plans deliver speeds ranging from 60 Mbps entry level options up to 1 Gig home internet topping out around 960 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up.
Availability: Nearly 5 million U.S. households fall within Mediacom’s hybrid fiber-coax gigabit internet footprint across two dozen states. Plug in your address to see if fiber-backed gig plans can activate to your home.
Why It’s Top Rated: Mediacom stands out by offering affordable gigabit cable internet powered by fiber optic speeds. They actively invest in infrastructure allowing subscribers to multiply internet speeds at existing homes without requiring fiber rewires.
Downsides: Despite robust fiber feeds, last mile coax network bottlenecks during peak hours can hamper connectivity speeds below advertised rates for some households not near equipment hubs.
Ideal For: Past Mediacom internet subscribers seeking an easy speed boost by tapping into their expanding fiber optic backbone supporting existing coaxial home connections.
10. Cincinnati Bell Fioptics Fiber Internet
Regional fiber optic provider Cincinnati Bell Fioptics deploys high-performance fiber internet to select neighborhoods across greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Speeds Fioptics fiber speed tiers include 100 Mbps, 300 Mbps and up to 1 Gbps synchronous fiber plans. Certain apartment buildings qualify for higher speed multi-gigabit plans.
Availability: Cincinnati Bell actively works to target new neighborhoods for greenfield fiber installations in their regional footprint spanning Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Use their tool to check fiber eligibility for specific addresses.
Why It’s Top Rated: Local subscribers praise Cincinnati Bell’s Fioptics fiber plans for delivering reliably fast speeds with excellent customer and technical support compared to dealing with national telco carriers. The regional concentration allows fast fiber builds.
Downsides: As a local network, geographic availability exists only within the select regions of Ohio/Kentucky lacking widespread national availability. Maximum internet speeds currently top out at 1 Gbps plans rather than multi-gig.
Ideal For: Households in Fioptics fiber footprint seeking quality fiber optic speeds with the convenience of supporting excellent local business. Fiber reliability shines for gaming or streaming.
Difference Between Fiber Optic Cable Internet and Other Types of Internet
The primary distinction between fiber and other internet connections is that fiber doesn’t use electric current. The fiberglass core is used to deliver light, which is used.
Over time, internet technology has dramatically changed. The primary connection types still in use and their functions are briefly summarized below:
1. Dial-up Internet
Dial-up uses the existing telephone lines, which are often built of copper but are far less widespread than they were 20 years ago. You can hear a sequence of beeps and noises when dial-up connects because it uses the landline’s audible frequency. Additionally, since they both use the same line, you cannot use the Internet and the phone simultaneously. For both downloading and uploading, you can dial-up connections typically operate at a speed of 56Kbps (or 0.05Mbps).
2. DSL Internet
Telephone lines are also used by DSL (digital subscriber line) Internet to deliver data. DSL, however, doesn’t compete with your voice phone service because it employs inaudible frequencies instead of dial-audible ones. DSL typically offers download speeds of between 1 and 100Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps.
3. DSL Internet Lines
Telephone lines are also used by DSL (digital subscriber line) Internet to deliver data. DSL, however, doesn’t compete with your voice phone service because it employs inaudible frequencies instead of dial-audible ones.
4. Cable Internet
Cable internet uses the same line (or at least the same type of line) your cable TV service uses, known as “coaxial cable.”
Speeds for cable internet can vary widely, anywhere up to 940Mbps for downloading and up to 50Mbps for uploading, on average.
How Does A Fiber Optic Cable Internet Work?
Fiber optic cable internet is made of glass or plastic and contains several thin strands of the same material. The strands are woven to create a hollow tube that light can travel down. Typically, light travels much faster than electricity, so it takes less time to send information down the fiber cable internet than over copper cables such as those used for phone lines. It implies that using fiber optic cable internet is a wise and efficient way to enjoy fast internet surfing.
Once the light reaches its destination, it must be converted back into electricity before being processed by your computer or smartphone. This process is often done with a chip called an optical transceiver that converts incoming data into electric signals for you to use as you please.
However, this doesn’t mean that fiber cable internet connections are magic – they still have limitations! It’s essential to consider how fast your connection will be when choosing which provider is right for you and what kind of plans they offer (i.e., unlimited monthly bandwidth). You may pay more not to exceed their limits because each month can add up quickly if there aren’t any caps set up ahead of time (we’re looking at you, Comcast).
What are the Advantages of Fiber Cable Internet?
Fiber Internet is a high-speed, dependable fiber optic data technology that can deliver speeds of up to one gigabit per second.
With fiber, your family can stream video, play online games, backup data, and send and receive large files without interfering with other household members.
Most fiber internet service providers offer speeds of up to 1,000Mbps, frequently the fastest Internet connection. Furthermore, some carriers offer slower, less expensive plans with exceptional speed and performance. Gigabit fiber connections provide the fastest internet speeds for large homes and frequent users (1,000Mbps or greater).
Fiber-connected homes can provide an exceptional user experience across all devices and internet-connected systems, including home security, intelligent thermostats, ovens, refrigerators, and other appliances.
Depending on the internet connection, downloading a 6.5 GB media file can take a few minutes to several days.
What are the Disadvantages of Copper Cable Internet?
Copper cable is the most common type of network cable. The main disadvantage of using copper cable is that it’s slower than fiber optic and, therefore, less efficient at transmitting data across long distances. Copper also has a higher susceptibility to interference from airborne signals and electromagnetic interference (EMI), which means there can be spikes or drops in your connection speed if you live close to a radio transmitter or another source of EMI.
Copper cables are more prone to damage, especially during installation. Because they’re made from metal, they need extra protection from outside forces like moisture and chemicals to avoid corrosion over time.
As they age, they’re also more likely to develop faults due to internal wear-and-tear on the wire itself-which can lead directly to signal loss if left untreated. It can be mitigated somewhat by regularly checking your line with an online speed test before making significant changes online, such as upgrading your plan or switching providers altogether!
How to Install Fiber Optic Cable in Your Home?
Fiber optic cable is a type of cable that uses light to transmit information. The cables are thinner and more flexible, which makes them ideal for placing in tight spaces such as walls and ceilings. They’re also faster than other internet connection types, making them ideal for streaming media or gaming online.
In installing Fiber optic cable in your home, follow this step:
- Connect the fiber optic cable to your router with an adapter that can both transmit data through light waves and receive data from light waves (known as a transceiver).
- Ensure enough space around each end of the fiber optic cables, so they don’t interfere with anything else inside your home or office.
- You may have to move some of your furniture so that everything fits properly into place once everything has been installed correctly! Fiber optic cable internet works differently from copper cable and has many advantages.
- First, it’s faster. Fiber optic cables can carry more data to access the Internet faster than copper cables.
- Second, it’s more reliable. The signals transmitted through fiber optic cables don’t suffer from interference as much as those sent over other types of wiring, so they’ll be more transparent and less likely to cut out while you’re online.
- Thirdly, fiber optic cables are more secure than other transmitting data between devices like modems or routers-and even home networks. It is because the signals don’t travel along shared wires or airwaves (like WiFi) that could be accessed by nearby computers or phones connected to those same networks. Instead, they travel through glass fibers that are difficult, if not impossible, for others to tap into without detection by their owner(s).
- Finally-and perhaps most importantly-fiber optic technology allows users to connect multiple devices simultaneously within one household without any loss in overall quality due to either internal congestion caused by heavy use during peak hours (such as evenings after work) or external interference caused by nearby sources such as cell towers or radio stations broadcasting wireless transmissions within range.
Key Factors in Choosing Fiber Optic Internet Cables
When comparing fiber optic internet plans, keep the following buying considerations in mind as you evaluate providers available in your area:
Internet Speeds
The #1 factor is verifying the maximum available download AND upload speeds in your neighborhood. Many providers advertise “up to XX Mbps” referring to peak speeds. You want consistent speeds even during high traffic periods, so choose conservative speed tiers based on average rates.
Symmetrical upload/download speeds indicate the highest quality fiber with equal capacity sending and receiving data. This optimizes video calls, gaming, and operating smart home devices.
100% Fiber Optic Connection
Some providers use fiber backbones but still route data over older coaxial lines for the “last mile” to your home. These hybrid networks can’t match reliability of end-to-end fiber. Verify your connection receives data over 100% fiber optic cables into the property.
Price Per Speed
Compare monthly costs relative to the bandwidth speeds delivered. Gigabit connections around $80-100/month offer solid future-proof value. Make sure speeds justify prices beyond promotional rates.
Data Caps
Most fiber providers offer high data caps unlikely to impact normal usage. Still, confirm caps allotting at least 1TB of monthly usage to prevent overage fees for high bandwidth streaming or downloading.
Equipment Fees
Many fiber installs require proprietary modem/router combos rented from the internet company. Verify any equipment fees baked into advertised pricing and confirm whether you can use your own modem or mesh system instead.
Online Reviews & Ratings
Do your homework reading recent customer reviews evaluating reliability, actual speeds, installation complexity, customer support and other key metrics comparing fiber internet providers servicing your address.
The Future of Fiber Optic Internet Speeds
Blazing fast fiber optic internet continues expanding availability from cutting edge providers like Google Fiber, Verizon Fios, and AT&T Fiber. Even cable companies tap into fiber backbones to deliver gigabit speeds over existing infrastructure.
As more neighborhoods gain access to affordable fiber connectivity, traditional copper cable and DSL plans will phase into obsolescence much like dial up internet a decade ago.
Ongoing innovations allow fiber internet to scale up to multi-gigabit speeds surpassing 1 Gbps as demand for faster broadband continues growing year over year.
Even lagging rural towns will eventually gain future-proof fiber internet on par with big cities thanks to ongoing investments bridging the digital divide with modern 100% fiber optic connections.
The bottom line is that fiber internet provides the gold standard for speed, reliability and future upgradability as our bandwidth hungry smart homes and ultra HD streaming media require higher capacity broadband.
Compare the fiber optic plan options in your area to experience the next generation of lightning fast internet speeds today.
Conclusion
Increased Internet use has led to an accelerated demand for high-speed internet connections. Due to urbanization, the telecommunication industry cannot rely on traditional wiring methods, so fiber optics must. Rural areas need faster internet service that is more reliable and durable than those provided by copper cables. It is where the need for fiber optics comes into play.
It is the most reliable and stable way to provide a high-speed internet connection to every corner of the country. Fiber optic internet has many advantages over copper cable. It’s faster, more reliable, and easy to install. For a high-quality internet connection, fiber optic cable is the best option available today. Many providers offer this service, so finding one near you should not be difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is fiber optic internet?
Fiber optic internet delivers data through light signals across small glass or plastic fibers. These cables contain strands specifically designed to transmit data encoded in light particles. It offers faster speeds and greater reliability compared to traditional internet delivered over copper cables.
How does fiber optic internet work?
Fiber optic internet works by turning electronic data into light particles, shooting the light through the fiber optic cable, then decoding the light back into data at the other end. The glass fibers allow reliable transportation of data as light without degradation over long distances.
Why is fiber optic internet faster than cable or DSL?
Fiber transmits data as light rather than electricity, which faces resistance and heating issues. This allows fiber cables to contain much higher bandwidth potential than copper cables used for cable or DSL internet. Fiber allows nearly limitless room to scale up speeds as demand grows.
What speeds can fiber optic cables reach?
Fiber internet can deliver symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) for regular residential connections. Multi-gig packages are also emerging offering 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps or higher fiber speeds to select households. This blows away top cable internet speeds stuck around 100 Mbps.
Does fiber optic internet have data caps?
Most fiber providers offer high 1TB+ monthly data allowances, minimizing chances of overage fees. The extremely fast speeds easily accommodate high bandwidth 4K streaming, gaming and numerous smart home devices without worrying about caps.
What are the downsides of fiber internet?
The main fiber optic internet downsides are more limited availability than cable/DSL, since completely new fiber lines must be run to each building. Installation costs are higher, though dropping yearly as availability spreads. There are very few actual performance downsides for fiber once connected.
Is fiber optic internet available in rural areas?
Fiber internet historically focused on big cities, but providers are actively expanding into rural zones typically lacking reliable high speed broadband before. Check availability maps for services like Windstream Kinetic, Cincinnati Bell Fioptics and others bridging fiber connectivity gaps across small town America.