Where is fiber optic internet available

Actual speeds may vary. Some packages require a 1- or 2-year contract. Different types of fiber internet Fiber internet comes in three types, and fiber to the home FTTH is the best. There are three types of fiber internet—and not all are made equal. Who is fiber internet best for? Fiber internet benefits everyone, and it can even come at a reasonable price.

Is fiber internet right for you? We say yes. How to get fiber internet Fiber internet still isn't widely available, but networks are expanding to new cities. Here's a quick look at some of the larger fiber internet providers in the US:. Fiber internet providers in the US. Service not available in all areas. Pro tip: Check reviews before you buy. Now that you know how fiber internet works, check these out next.

Enter your ZIP code to find fiber internet plans near you. See our picks for the best fiber internet providers. Written by. She believes the internet is a necessity, not a luxury, and writes reviews and guides to help everyone stay connected. Read More. Related Articles. Whether you want a simple alarm system or a full smart home ensemble, cameras and Garage door security measures protect one of the weakest points of your home against intrusion This guide is full of motion sensor light knowledge.

We talk about everything from what There are hundreds of outdoor security cameras on the market, but how do you know Feature Comparisons. Feature Reviews. Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime, anywhere. All rights reserved. Back To Top. View Plans. Here's how we rate providers. Find fiber optic internet in your area By David Anders Last updated: November 2, Fiber optic internet is the best home internet connection type available, often boasting better speeds and reliability than cable, DSL and satellite internet services.

Enter your address to view internet providers available near you Please select an address. Check availability. Or call to order: How we score internet providers We evaluate broadband providers in four categories: affordability, performance, value and customer satisfaction. Learn more about our methodology. What we like Fastest internet type — Fiber optic internet is as good as it gets when it comes to internet, offering maximum speeds ten times DSL.

Is a fiber connection available at your address? Find out if fiber internet is available at your home by checking your address now. Find internet providers. CenturyLink fiber internet availability CenturyLink fiber internet offers speeds up to 1, Mbps in 11 major metro areas in the U.

Frontier fiber internet availability Frontier Communications offers their fiber service, Frontier FiberOptic, in select areas of California, Florida, Indiana and Texas. Google Fiber Wi-Fi availability Google, one of the first fiber internet providers, has fiber optic networks in select cities across the U. Optimum and Suddenlink fiber internet availability Both divisions of Altice, Optimum and Suddenlink have implemented fiber optic networks in select areas.

Xfinity fiber Wi-Fi availability Xfinity offers the Gigabit plan up to 1, Mbps throughout all of its regions. Our take on fiber internet Fiber internet is popular for its fast, consistent download and upload speeds. Is fiber internet available in my area? Does fiber internet require a special modem? Does fiber internet require a phone line? What is gigabit internet?

What speeds can you get with fiber? We value your feedback. Was this page helpful? Tell us what helped most on this page. Type your response here. Thanks for your feedback! Cable Business Internet. What to read next Read more. Alex Sheehan — 3 min read. Allconnect reports the latest on U. Is your fiber internet living up to expectations? Latest Tuesday, November 9, The best Amazon holiday deals so far to speed up your internet Joe Supan — 2 min read Tuesday, November 9, Is broadband access a public health issue?

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for internet news and promos. To transport data across thousands of miles these pulses go through optical amplifiers that boost their signal so that no data is lost.

Once the pulses reach their destination, an optical network terminal ONT converts the light pulses into electrical Ethernet. This is how light becomes something you can use to actually connect your devices to the Internet. The backbone of the Internet is what makes it possible for people across the globe to connect via the web, and most of it is made of fiber optic cables. Fiber optic Internet may seem like brand new technology, but it has actually been around since the early days of the Internet.

In fiber optic cables were laid under the ocean to connect the U. They were the first submarine lines to be laid, and today they have expanded to crisscross the entirety of the ocean floor. The backbone is the core of the Internet. The instant you connect to a website, no matter the device or the destination, multiple steps are being taken to bring you there , and every one of them is connected by the backbone. There are several types of last mile fiber connections an Internet service provider ISP can install, each one varying in how pure your fiber optic Internet connection actually is.

DSL Internet is provided by copper phone lines that have been the norm for over a hundred years. Cable internet also uses copper, but unlike DSL it uses coaxial cables were originally used for cable TV services. Fixed Wireless Internet , like cell phone service, is provided through radio waves broadcasted from towers, and then sent over frequencies. Copper cables can usually be found even in the most rural of areas because it was originally laid for telephone connections.

The cables can be reutilized, so new building projects are not necessary. Fiber optic infrastructure or wireless towers can be expensive, and come at the added price of natural habitats, not to mention added Co2 emissions.

Of all the competitors, cable produces the least data for the most electricity. Availability: Again, copper cables have already been laid in most areas for telephone use so, as long as they are in good condition, reusing them to create Internet service is fairly simple. Interference: Copper wires can do serious damage if not properly installed and maintained.

They can release electromagnetic currents that interfere with wires and severely damage a network. Fiber cables will neither emit electromagnetic waves nor be damaged by them. Copper cables also conduct electricity, so they pose a fire risk if not properly installed and maintained.

This fact also means they are more susceptible to lightning and can be very dangerous if they go down during a storm. Attenuation: Attenuation , means the weakening or loss of a signal. Given distance signals sent over copper wires degrade much faster than fiber. After ft. When you watch something on Netflix, you are downloading. When you upload a video to YouTube, you are uploading. Downloading and uploading are usually represented as different speeds. Most casual users only have to worry about the downloading speed, but telecommuters, those dependent on telemedicine, and most businesses need higher uploading speeds as well.

One of the many things that makes fiber optic Internet superior is that it provides symmetrical speeds , meaning its download and upload speeds match. DSL and other types of Internet, only offer asymmetrical speeds , where download speeds are faster than upload than upload speeds. Price: Cable Internet is one of the most affordable Internet options. Sharing is Not Caring: Cable can reach download speeds of Mbps still only a tenth of fiber but more than DSL , but cable Internet is shared from a central node where the ISP meets the local coaxial network.

This means anywhere between homes have to share a single node. Sharing like this often leads to low speeds during peak use hours.

To manage this, companies have been throttling users Internet, meaning they slow down your bandwidth after you have used a certain amount. The idea behind this is to give everyone sharing the node an even amount of service, but can often be frustrating for consumers. Cable companies have also been known to put caps on how much data your household needs, and then charge you extra for additional data. This wireless means fewer materials are needed, bringing down the overall cost of purchasing, building, and maintaining.

It also means no fallen cables resulting in loss of service. If you live up a mountain, have very few neighbors, or are so far off the beaten path your mail comes by carrier pigeon, Wireless maybe your only option. Usually, even the most rural areas will have some sort of tower near enough to gauge a signal.

Congestion : Fixed wireless has the potential to meet fiber optic Internet speeds, but circumstances prevent the radio waves from ever catching up to the photons. You already know that Wireless degrades with distance, bringing the speed down with it, but there is a greater issue at hand. As with a cable connection, fixed wireless users share bandwidth across their local network, so when many people are accessing the network at once, the speed slows.

If everyone is on at once, you are getting 10 Mbps at best. Whereas if you are paying for a Mbps network of fiber, that speed is just for your home alone. In 3,,, people worldwide accessed the Internet. In the U. Every year these numbers grow, and the Internet becomes more and more important to our everyday lives, on an individual, and societal level. Broadband makes it possible to stream movies and shows to your Smart TV. Entertainment and Connectivity: We have all become used to having the world at our fingertips.

Support Sign In. Residential x. Cancel Continue. Support Center Internet Fiber support What is fiber internet? What is fiber internet? With CenturyLink Fiber service, you can: Upload and download files quickly Enjoy smooth online gaming and video chatting with friends and family Back up your entire hard drive to the cloud, including large photos and videos, in minutes instead of hours Download a 2-hour HD movie in seconds, compared to waiting 30 minutes or more over a 20 Mbps traditional internet service.

Get Fiber Internet from CenturyLink. How does fiber-optic internet work? Optical fibers. The last mile. How is fiber different from other types of internet?

Dial-up internet. DSL internet. Cable internet. Is fiber internet faster? What are the benefits of fiber for internet users? What is dark fiber?