Having a reliable and fast internet connection is essential for your customers. Among the various types of broadband connections available, fibre optic broadband stands out for its superior performance and reliability. This blog explores how fibre optic broadband works and the benefits it offers over other types of broadband connections.

How Fibre Optic Broadband Works

Fibre optic broadband relies on a technology that uses thin strands of glass or plastic, known as optical fibres, to transmit data as light signals. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Transmission of Light Signals:

• Data is converted into light signals by a transmitter.
• These light signals travel through the optical fibres at incredibly high speeds.

2. Traveling Long Distances:

• Optical fibres are designed to carry light over long distances without significant loss of signal strength.
• The core of the fibre, where the light travels, is surrounded by cladding that reflects light back into the core, preventing signal loss.

3. Receiving and Converting Back to Data:

• At the destination, the light signals are received by an optical network terminal (ONT) or optical network unit (ONU).
• These devices convert the light signals back into electrical signals that your devices can understand and use.

Benefits of Fibre Optic Broadband Over Other Types of Broadband

Fibre optic broadband offers several advantages over traditional broadband types such as DSL, cable and satellite. Here are some key benefits:

1. Superior Speed:

• Fiber Optic: Can offer speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) and beyond, providing ultra-fast download and upload times.
• DSL: Typically offers speeds up to 100 Mbps (Megabits per second), but often less in practice due to distance from the service provider.
• Cable: Can reach higher speeds (up to 500 Mbps or more) but often suffers from network congestion, especially during peak usage times.
• Satellite: Generally much slower (ranging from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps) and can have higher latency.

2. Enhanced Reliability:

• Fibre Optic: Less susceptible to interference from electrical noise or weather conditions. Fiber cables are also more durable and can withstand harsh conditions better than copper cables.
• DSL and Cable: More prone to interference and signal degradation, especially over long distances.
• Satellite: Affected by weather conditions like rain and snow, leading to potential service disruptions.

3. Low Latency:

• Fibre Optic: Provides lower latency, which is crucial for real-time applications such as online gaming, video conferencing, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services.
• DSL and Cable: Higher latency compared to fibre, which can affect the quality of real-time applications.
• Satellite: Significantly higher latency due to the long distance data must travel to and from satellites.

4. Higher Bandwidth Capacity:

• Fibre Optic: Can handle much higher bandwidth, allowing multiple devices to connect and perform data-heavy tasks simultaneously without slowing down.
• DSL and Cable: Limited bandwidth, which can be a bottleneck when many devices are connected.
• Satellite: Limited bandwidth with strict data caps, making it less suitable for heavy internet usage.

5. Future-Proof Technology:

• Fibre Optic: Designed to support future advancements and increasing internet demands. Fibre networks can be easily upgraded to handle even higher speeds.
• DSL and Cable: More challenging and costly to upgrade infrastructure to match the capabilities of fibre.
• Satellite: Upgrades are more complex and expensive due to the nature of satellite technology.

If your customers have access to fibre optic broadband, it’s worth considering upgrading them so they can enjoy the benefits. We offer various connectivity options from Vodafone, BT and CityFibre so your customers can choose the right broadband to suit their needs.

For more information, contact your Partner Business Manager or email us at hello@onecompartners.co.uk.