Due to lockdown, most of you may have to do your office task remotely. For this, a 24/7 broadband connection is the most wanted thing on your bucket list. But you are puzzled between fiber optic and copper cable internet connections.
So, which type of broadband connection should you choose, optical fiber or copper cable-based internet, is a buzzing question?
Meanwhile, it’s the ultimate battle between networking connection cables, fiber vs. copper. Which will win the bandwidth challenge and take the crown home? Let’s find out.
After researching a lot, I have found all the core benefits of both cables. To know which type of cable is the best for the internet connection, read till the end.
Check out the easiest way to fix Internet disconnects when downloading large files.
Why is Fiber more Reliable than Copper Internet?
Its faster data speed transfer, long distance cover without massive signal loss, more durability, more security, and last but not least, it’s future proof. Fiber optics use light bursts to carry signals instead of waves through metal. Fiber optic cable connection for the internet is more reliable than copper cables.
Copper cables are pairs of solid copper wires that pass data signals between networks using electrical signals. So, it is highly conductive. Copper cables are mainly of three types coaxial, unshielded twisted pair, and shielded twisted pair.
But coaxial copper cable can only pass or carry a small number of waveforms instead of having a higher bandwidth. Limiting maximum data capacity reduces the overall data transfer rate, and it is prone to degrade the wave signals when covering a long distance.
Copper internet connections are less expensive than fiber connections, and broadband companies widely use them.
After inventing the fiber optic cable by Corning Inc. in 1970, it brought a revolution in internet connection technology. Fiber optic cables are made of transparent glass, and this glass is composed of two layers. The glass cores are wrapped with protective layers that protect the glass from damage and signal integrity.
The thin glass cores use the principle of total internal reflection, and they guide the wavelength of light over long distances. In contrast, the data transfer rate is fast due to passing data using light through a highly transparent medium. While covering long distances, the loss of data transmission is low.
What are the Advantages of Fiber over Copper Internet?
Both these cables transmit data but in a different ways. The copper cable sends data using an electric pulse, and in contrast, fiber cables transfer data using photons. As you know, light is faster than the electric pulse, and that’s why fiber can transfer data much faster than copper cable.
Let’s explore all the advantages of fiber cable over copper cable internet.
Here are the advantages of fiber over copper internet:
Speed
Speed is the primary key to transferring data. The faster the speed, the faster internet. To pass data with a blazing fast speed data passing medium plays an important role. Optical fiber cables can transfer data faster than copper cables. Copper cables share data by electric pulses through metal strands, whereas fiber cables pass data by light waves through thin glass fibers.
As light is faster than electric pulses, fiber cables deliver data from one device to another at a lightning-fast speed. Fiber cables can transfer data up to 60 terabits per second, whereas copper cables can only pass data at the highest rate of 10giabits per second. So, if you need a faster internet connection, then fiber optic is the best.
Also, check out our separate post on fix slow Internet Windows 11.
Distance
Fiber optical cable is the best when you want to transfer data over a long distance, and copper cable’s maximum sending signal distance is 100 meters. On the other hand, fiber cables can send data up to 25 miles or 40 km. which is more vast than copper cable’s covering distance.
While covering this vast distance, fiber cable loses signal only 3% every 100 meters, whereas copper’s signal loss is enormous, like 90%. It will be best to use fiber optical cable if someone wants to transfer data over a long distance.
Security
Copper cables pass electric signals, and it is easy for someone to tap on them. But fiber cables pass data through light waves or photons, and it’s almost impossible for someone to tap on them. If your fiber cable connection got compromised, it could be tracked easily.
You should go for a fiber optical connection for a better and more secure network, whereas a copper cable connection can easily be compromised.
Durability and Reliability
Fiber cables are more durable than copper wires. Copper wires can be damaged or broken during installation, but fiber cable is hard to damage. But fiber cables are not damage-proof, as it’s made of thin glass fibers, and excessive pressure and tension in the cable line can break them.
Electric surge can occur in the copper connection because it is made of twisted copper cables, and it can damage your devices and slow down the transfer rate. In contrast, fiber cables use thin hair like glass fiber which can’t cause an electrical surge.
Fiber cables are safe to install in industrial areas because it is immune to temperature and electromagnetic interference, and they can be submerged in water. After extended use, like 5 years later, the copper wire starts to corrosion and lose more signal. But fiber cables can last up to 50 years.
Copper cables can withstand pressure like 50 pounds, but fiber cables can withstand 200 pounds. So, in terms of durability and reliability, fiber cables beat copper cables easily.
Cost
Copper is less expensive than fiber cable. If you are talking about maintenance costs, changing wire costs, and required device management, fiber optical cable is the winner. Copper cable maintenance cost is vast and involves many repairing devices. For a better financial solution, go for fiber cables.
Future Proof
In the future, you will need much faster data speed and more bandwidth. But copper cables won’t support this vast bandwidth or data transfer rate. You should go for a fiber optic cable connection for a better future proofing solution.
FAQs
Does fiber offer less latency than a copper internet connection?
Yes, fiber offers less latency than copper cable. Latency means the amount of time required or dealy during a successful data transmission, and copper latency is higher than fiber which is terrible for a network connection.
Can a copper connection be tampered with?
Copper cables can be tempered easily. It passes data through passing electric pules. One can tap on it and steal your documents or destroy your connection. Fiber is temper-proof. If it is, compromised, then you can easily track it.
Which internet connection costs more, Fiber or Copper?
A fiber connection costs more than a copper connection. But for the long-term maintenance, it will cost less than copper cable connections. Despite its high cost, it requires fewer devices to repair damaged cables.
Final Words
Fiber cables and copper cables can both transfer data at high speed. But for a better and more reliable network connection, you should go for fiber cable.
Though fiber cable is more expensive than copper cable, it is the best option in the long run. Faster speed, higher bandwidth, more secure, and highly durable, can cover long distances. What else do you need for the best networking connection? Everything is present in the fiber cable.
Now you know which cable to choose for your internet connection if you have gone through the entire article. For further queries, just leave a comment in the comment section.
