When home internet access was a new curiosity, providers connected homes to the web over phone or cable TV lines. In fact, DSL services still use phone landlines to transmit data. Cable is only marginally better, but its speeds top out where fiber-fed internet begins.

As streaming, gaming, remote work and smart devices proliferate, the demand for robust internet infrastructure continues to grow. Among the various technologies available, fiber-optic internet stands out for its exceptional resilience to slowdowns. But what exactly gives fiber-optic internet its edge?

When fiber internet first hit the scene with Gigabit speeds, many conveniences we take for granted today — such as streaming movies, live TV and music, as well as video conferencing, online gaming and more — were still in their infancy.

Those early adopters of fiber were rewarded with the fastest and most reliable internet available and a front-row seat for the future of the internet. And it didn’t take long for it to arrive. Today, 89 percent of households use the internet to stream entertainment.

In our digital-first world, internet access is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. And fiber is the gold standard of internet connectivity, giving users the speed, bandwidth and reliability to work remotely, stream 4K content, play online video games, run a business and much more.

Here are six solid reasons why fiber internet is one of the most important investments you can make in your family and your home.

Consumers today have their pick of home internet flavors.

If you want cheap and slow, then old-school DSL is for you. If you’ve toyed with streaming media but haven’t fully jumped into the present day, maybe you’d be inclined to choose coax cable. Fixed wireless will get you closer, but lacks in reliability, latency and more.

The only way, then, to truly experience all the possibilities of the internet — endless streaming of high-quality movies, TV and music, low-latency online gaming, and bandwidth to handle the biggest family reunion — is with future-proof, high-bandwidth fiber.

Online gaming’s been around for a minute, but it didn’t finally achieve its full potential until fiber internet became widely available. E-Sports are now a very real thing, with competitive gamers around the world battling for the prize. And now, thanks to some new developments, broadband fiber internet is a must for a maximum gaming experience.

Here are five big reasons fiber can take your game to the next level.

Faster internet is always better, but how much speed does your household actually need?

Fiber optics are the key to unlocking your home network’s full potential, and the most common tiers now available are tailored for different types of usage. Here is a look at what you can expect from each level of fiber internet.