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.

As fiber internet has become more widely available at ever-increasing speeds (now up to a staggering 8 Gbps), consumers have more options than ever. And while internet delivered over cable is still a popular choice, the number of consumers dropping cable and DSL internet connections in favor of fiber continue to rise.

So, what advantages can consumers expect to see from fiber?

Speed (of course)
Fiber internet delivers the fastest home internet speeds, period. But also consider this: fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, a significant advantage for video conferencing, cloud backups, gaming and content creation. Cable, by contrast, often has slower upload speeds, which could be a drawback for users who frequently upload large files or participate in live streaming.

Consistent performance
Unlike cable, which allocates bandwidth among multiple users in your area, fiber provides a dedicated connection to your home for consistent performance even during peak usage times. This makes it suitable for activities like 4K streaming, online gaming, or large file transfers.

Reliability
When it comes to reliability, fiber outshines cable internet by being far less susceptible to weather conditions and electrical interference. This stability is especially beneficial for remote workers or those using home automation systems, but let’s be real. Nobody likes to see their TV signal freeze while enjoying sports over a streaming service, or for their video calls to drop.

Future proof
Fiber infrastructure is scalable and can adapt to evolving digital needs, so as demands increase to meet the connectivity challenges of tomorrow, fiber internet is up for the job. Meanwhile, cable will continue to struggle to keep up with future requirements due to its older technology.

If blazing speeds, reliability, and future-ready technology are essential, fiber is the better choice. Check your address for fiber availability now.