As a telecommunications company, people often ask us what the difference is between the various services we provide, as well as what is available in the state of Kansas. The most common question we encounter is regarding the difference between fiber internet and broadband internet.
At KsFiberNet, we take great pride in providing Kansans throughout the state with reliable, powerful fiber internet access. What you use the internet for, how often you use it, and how much you want to spend on it, will determine what kind of internet service is best for your business. If you’re curious about the difference between fiber and broadband internet and want to determine which is best for your business, keep reading.
Fiber Overview
As mentioned in our previous blog, fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables to send data, which results in a fast, reliable, and secure connection. Fiber-optic cables are composed of plastic or glass strands that are used to transmit light which then bounce along the bends and curves in the cable to transmit information. Fiber internet offers high speeds and does not degrade over long distances.
Broadband Overview
Broadband internet is the standard form of internet throughout most parts of the world and is also commonly referred to as “high-speed internet.” It is delivered over the same cables used to provide television data and the most advanced broadband internet can reach speeds of more than 75 Mbps. It’s important to note that broadband internet reliability can vary depending on how many users are accessing the connection.
Below are five factors to consider when choosing between fiber internet and broadband internet:
Service Reliability
As you’re considering which internet service is best for you, reliability is most likely your top priority – as it should be. Fiber and broadband are the two most reliable internet types on the market right now. If you put them up against 3G and 4G internet, or the old dial-up internet connections, the comparison would not come even close. While broadband is one of the more reliable options when it comes to internet access, it’s also known to face frequent interruptions from both environmental and location factors.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is extremely important today, especially as a large portion of our workforce uses the internet to perform their daily jobs. If your bandwidth levels are low, your productivity levels are also likely to trend lower. Because many businesses are still requiring their employees to work from home, bandwidth is crucial to ensure web conferences, video streaming, and online presentations go smoothly.
Because broadband internet is often shared between different customers in the same vicinity, there is a greater chance that the bandwidth will be compromised at one point or another. For example, the more people using the broadband internet at once, the weaker the bandwidth will be at that time. Fiber providers tend to operate as a dedicated service being used only by the business for which it’s established.
Cloud Access
Cloud access is another thing to consider when choosing between fiber and broadband internet services. Again, many employees nowadays are working from the comfort of their own homes, so cloud storage has become a major tool for businesses. It’s important to choose an internet service that will allow you to access and upload information to the cloud without hassle or delay. A disruption in your internet connectivity could result in lost files and other important information. You are less likely to experience delays and service interruptions with fiber internet.
Security
Internet security is important for both home networks and businesses. If your internet isn’t properly secured, your personal and important information is more likely to be compromised. While breaches can happen anytime, anywhere, and no matter which internet service you have, they’re more likely to occur on a network using broadband. If you’re looking for additional protection for your data stored online, fiber is the way to go.
Pricing
Fiber internet often costs more than broadband internet because you’re paying for top speeds, however, there are providers out there who offer affordable fiber internet access. KsFiberNet is focused on providing customers with the best of both worlds: reliable, high-speed access that doesn’t break the bank.
As previously mentioned, your decision between fiber internet and broadband internet should come down to which one is most suitable for your lifestyle or the needs of your business. To sum it up, whatever you do with broadband, you can do with fiber, but so much faster. Overall, fiber is the more reliable high-speed connection that you can count on as you grow your business, with the bandwidth to expand as your needs change.
Looking for more info? Visit KsFiberNet’s website here or contact us today!
About KsFiberNet
Kansas Fiber Network, LLC (KsFiberNet), provides wholesale Internet and data transport services to regional and national carriers, rural telephone companies, as well as government, medical, education, banking, and community anchor institutions using a state-of-the-art 100G fiber network. Chartered in 2009 by 29 independent rural Kansas telephone companies, KsFiberNet is Kansas-owned plus provides local service and support. Covering 3000+ miles, KsFiberNet has the best Ethernet coverage of any carrier in the state.
