The telecommunication industry has evolved over the years. We have seen the rise and fall of technologies with the changing times. Two of the newest internet technologies available to consumers are fiber internet and 5G. These are new (5G more than fiber internet) and have gained consumer appreciation for the incredible speed they offer over traditional internet services.

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This era is at times termed the fourth industrial revolution. We have made strides in the disciplines of IT, technology, and communication. Currently, the internet is an integral part of life which is why we must understand the technology behind it. People do not fully understand how fiber internet and 5G work or compare with one another as they are relatively new technologies. We can help with this!

Here is an in-depth comparison of fiber internet and 5G.

How Does Fiber Internet Work?

Fiber internet technology transfers data in the form of light signals instead of electricity. These signals are carried through fine fiber lines that combine to make large glass cables. Fiber internet technology uses binary language to communicate information.

This means that the data is converted into zeros and ones, and passed through a cable in the form of light pulses to your computer. A light flash represents the digit one and the absence of a light pulse meant zero. Your computer interprets this information. This entire process happens within fractions of a second.

What Is 5G Internet Technology?

5G is still a new term for many people. Internet users do not still fully understand what it is. 5G is the evolved form of a 4G LTE cellular network. This technology uses radio waves to send and receive data packets.

Comparison of Fiber Internet and 5G internet

Now that we understand how these respective technologies work, it is important to compare their performances. 5G entered the market as the fastest internet service before fiber internet usage could even spread to its maximum extent. This leaves people confused between the two. Which one should you choose? Which is the better option out of the two?

Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide:

Speed

Fiber internet offers unlimited data to its users. Where 5G offers 10 Gbps speed, fiber internet offers 100 Gbps. Both these technologies are faster than their predecessors by a huge margin. Therefore, 5G internet is about 10 to 20 times faster than 4G internet whereas fiber internet is 100 times faster than cable internet connections.

Latency

Simply put, latency is the time delay experienced as data travels from one point to the other. The shorter the latency period, the faster the internet connection. The latency for 5G is four milliseconds whereas for Fiber internet it is only 1 millisecond. Both these values are nearly negligible in general however when compared on a large scale they make a difference.

So 5G is perfect for everyday use, streaming, downloading, and uploading small files, etc. but it is not suitable for high-precision communication or heavy video gaming. Fiber internet is a preferred connection for the latter. It is used in NYC buildings that host stock exchange servers, as they require high precision and reliable internet connection with minimum latency.

Cost

The cost and availability differ according to the connection type. So for individual consumers, Fiber internet is easier to access than 5G whereas for companies fiber internet is an expensive investment.

Furthermore, even though fiber internet is more resistant to corrosion and wear, it still can be damaged. Damaging a small part of the cables disrupts the entire network. Whereas, if one cell tower for 5G internet is down for some reason, the rest of them remain fully functional. A small aspect of the network may be interrupted but the entire connection does not go down.

Set Up and Infrastructure

So 5G operates on radio waves and is completely wireless. It does not require a network of cables to work like fiber internet. This makes it slightly more convenient. Fiber internet does not work on copper wires it uses glass cable wires. They require a glass fiber optic cable placed from the nearest fiber internet junction to your house. This complicated the installation of fiber internet a bit.

In Conclusion

The technology behind the fiber Internet and 5G is incredibly fascinating. The internet speeds and performance they provide are incredible. However, the one that works for you will depend upon your usage. If your internet usage is average and you want convenience, 5G is the better option. However, if you value speed, precision, and a future-proof connection, fiber internet is the way to go.