Does ATT fiber stay on during power outage?
Since many households today migrate to AT&T Internet Fiber or other service providers for the fiber optic internet connection, another frequently asked question is whether fiber optic internet works during a power outage. The short answer is most often no, fiber optic internet does require power in the same fashion that cable internet does. But there are one or two peculiarities that it is necessary to clarify here.
Fiber Optic Internet is one of the most popular forms of internet connectivity today but how does it operate?
For fiber optic internet, data is transmitted through flexible strands of glass or plastic fiber that are almost as thin as a strand of hair. These cables work by transmitting data in the form of pulses of light. The fiber cables connect central points in a city/region to specific nodes in local communities.
One is that from those neighborhood nodes that have been introduced, smaller fiber cables are run directly to homes. At the home, there is a device called the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) which translates the light signals to electricity as to be distributed by Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi.
This particular ONT device is going to need some power for it to be fully operational. And the WiFi router that is connected to this device and which transmits the internet signal all over your house. Even if the larger neighborhood nodes have power backup if your ONT and router in your home lose power, your fiber optic internet access is done.
Backup Batteries
A few fiber internet providers including AT&T Fiber provide batteries that can supply electricity to the ONT for some hours during an outage. They may also offer an 8-hour backup battery when they are introducing fiber service in that premise.
However, these batteries must be replaced after 2-3 years of usage and this makes the whole system costly. Connectivity would also be disengaged in its absence and once drained during a blackout, an additional source of power such as a generator or UPS system will be necessary to continue powering the devices.
In other words, despite being more sustainable and substantially faster than the older type of internet service provided through copper cables, fiber optic internet relies on the electrical grid. Even if there is a connection at the network level, it means that each of the endpoints in your home will not function if power is not available.
Employing Generators as Stand-by Electricity Sources
To maintain the fiber internet connection when there is a long black-out, many people turn on the gas generators for the generation of electricity. Remember to advise for an accurate sized generator since most ONT/Router combinations need a power range of 500W to 1000W.
It is safer to always adhere to the recommended safety precautions whenever connecting a generator to your home electrical systems. This is very dangerous because, when the generators are used improperly, they can feed electricity back into the lines, which is a real threat to the lives of the utility workers who are repairing the power lines and restoring the power.
It is best to consult an electrician who can install for you a standalone generator transfer switch that offers constant power during a blackout, and at the same time, disconnects your circuitry from the main electricity supply.
A cheaper method though not as effective is to employ a gas generator and connect it to the required appliances through long cables and protect the appliances from fluctuations through surge protectors for your ONT/router and other important devices. Just ensure very well that these backup power extensions are disconnected once the grid power is back so as not to endanger anyone who might be working on the lines.
Uninterrupted Power Supplies
Another form of temporarily supplying power to fiber equipment as a backup in case of a power outage is an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). This is in effect a very large battery that is switched in parallel with other electronics and automatically comes into use every time there is a power failure.
UPS systems are categorized by the Wattage of the power delivered and the duration of power that the UPS system can supply. Less costly consumer models may provide you with 5-15 minutes of uptime for your fiber ONT and Wi-Fi router. However, if adequately sized, larger rackmount UPS could allow for hours of backup power.
The advantage of UPS over the generator is that it automatically switches without any interruption to your internet connection. The next thing that one notices is that as soon as there is an outage, the backup battery is immediate ensuring there is a continuous power supply.
This could be very helpful for people who depend on a steady connection for business meetings or any kind of connectivity that even a moment interruption could affect. Just bear in mind that runtimes however are still restricted, yet a UPS has less impact and withstands small-medium length power outages better than a generator which has a start-up time.
In conclusion, wholly anticipate that AT&T fiber and other fiber internet services will stop working when there is a power failure. Backup batteries, generators, and UPS systems can maintain your connection for as long as the power capacity of those items lasts. As long as you do this correctly and follow all guidelines for integrating such systems with your home grid, just make sure that the systems are sized appropriately.
Upgrade to faster, more reliable AT&T Fiber Internet today! Call us at +1 844-905-5002 and get connected with speeds that keep you ahead.
