Why not to get fiber internet?
Fiber internet has been considered the best in terms of internet connection. Supporting connection speeds that are significantly faster than the copper wire, fiber feels like a no-brainer for most households. However, fiber is not for everyone. Below are some reasons why you may not require fiber internet.
The Expense
Fiber internet is not cheap. On average, it costs between $50 to $150 per month for a fiber optics connection depending on your provider and the type of connection that you choose. Often this is two or three times more expensive than a simple DSL or cable internet connection.
However, when it comes to fiber installation, one has to pay a lot of money in terms of setup and equipment. The average fiber installation is around $400 depending on how readily accessible the area is for the technician to place the fiber optic cables. If your home was not pre-wired for fiber, simply opening walls to run the wiring can push your installation costs over $1000.
In case of a low budget, then you have no other choice than to continue with the cheap DSL or cable internet connection. There is always a chance to upgrade in the future when financial burdens are not as limiting.
I do not think that speed is an indispensable attribute.
Fiber internet provides a very fast connection, with download rates ranging from 1 Gbps at its best. Nevertheless, only a handful of households can optimally exploit connections beyond 100-200 Mbps. Even normal internet usage such as browsing and streaming videos can be done perfectly fine with download speeds of as low as 50-75 Mbps.
If the current internet connection speed is at least 25-50 Mbps, then getting costly fiber services will not give a big boost to your regular internet usage. Fiber is most useful in households with many power users who download 4K video or high-bandwidth gaming often. But if you are going to be typing emails or watching the occasional YouTube video then you can skip this one.
If you want to get faster connections but do not want to pay the price of fiber connections then? Further, one should turn his attention to VDSL or DOCSIS 3.1 cable internet. Both can offer services of up to 100 Mbps at a significantly lower price than that of fiber.
Unfortunately, It is still unknown whether it is available for people living in rural areas.
Although the presence of fiber internet is on the rise, many regions remain without it at all. It becomes very costly to lay fiber cables underground, especially in the rural areas of the country.
For the concerned rural households seeking better internet speed, the options include fixed wireless carriers, satellite, or potentially Starlink. Fiber is faster than other connections and no other connection can match the speeds of fiber. However, their availability makes them the only option available to address the poor internet connection in rural areas.
You will still be reliant on WiFi for much of your daily internet usage.
One of the things that people believe to be so is that fiber internet eradicates WiFi blind spots within your home. WiFi is determined primarily by the nature of your router configuration and the environment rather than your internet connections. Fiber assists in extending high speed to the router. However, after that point, WiFi and internal connections can still be the limiting factor in achieving higher speeds.
Ensure that your current setting is as efficient as possible before paying for fiber. If necessary, transition to a mesh network system. Wired backhaul links should be used where the devices are fixed and do not require mobility. You should therefore consider changing your router and access points’ positions. These enhancements could potentially increase the WiFi performance as much as fiber.
Reliability Problems in Some Sectors
Fiber internet provides stability and reliability since cables are buried underground and not affected by weather conditions. However, some of the initial fiber rollouts have been associated with reliability issues. Especially when the rapid expansion has caused some corners to be cut.
If the fiber in your area has mixed reviews, it might be best to hold off for a while. This way, let companies sort out initial hitches from the system before they move out from your existing dependable provider. It is not unusual for brand-new networks to experience teething issues. But you likely don’t want to be an involuntary beta tester.
To sum up, fiber internet is undoubtedly superior in terms of speed and potential bandwidth compared to regular internet. However, it is also expensive in comparison and of rather marginal usefulness to most ordinary users. Unless the user has a speed requirement or can use the special sign-up offers, it is not a good value for the money. VDSL, cable, fixed wireless, and optimizing your existing setup may also be good enough for somewhat less.
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.