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Technology Types

Fiber Optic (FTTH)

Internet delivered via glass or plastic strands that transmit data as pulses of light, offering the fastest and most reliable residential connections available.

What It Means

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections deliver symmetrical speeds, meaning upload and download speeds are equal. Typical fiber plans offer 500 Mbps to 5 Gbps. Unlike copper-based technologies, fiber performance does not degrade over distance from the central office. Fiber infrastructure is future-proof — the same cable installed today can support faster speeds with upgraded equipment at either end. The FCC considers fiber the gold standard for broadband.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Fiber Optic" mean?

Internet delivered via glass or plastic strands that transmit data as pulses of light, offering the fastest and most reliable residential connections available.

Why does Fiber Optic matter for internet quality?

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) connections deliver symmetrical speeds, meaning upload and download speeds are equal. Typical fiber plans offer 500 Mbps to 5 Gbps. Unlike copper-based technologies, fiber performance does not degrade over distance from the central office. Fiber infrastructure is future-proo...

Related Terms

Cable Internet (DOCSIS)
Broadband delivered over coaxial cable TV lines using the DOCSIS protocol, typically offering 100-1,200 Mbps download but significantly slower upload speeds.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Internet service delivered over traditional copper telephone lines, with speeds that degrade significantly over distance from the provider's central office.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
Broadband delivered wirelessly from a cell tower or base station to an antenna at the customer's location, using 4G LTE or 5G signals.
Satellite Internet
Broadband delivered via orbiting satellites, available nearly anywhere but historically limited by high latency and low speeds until the introduction of low-earth orbit constellations.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.