The last several months have dramatically changed the way we use the Internet. But how does your Internet actually travel to your home? Currently, most data travels to you through physical wires. If you have UTOPIA Fiber, your Internet is connected directly to your home with the fastest communication technology available: fiber-optic cables.

Here’s a breakdown of the three most common Internet connections:

1. DSL (Landline Telephone Line)

• DSL connections transfer data via copper telephone lines.
• DSL Internet has higher latency & lower bandwidth on average, compared to Cable and Fiber lines.
• Speeds can vary depending on how far you are from your provider, usually maxing out around 35 Mbps.
• Fiber and Cable lines provide speeds that are significantly faster than DSL but in some rural areas, DSL is the only option.

2. Cable (Cable TV Lines)

• Delivers internet to your home via copper coaxial television cable.
• Bandwidth is typically shared with your neighbors.
• There is often a slowdown in speeds during peak usage times (due to sharing bandwidth).
• Upload speeds and download speeds are not symmetrical. Typically, upload speeds are slower than download speeds with a Cable connection.

3. Fiber Optic Cables

• Fiber Internet is transmitted to your home using a fiber optic cable.
• Your data is transferred at the speed of light, making it the fastest internet available.
• Fiber optics are usually direct connected to your home, so you won’t see a decrease in speeds during peak Internet usage times.
• Symmetrical speeds with fast-as-light performance for both download and upload speeds.

As we become more reliant on high-speed Internet for every part of our lives, the benefit of fiber Internet is clear. Fiber is faster, more reliable, and more secure. UTOPIA Fiber offers dedicated, symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps. Sign up today to connect your home with the fastest technology on the market.