The Difference of Fiber and DSL Internet

If you are shopping for internet options for your business or home use, you will likely come across a few network types. Fiber optics, cable, DSL and satellite are the most common network types that are available to the market. Each of this is different in the way they transfer data and each one of these offer their own unique advantages. 

In this article, you will see the difference between Fiber optic Internet and DSL as well as the pros and cons of both connection types. 

Fiber Optics

Fiber optic is an internet connection that transfers data partially or fully using fiber optic cables. Fiber is referred to the thin glass wires inside a larger cable. Optic is the way the type of data transferred (light signals). 

So an internet connection using fiber optics is a connection in which data or information are delivered in light signals via small, flexible glass wires. For example, think about the speed of light, your fiber optic connection will not deliver that fast because the signal bounces around the wire many times on the way to the destination, but it is still very fast compared to other internet network type. There are different fiber internet service provider here in the Philippines that offers different fiber plans either for business or for fiber home internet.

DSL

DSL stands for Direct Subscriber Line is an internet connection delivered via telephone lines. Remember the days when the internet via the phone line created the dial up tones and help the phone line the entire time you were connected. DSL separates the internet frequencies from your telephone, giving users to be online and use the phone simultaneously. 

Most of the telephone lines are made out of copper, while copper is an ideal conductor, data cannot travel as quickly via telephone lines as it can with fiber optic cables.

And this will lead us to the pros and cons of both of it. 

Speed and Reliability

We can definitely see that fiber optics wins on speed but let’s determine how much is the difference of both. Fiber optics delivers speed is up to 1 GBPS (1000 MBPS), whereas DSL speeds typically measures around 6 MBPS. Even without knowing about MBPS that much, you can clearly see that Fiber optics can be so much faster than DSL. It is also more reliable than DSL because there are a number of factors that can interfere with the DSL connection and speed, this includes power outages, the proximity of it to power lines and distance from the internet service provider. Fiber optic does not relies on electricity and proximity to powerful electrical equipment will run little to no interference when using fiber optic internet services. 

Pricing 

With the speed of Fiber Optics, it will be understandable that it will cost more than DSL. Price may vary by the competition but choosing fiber optic over DSL won’t set you back that much more a month. 

However, DSL will be the most convenient option because it uses existing infrastructure and technology which are the telephone lines. If you need a connection more for surfing the web or sending emails than streaming movies and gaming online, DSL will be the cost effective to you.