Cable vs. Fiber Web: What is the Distinction?

Fiber and cable are the quickest web connection sorts, beating out speeds provided by fastened wi-fi and DSL suppliers.

There is not any query that of the 2 web connection sorts,fiber is the superior know-how. Fiber-optic traces can ship quicker obtain and add speeds utilizing the velocity of sunshine with higher reliability and fewer vulnerability to community congestion than coaxial cables.

But when we think about not simply the know-how but in addition the web suppliers that use these applied sciences, cable could also be extra favorable, notably concerning introductory pricing and web bundle choices.

On this comparability of cable versus fiber web, we’ll check out how the applied sciences stack up and what you possibly can usually count on from the suppliers.

Coaxial cables vs. fiber-optic cables

The distinction between cable and fiber web begins with how the service reaches your private home. 

Cable web makes use of coaxial cables, the identical ones that deliver cable TV to your private home. These cables encompass a stable or woven copper wire surrounded by insulating and protecting sheathings. The cables are an efficient means for transmitting numerous indicators, together with these to your web connection, however sign power and high quality can reduce with distance, interference and community congestion.

Fiber web makes use of skinny glass strands referred to as fiber-optic cables to hold information, similar to your web service, by way of gentle indicators. The know-how can carry higher quantities of information at quicker speeds than coaxial cables and can also be higher geared up to retain sign power and high quality over lengthy distances, like throughout the ocean.

The draw back of fiber-optic cables is that they’re costlier than coaxial cables, and laying new traces is a logistical problem. In consequence, cable web is way extra out there than fiber.

Let’s get into among the particulars of fiber web and cable web and the advantages, drawbacks and affordability of each.

Cable web execs

Cable web cons

• Speeds: Cable web doesn’t match the obtain velocity potential of fiber, and add speeds are considerably slower.
• Community congestion: Peak utilization instances can lead to slower speeds to the house.
• Advantageous print: That is provider-specific, however with cable web, you’re extra more likely to encounter worth hikes, information caps, gear charges and contracts.

Fiber web execs

• Speeds: Fiber is the quickest web connection sort, and add speeds can match obtain speeds.
• Reliability: Fiber-optic traces are much less inclined to community congestion and interference.
• Worth: In comparison with cable, fiber plans typically have a decrease price per Mbps, together with fewer charges and worth hikes.

Fiber web cons

• Availability: Lower than half of US residences are serviceable for fiber web, in response to current FCC information.
• Pricing: Fiber web could have the next beginning worth than cable web.
• Bundling: Few fiber suppliers additionally provide TV or different house companies, limiting the provision of web bundles.

Cable vs. fiber web availability

You’re almost twice as more likely to be serviceable for cable web than fiber web. Cable connections can be found to greater than 82% of US households, whereas fiber protection lands round 43%, in response to the FCC.

Each cable and fiber suppliers largely function in city and suburban areas, however cable typically offers extra broad and constant protection all through a given location. Fiber availability is proscribed to pick out areas in a metropolis, and serviceability could differ from one neighborhood to the following.

My hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, is an efficient instance. The primary native cable supplier, Spectrum, is offered to 93% of town’s residential addresses. Two main fiber ISPs, AT&T Fiber and Google Fiber, serve the realm, however solely round 60% of Charlotte addresses are serviceable for fiber web.

High 5 cable web suppliers by availability

High 5 fiber web suppliers by availability

In case you’re searching for cable or fiber web, you might encounter a number of of the suppliers above. Then once more, there are lots of of regional and hyper-local cable and fiber web suppliers throughout the US. The out there suppliers in your space will play a task in how a lot your web prices, what speeds you will get and different service situations.

Cable vs. fiber plans and pricing

Plan choice and pricing will differ by supplier, however cable is usually the very best supply of low cost web, at the very least for the primary yr or two of service. Cable suppliers similar to Astound, WOW and Xfinity, for instance, have introductory charges as little as $20 to $25 a month for obtain speeds starting from 150 to 300Mbps.

Fiber web is offered for $20 to $30 a month — Ziply Fiber and Frontier Fiber provide 100Mbps ($20) and 200Mbps ($30) plans, respectively — however, for probably the most half, count on to pay at the very least $40 to $50 month-to-month for service. AT&T Fiber, Quantum Fiber and Verizon Fios are $50 to $55 monthly in most areas, whereas Google Fiber’s most cost-effective plan begins at $70.

Low-cost cable web plans

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Low-cost fiber web plans

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Selecting the most cost effective web plan from a cable or fiber supplier typically means accepting the slowest speeds. As you get into quicker velocity tiers — 500Mbps to 1,000Mbps, or 1 gigabit per second — pricing is a little more evenly matched, though cable should have the benefit, relying on the supplier. 

In choose areas, Astound, Spectrum, WOW and different cable ISPs have decrease introductory pricing on gig service than you’ll discover with most fiber suppliers. Simply understand that whereas cable web’s low pricing is tempting, it could not final lengthy.

Contemplate introductory and customary pricing

Cable web could begin out cheaper, however many suppliers have steep worth will increase after the primary yr or two. Relying on the plan you select, Astound, Mediacom and Xfinity charges can improve by $30 to $50 or extra as soon as the introductory pricing expires. 

Month-to-month pricing is a little more secure with fiber web. AT&T Fiber has no set worth will increase after 12 months, Verizon Fios gives a worth assure of two to 4 years and Quantum Fiber will lock in your month-to-month price for so long as you retain your plan.

When evaluating cable and fiber web suppliers, you’ll want to consider introductory and customary charges. In case you go along with cable for the cheaper preliminary pricing, regulate your invoice and be able to change web suppliers when the promotional pricing interval ends.

Cable vs. fiber web speeds

Like pricing, out there speeds will differ by supplier, however obtain speeds will most likely be quicker with fiber. Add speeds will certainly be quicker. 

Most cable and fiber web suppliers provide obtain speeds as much as a gig. A number of cable ISPs provide speeds larger than a gig — Astound goes as much as 1.5Gbps, WOW has a 1.2Gbps plan and Xfinity stretches to 2Gbps in choose areas — however a single gig is often the usual max for cable.

With fiber web, it’s not unusual to have a single gig velocity tier, plus multi-gigabit plans with speeds of 2Gbps, 5Gbps, 8Gbps or larger out there. Ziply Fiber gives the quickest house web plan I’ve encountered with most speeds of 50Gbps, or 50,000Mbps.

Quickest cable web plans

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Quickest fiber web plans

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier information

Discover that with cable web plans, add speeds are considerably slower than downloads. That’s not essentially a giant deal as add speeds play much less of a task in our web use (my colleague, Joe Supan, notes that his cable add speeds are greater than sufficient). Nonetheless, it’s one thing to think about when evaluating cable versus fiber web companies.

Cable vs. fiber further concerns

Value and velocity are the 2 most essential elements when selecting an web supplier, however that’s not all it would be best to take note of. Charges and contracts can have an effect in your satisfaction as a buyer. Once more, these items are extra provider-specific than the know-how, however I discover fiber to be extra favorable.

Gear, information caps and contracts

Gear rental charges can simply add $10 to $15 to your month-to-month invoice, maybe extra in case you have a mesh system with a number of pods. Choose cable and fiber suppliers embrace gear rental at no additional price, however the scale tilts extra to fiber.

Astound gives free gear rental. Xfinity could embrace free gear with choose plans, in choose areas. Spectrum features a free modem lease, however renting a router for Wi-Fi will add $7 to your month-to-month web price. Cox, Mediacom and others could cost $13 to $15 to lease a gateway router. 

In distinction, AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Quantum Fiber and Verizon Fios, amongst others, provide free gear rental.

The one potential draw back to fiber is that you could be be restricted as to the place you possibly can put your router. Most properties wired for fiber have an put in ONT (the fiber model of a modem) that will not be within the finest location for a router. My ONT, for example, is hidden behind a closet panel, so my router sadly sits in a coat closet.

As for information caps and contracts, fiber suppliers are once more usually extra favorable. Almost all fiber suppliers I’ve come throughout provide limitless information and few require a contract. Cable ISPs, alternatively, usually tend to maintain you to a knowledge cap and contract with the specter of velocity throttling or added charges.

Buyer satisfaction favors fiber

One final provider-specific, cable-to-fiber comparability right here, however it’s one value noting because it provides perception to how precise prospects really feel about their service. Within the newest American Buyer Satisfaction Index report, main fiber suppliers scored larger than the large cable ISPs. 

All named fiber suppliers (except Optimum, which is usually a cable ISP and is infamous for low buyer satisfaction), scored above 70/100. The closest cable suppliers, Cox and Spectrum, got here in at 68/100. Granted, the ACSI categorizes fiber and non-fiber suppliers individually, however I might assume they’re evaluated the identical.

One other supply we like to make use of for buyer satisfaction information, J.D. Energy, paints an analogous image. In its 2023 report, a fiber supplier led in all 4 markets: Verizon (East), Google Fiber (South) and AT&T (North Central, West).

Cable vs. fiber web recap

Cable web has its benefits — availability, low introductory pricing, higher bundling choices — however fiber is the superior connection sort. Fiber web is able to quicker speeds, up and down, and is best suited to persistently ship these speeds, even throughout peak utilization instances. Relying on the out there ISPs in your space, fiber could also be a bit costlier, however the total worth can’t be beat.

Cable vs. fiber FAQs