As compared to other types of internet connections, fiber optic internet connection allows a faster upload speed, even sometimes at par with the download speed. Fiber optic internet connection is much faster, reliable, and durable than the other types of internet connections.
Xfinity internet plans offer a variety of packages to their users that they can choose from based on their requirements. Their basic package includes 50 Mbps download speed with a 5 Mbps upload speed, which is more than the usual minimum requirement for a good upload speed. The premium package has a much higher upload speed, although it is a bit pricier. The premium package has the same upload speed and download speed, which is perfect for internet users who do not prefer longer uploading times.
Upload Speed
Upload speed refers to the speed that your internet connection allows for data to be sent from your devices to the internet. That data includes uploading files on the internet such as photos or videos or homework assignments. Going into video conferencing, VOIP calling, and online gaming also depend on the upload speed. For instance, the quality of your video call, how others see you or hear you, buffering or frozen screen, is affected due to your upload speed.
The minimum requirement for upload speed
The FCC or Federal Communications Commission, an agency in the US that manages communication over radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable, has put in a minimum requirement for uploading speed as 3 Mbps. Skype and Zoom recommend having an upload speed of at least 2 Mbps for a good video call, and even more for group conferencing. However, these are only the minimum requirement for an upload speed and it’s better to have a faster one to benefit from.
Upload speeds are normally less than download speed – why?
Download speed is the amount of time it takes for data to travel from the internet to your devices. Download speeds are typically a lot faster than upload speeds, and the reason is that internet users consume more data than they produce: they transfer data from the internet to their computer more than they transfer from their computer to the internet. Consequently, internet service providers (ISPs) then decide that internet users do not need to use a lot of upload bandwidth, which is why download speeds are much higher than the upload speeds.
If you have a fiber optic internet connection, you are likely to have a faster upload speed.
Fiber Optic internet
Fiber optic internet connection allows the transmission of information in the form of light, instead of electricity, delivered through fiberglass core. The light signals are transferred in the form of binary, 0 or 1 in such a way that the presence of light indicates binary one and the absence refers to binary 0. Other types of internet connections use copper cables which is a slower way of transferring information. Another problem with an internet connection with copper wire is that transmission of information gets worse the longer the distance is. Hence if the farther away from your ISP you are, the slower is your internet. But that is not the case with a fiber connection. Having a connection made of fiber provides faster data transfer leading to faster load times, high-quality streaming, and less buffering.
Types of Fiber optic internet
There are three types of fiber internet and each of them has its unique characteristics.
- FTTH or FTTP stands for fiber to the house or premise and it refers to the fiber connection to your home. If there are no fiber connections set up to your home, ISPs will drill holes or dig up to create one for you.
- Fiber to the curb or FTTC is the one that goes to the nearest utility box, which then connects to your home via coaxial cables (made up of part fiber optic cables).
- Fiber to the node or neighborhood or FTTN is the connection that is transmitted to hundreds of customers within the radius of the node. The connection from the node to your home is the existing telephone or cable line. With this kind of internet connection, your internet connection gets distorted depending on how far your home is from the node.
Downloading and Uploading speed on Fiber
The best part about a fiber optic internet connection is that the upload speed is the same as the download speed. This will help in activities that require uploading data such as video calls, uploading heavy documents, pictures, and videos, and online gaming. Most of the internet service providers in the US do not have their upload speed as the same as download speed, but keeping in mind the minimum requirement for upload speed, 10 Mbps would be more than enough.
If you are looking for a good upload speed, you will need to find an internet service provider that is offering the same in their internet packages. You will not only get a faster upload speed but also a faster downloading speed.