What is Fiber to the Home

If you’re considering MEC’s high-speed fiber internet for your home or business, chances are you’ve heard us talk about Fiber to the Home (FTTH). What is it, and how is it different from other types of connections?

With older connections like DSL or cable, your data travels along copper wires, which are slower and less efficient, causing the signal to weaken. With a fiber connection, the data is instead carried by light transmitted through flexible glass filaments about as thick as a strand of hair from your head. This means fiber is many times faster than other internet types.

Another of the biggest differences is bandwidth competition. With DSL, cable, and even satellite internet, your speeds depend on what your neighbors are doing. If they’re using lots of data, you’ll notice your own connection slowing down. This is because these types of connections carry data to a central hub, or node, within your neighborhood, and then divide bandwidth among every household that’s currently online. During peak usage times, when almost everyone is online, this can present a real problem. Think of it like sharing a pie with everyone in your neighborhood: if lots of people want a slice, it won’t be long before the pieces have to be cut very small.

With FTTH, bandwidth competition is much less of a problem – you won’t notice slowdowns during peak usage times. Instead of sharing the pie with every family in the neighborhood, it feels like yours is getting the whole thing.

Some other advantages of Fiber to the Home include:

• Symmetrical download and upload speeds: Send data at the same speed you can retrieve it.
• Ideal for streaming: No buffering and can easily handle 4K UHD video.
• Ideal for gaming: Consistent data flow means no hiccups or lag.
• Easily handles several devices: Lots of devices can be online at once thanks to faster data and more bandwidth. This is especially important for larger households or smart home devices.
• Less risk of interference: Because they’re made of glass, fiber optic cables are resistant to electrical interference and surges.
• Longer projected cable lifespan: Fiber optic cables have a life expectancy of 30-50 years, several times greater than copper wires.

To check if you’re eligible for MEC’s fiber internet, or to learn more about the installation process, click below.

Eligibility

INSTALLATION