Is Fiber or Cable Internet Better for Remote Work?

If you’re planning to work remotely, one of the most important things you need to decide is the type of internet you plan to use, because this choice can greatly impact your productivity, efficiency, and ability to communicate with your team. 

After looking through some of the best internet providers in America, I’ve noticed that many of the major ones offer two options: fiber and cable. 

This begs the question: which one should you use? That’s exactly what I’m here to explore. 

I’ll start by first sharing what both these internet types are, before I move to the pros and cons of both to help you make the choice that’s well-suited to your remote work needs. 

Let’s begin!

What are Fiber and Cable Internet? 

Cable internet is a type of internet connection that uses copper coaxial cables from a television network and a modem to translate the electrical signals into internet signals that devices can use.  

Fiber internet, on the other hand, converts digital data into light signals and transmits them to your devices using thin and flexible glass or plastic cables called fiber optic cables.

Now that you have an idea of what both of these internet types are and how they work, let’s explore how each of them performs. I’ve compared them on the 5 factors below:

• Speed 
• Bandwidth
• Reliability
• Coverage
• Cost vs. Value

Speed

When it comes to speed, fiber internet outmatches cable internet. This is because it uses light signals to transfer data, and light travels at a much faster speed than the electrical signals that cable internet uses, and is also more resilient against interference. 

All this can prevent lag or data loss through different use cases, such as gaming, streaming, and working remotely. 

Cable internet also offers decent speeds, but it falls short in maintaining its speeds when the network faces a large number of users at the same time. This can potentially lead to bandwidth division, which in turn leads to slower speeds compared to fiber internet.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that an internet network can transfer at any given time, and the higher it is, the better. Fiber internet once again offers a much greater bandwidth compared to cable. 

This is because of two main reasons. One, light pulses can transfer more data per second compared to electrical signals. Two, fiber optic cables are designed to carry a high number of light pulses, leading to a greater bandwidth. 

Cable internet has a lower bandwidth since copper cables are more prone to damage and electromagnetic interference, which can either reduce the amount of data being transferred or result in a loss. Another reason is, as I mentioned earlier, the bandwidth division when there’s an increased number of users.

Reliability

Reliability refers to how consistently you can use an internet connection, and you may have guessed by now that fiber internet wins this one, too. 

This can once again be attributed to fiber cables being more resilient to electromagnetic interference, as well as extreme weather conditions. Fiber internet can also cover a greater area compared to a cable network, which can ensure a consistent work experience.

Even though cable internet has a decent degree of reliability, it falls short in front of fiber because copper cables can only cover a small distance before losing their quality. Additionally, being prone to interference and damage can also reduce their reliability. Finally, the bandwidth division means you face drops in speed and performance when working. 

Coverage

Fiber internet is not as readily available everywhere, and you can find providers mostly in urban settings. That being said, the fast speed, high bandwidth, and higher reliability are creating an increased demand for this type of internet. 

Who knows? We may soon see it expanding to rural areas as well. 

Till then, cable internet can be a decent option for people living or working remotely from such areas. While definitely not at the same level, it can still offer a decent quality, reliable, and easily available solution to support the work model. 

Cost vs. Value

And we’re down to the final showdown, cost vs value. The speed and reliability of fiber internet can come with a hefty price tag, but you may find it worth the money when it comes to the efficiency it can add to your workflow. 

Another cost that you’re probably going to face is professional installation, since fiber cables are delicate. This also means a higher setup time. 

Cable internet is much easier to set up, and you can also turn it into a DIY project, saving time and money in the process. To top that, most cable internet plans are also much more cost-effective and, as mentioned earlier, more easily available compared to fiber plans.

Fiber vs. Cable – You’re the Jury and the Judge

Even though fiber outperforms cable internet in terms of speed, bandwidth, and reliability, the choice between the two still depends on your remote work needs. 

If you’re in a fast-paced job where you always need to be online, fiber internet might be a good choice if you can afford it. 

Whereas if you’re looking for a simpler, cost-effective solution that can offer just the right amount of speed and reliability, cable internet should do the trick.