Cable Internet vs. Fiber – Which One Should You Choose?

I have been using cable internet for a solid ten years. However, some time ago, I moved to a new city and switched to an internet provider offering fiber connectivity. Honestly, the upgrade has blown my mind. The symmetrical speeds and reliability are top-notch.

That said, cable internet still has its strengths. Though it isn’t as fast as fiber internet, it offers nationwide availability, affordable plans, and reliable connectivity.

Both fiber and cable internet are likely the fastest and most reliable connection types available today. And, having tons of experience with using both options, why don’t I explain how they differ? Starting from how they work, I’ll also share the pros and cons of both connection types. So, without further ado, let’s get started:

Technology Behind Cable and Fiber Internet

I mentioned earlier that cable internet has nationwide availability. Well, let me tell you why: Cable internet makes its way to our house via the coaxial wires. It’s the same technology that is used to deliver cable TV services. Since it was quite popular before the streaming and OTT platforms, cable internet has around 82% nationwide availability[LS1]  in the US (Source: CNET).

As for fiber internet, it uses fiber optics, a newer technology than coaxial wires. The internet signals inside the fiber optics move in the form of light. And, since the internet signals move at such a rapid pace, fiber internet exclusively delivers symmetrical speeds, i.e., similar upload and download speeds.

Also, fiber internet has only 43% nationwide availability[LS2]  in the US. Although fiber internet’s infrastructure is still expanding, it’s a costly business to lay down fiber optic cables that are quite sensitive and prone to damage.

How Cable and Fiber Internet Work

Cable and fiber internet are wired connections. And, despite their differences in technologies, both connection types work similarly.

This is how they work: the internet signals move through the respective medium, i.e., coaxial wire or fiber optics. These wires are connected to the modem in our homes. The modem receives the internet signals and converts them into usable internet for our electronic devices.

Then, a modem sends those internet signals to a router, which distributes them to our electronic devices.

Speeds Offered by Cable and Fiber Internet

Fiber internet takes the cake when it comes to speeds. The similar upload and download speeds offered by this connection type enhance the user online experience. Generally, fiber internet plans offer symmetrical speeds from 100Mbps to 50,000Mbps[LS3]  (thanks to Ziply Fiber!).

For bandwidth-heavy users who frequently stream content in HD, play online games, or download heavy files, fiber internet is the best choice.

On the other hand, cable internet offers upload speeds from 10Mbps to 200Mbps and download speeds from 100Mbps to 2,000Mbps[LS4] . Being a former cable internet user, I believe these speeds are pretty decent for most online activities.

However, one of the major disadvantages of cable internet is that nearby users share bandwidth. Cable internet providers might throttle your bandwidth during peak hours to manage network traffic.

Cable and Fiber Internet Pricing

In my experience, fiber internet costs more than cable internet. Generally, cable internet plans start from $15 and go up to $120 per month. On the other hand, fiber internet plans start from $20 and can reach a whopping $900 per month.

That said, a major reason why fiber internet is relatively expensive than cable is its infrastructure. Laying fiber optics cable comes with a higher initial cost, which is often reflected in its plans.

As for cable internet, there might be minimal costs (or even waived!) since it already has a wide infrastructure available in most parts of the country.

That said, despite being costly, fiber internet plans are uncapped. And, most fiber internet providers do not bind their customers to a contract, which I believe is a major perk for customers.

Pros and Cons of Cable and Fiber Internet

There’s no question that cable and fiber internet are the two best connection types available today. However, both connections have some downsides as well, which I’ll explain below.

Cable Internet

Fiber Internet

Final Verdict

So, if you ask me, I’ll always prefer fiber over cable internet. However, that doesn’t make cable internet inferior because it can also offer pretty good and reliable speeds.

Also, I believe cable internet automatically becomes the best connection when fiber isn’t available in your area. So, if fiber internet is available near you, and you can easily afford it, then go for it. Otherwise, you can stick to cable internet, as it has nationwide availability and can offer solid speeds at affordable rates.

To explore more options beyond cable and fiber, check out our complete guide on Internet Connection Types

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