Most people know fiber internet is the fastest available. Its fiber-optic technology transfers data at near-light speed, making streaming movies in 4K or sharing bandwidth with your family a breeze.
But fiber is also more reliable than other kinds of internet, especially in severe weather. Legacy internet connections (think older systems like cable, DSL, satellite, and wireless) just cannot compete with fiber’s speeds or reliability. Because of their structural differences and even the way they’re deployed and installed, those older technologies are far more susceptible to outages due to inclement weather.
At Chariton Valley, we’re proud to deploy fiber* for its reliability and a host of other reasons. Read on to better understand why fiber is unaffected by most weather conditions.
Buried Fiber Lines Are Not Directly Exposed to Most Weather Threats
Unlike other internet technologies, Chariton Valley fiber lines are buried underground. This means your fiber connection is hidden away from wind, ice, and other weather impacts. Plus, fiber is far less prone to service disruptions from dramatic fluctuations in cold or hot weather because the ground helps insulate the fiber lines from extreme temperatures.
Fiber Is Far Less Susceptible to Electromagnetic Interference
Another significant advantage of fiber is the composition of the materials it uses, which makes it much less susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI occurs when an outside source, anything from a household appliance to nearby construction work, interrupts the normal flow and transmission of electrical signals.
Bad weather can cause EMI, too, especially when lightning strikes wreak havoc on electrical systems. For internet users, EMI can lead to service disruptions, slowdowns, distortions, or even crashes of your internet.
Unlike fiber, cable internet uses coaxial cable, which is comprised of a metal-based (copper) wire. Copper-based coaxial cable can be easily influenced by nearby electromagnetic energy, including some very common sources that are probably in your home. These include household items like microwave ovens, but also nearby power lines and even electrical motors.
Rather than relying on copper wires, fiber-optic lines consist of many tiny “hairs” of thin glass, which transmit internet signal at nearly the speed of light. Thus, because it is composed of glass (rather than metal), fiber internet is far less sensitive to EMI.
Light Is Flexible
Most people think of downed power lines and extreme temperatures as the causes of weather-based internet problems. But extreme precipitation or flooding can sometimes cause cable lines to bend. That crimping harms the copper wiring within and can slow or even stop the flow of internet signal to your home.
Fiber-optic lines can bend more easily. Unless the fiber connection is physically cut, you shouldn’t lose internet signal due to any unforeseen bending of your lines from harsh weather.
From the way fiber can be buried in the ground to the quality of its materials and components, fiber internet is just more reliable than other internet technologies.
For more information about Chariton Valley fiber, click here or contact us.
*Not available in all areas. Contact us for complete details.
