An in-depth technical comparison of fiber-optic and coaxial cable broadband infrastructure.
Learn how data transmission via light through glass strands provides symmetrical speeds and higher bandwidth, and explore the interference and capacity limits of copper networks.
How the two technologies work
Fiber optics transmit data in the form of light through thin glass fibers, while wired networks use copper wires and transmit data via electricity. This difference makes wired networks more susceptible to interference from moisture or extreme weather conditions.
In terms of performance, fiber optics support much higher data traffic and are not affected by the limitations that cable networks have when many users share the same line. In addition, fiber optics offer symmetrical speed, meaning that the upload speed of files is the same as the download speed, which is not the case with cable internet.
Availability and cost
According to data from the Fiber Broadband Association, by September 2025, over 60% of American households had access to fiber optics. At the same time, according to the FCC, 96,9% of citizens are covered by fixed broadband internet at basic speeds.
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Prices vary by provider. For example, Google Fiber offers a 1 Gbps connection for $70 per month, a 3 Gbps package for $100, and 8 Gbps for $150. Xfinity, on the other hand, offers cable internet at speeds of 300 Mbps for $45 per month, 500 Mbps for $60, and 1 Gbps for $70, with a five-year lock-in period.
What equipment is needed?
Fiber requires a special termination device, which is usually included in the equipment provided by the provider. Conversely, if there are no wired options in the area, an alternative is wireless internet via fifth-generation mobile networks, although it usually offers slower speeds and higher latency.
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