5G vs Fiber : Which Offers Most Reliable Internet?

With the world advancing at a fast pace, industries have been facing diverse demands. The arrival of the fourth industrial revolution has welcomed huge changes in different areas like technology. There is no doubt that the world has witnessed a tremendous evolution of revolutionary technology in the last decade compared to the century.

Of the many evolutions happening in the world, the revolutionary fiber and 5G internet has been one of the significant changes to help people enjoy better data transmission and communication. These technologies are faster than the fastest things you can imagine.

However, when it is about 5G and fiber connection, you need to pay attention to a lot of other things. So in this guide, not only will we check out these two revolutionary technologies in specific but also understand the differences between both.

What is 5G?

The world has been advancing at a massive pace, and when it comes to internet connectivity, there has been a constant evolution in cellular networks. 5G, or the 5th Generation of cellular network evolution, has been the recent one. It is the cellular network that will predominate in the next few years after 4G LTE.

As we all can anticipate that 5G will be faster than its successor, which is why it gets more accessible for people to switch. 5G is way faster in terms of its upload and download speed. It can be said to be 20 times faster compared to its successor. Such a huge improvement in speed will help you to enjoy several things, like instantly downloading HD-quality movies and uninterrupted teleconferencing.

Some of the top names in the world that will offer 5G technology are Cisco, Ericsson, MAVENIR, NEC Corporation of America, and FiberHome Telecommunications Technologies.

How Does The 5G Network Work?

5G is a wireless communication system that makes use of radio frequencies for carrying information. It uses air as a medium. Similarly, 5G works, but it mostly makes use of high radio frequencies with less clutter. The reason for this is that it provides the connection to carry an improved amount of information much faster.

These are the bands that generally help in transmission, which are also known as millimeter waves or mmwaves. These remained unused but are now open to license. The public was never accustomed to using it as equipment which made them expensive and inaccessible.

There is no denying the fact that higher bands have the ability to carry improved information, but there might be some problems when it is about sending information over larger distances. There is always some probability of getting blocked by many physical objects like buildings and trees.

To make sure that these challenges do not constrain the use of internet connection, 5G mostly uses output and input antennas to boost capacity and signals through wireless networks. This next-generation connectivity will help you to connect everything from your refrigerator to your car to your smartphone without any issue. It has the ability to ensure a stable connection throughout.

This new wireless technology can support a range of devices and services. It lets you use futuristic technologies without experiencing any lag.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 5G Network

Every new technology comes with a set of advantages and disadvantages. The same goes for the new age 5G technology as well. So, let us find out some of its major benefits and drawbacks.

Advantages:

• When it comes to speed, 5G has done exceptionally well compared to its successor. It is 20 times faster than any other wireless technology.
• 5G has the ability to handle way more devices on a single network compared to other connectivity technologies.
• You might be thinking that as 5G is much faster, it would drain your battery. However, it is not the case here. With the use of 5G technology which uses IoT, it becomes more energy efficient, and your battery would last longer.
• When it comes to latency, 4G has more latency which resulted in experiencing a delay between sending and receiving. However, 5G has much lower latency compared to others.
• Compared to the current devices, which support thousands of devices every mile, 5G supports 1 million devices per square mile, making it highly efficient and much better.
• Even when you are in a car and moving at a higher speed, 5G is one such technology that stays connected every time. The reason is that this technology does not need the use of many towers to function like the earlier generations.

Disadvantages:

• Even when not, as it uses some cell towers, there are chances that you might face some issues with the successor connectivity. There are chances that it might be blocked with obstacles like trees and buildings.
• As this is still in the developing phase, it might take more time to reach everyone. Since it is a relatively new technology, the limitations are yet to be experienced.

What is Fiber Optic?

Fiber optic is the internet connectivity medium that many companies have already used. However, the concept of fiber optic internet is slightly different as it is provided by the use of a copper wire connection. The connection mainly involves data transmission by using light instead of electricity, making it one of people’s most common choices.

This internet connectivity has been built in a way with unlimited bandwidth and is known to be more reliable and preferred due to internet disconnections.

How Does Fiber Optic Work?

Fiber optic connectivity is one of the most common connectivity that has been used in modern days. In fiber optic cable, light generally travels through the fiber cable by bouncing from the walls repeatedly. Every light particle or photon works by bouncing through the pipe with a mirror-like reflection.

Generally, light travels through the cable core amid the glass structure and cable. Cladding is another glass layer wrapped across the core, keeping light signals in its core.

Comparison of 5G Network vs Fiber Optic

1. Connectivity

5G is dependable network connectivity, whereas fiber optic connectivity uses glass cables to transmit data. However, fiber cable can withstand a lot of traumas. However, 5G is entirely the opposite, as the connectivity is not properly immune to different damaging elements. When a Fiber line gets damaged, the overall network can go down until the next repair has been made.

When talking about 5G connectivity, it has the ability and incredible durability to connect a range of cell towers simultaneously. When you connect devices to different towers through radio waves, 5G can work efficiently, irrespective of the problem in individual towers. This way, you will never experience connectivity outages, even when conditions like thunderstorms.

2. Security

When it comes to safety, 5G definitely earns more points than Fiber internet. As it follows end-to-end encryption, it offers improved data protection. As Fiber internet is a wired connection, it does not rely on radio waves, making data less encrypted and less secure.

Therefore, both of these connectivity services offer user data security, but a 5G connection is more secure as it is reliable on radio waves and not wired transmission.

3. Latency

Latency is the time that data takes to travel from one point to another. It is generally measured in milliseconds. Connectivity with lower latency means faster data transmission.

When it is about 5G latency, it is something around four ms. This is what makes 5G connectivity faster to meet the growing demand while Web surfing, video streaming, and using apps from the cloud. However, it might not be able to satisfy your requirement for professional teleconferencing or online gaming.

Coming to Fiber internet, the latency is somewhere around 1 ms which makes it the perfect choice for high-end communication. Some of the major cities in the world, like New York, mostly have Fiber buildings for Stock exchange servers as they require reliable and fast connectivity.

4. Cost

The expense is another important aspect of choice. 5G technology is considered much cheaper than Fiber connectivity for distribution but can be expensive to access. Therefore, when you need more access points through a broader spectrum, 5G is a great choice, but it is definitely not reasonable for individual users.

Fiber optic connectivity is much more expensive for companies when it comes to installation, but it can be cheaper to access for customers. This internet technology helps companies make lesser maintenance expenses in the long-term and reduce costs.

5. Installation

As we all know that 5G is wireless connectivity, but it does not mean that it would not require cable installation in your home. The installation process is similar to signing for any other connectivity. You require verification from the internet service provider to get 5G connectivity at your address and pay for the equipment that requires installation outside your apartment or home. You need to fill out some paperwork and sign a contract before using the network.

Fiber optic connectivity is again more complicated than 5G when it comes to installation. If you want to enjoy Fiber internet connectivity in your home, there is a need to run fiber-optic cable from the junction box nearest to you where you would want to install it. Once done, you can easily connect other devices through Wi-Fi connections or Ethernet cables.

6. Speed

One of the biggest advantages of the recent 5G network is its speed. This is the way 5G can compete with all the older technologies. It has the ability to send faster data than 4G technology based on the cell tower, density, and coverage area. As technology has tremendously improved in the last Generation, 5G has been developed in a way with more coverage. However, it requires more towers in every square mile compared to the previous technologies.

Nevertheless, when it comes to cable optic connectivity, as it is wired connectivity, it also has excellent speed. To be more precise, 5G can provide a speed of 10 GBPS app link and 20 GBPS downlink, whereas the cable optic connection has a practical speed of around 100 GBPS.

7. Reach

Users are looking for more reachability so that it becomes easy for them to access internet connectivity. 5G technology has been designed to reach at least 100 meters. However, when it comes to fiber-optic connectivity, it can travel more than 70 km without any loss of signal strength. This is something that makes 5G faster than Fiber connectivity.

8. Climate Effect

There is always a need to consider environmental factors. As nature is one of the most prevalent things in our lifestyle, every connectivity is built by keeping in mind the diverse environmental factors. One of the prime disadvantages of 5G is that it is dependent on the over-the-air broadcast. So, like any other radio communication, environmental factors like temperature, rain, and wind can adversely affect connectivity.

But when it comes to Fiber optic connection, as it is wired connectivity that is designed by keeping in mind the diverse environmental factors, you can remain assured to enjoy uninterrupted internet connectivity, irrespective of the environmental factors.

An Overview of Both 5G and Fiber Optic Connectivity

Conclusion

So now that you have got a detailed knowledge of 5G and Fiber connectivity, it again comes to your choice. Depending on your choice, it has several benefits as it utilizes two different technologies. As modern-day businesses are known for high connectivity, using superfast connections can be beneficial to ensure seamless transactions.