Consumers today face numerous choices when selecting high-speed internet for their home or business. With various advertisements for internet services, the options can be overwhelming. New technologies like low-earth orbiting satellite internet are offering rural and small-town communities more choices for internet options.

While low-earth orbiting satellite technology is innovative, fiber internet offers greater quality, reliability, and speed. Fiber networks also provide benefits to local communities that low-earth orbiting satellites cannot match. Below, we discuss why local fiber internet may be a favorable choice compared to satellite and how fiber directly benefits communities.

Overview of Low-Earth Orbiting Satellite

Low-earth orbiting satellites transmit internet signals from low-orbiting satellites back to earth without relying on older materials like coaxial copper cables and telephone wires. While an improvement over older technologies, low-earth orbiting satellites have inherent flaws. For example, the quality and speed of satellite internet can be affected by weather conditions, causing slowdowns or disruptions. Additionally, the service can be expensive due to the necessary equipment and installation costs.

Fiber Internet Advantages

Speed and Reliability

Fiber internet provides faster and more reliable speeds than low-earth orbiting satellites. Fiber-optic connections offer download speeds surpassing 1 gigabyte per second and even exceeding 10GPS. Fiber also supports symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is essential for activities like video conferencing, gaming, streaming, and remote work.

Low-earth orbiting satellites, however, often face issues with inconsistent speeds, especially during peak usage hours. Fiber’s direct physical connection allows for steady speeds throughout the day, providing a more stable connection.

Lower Latency

Latency refers to the delay in transmitting data between devices. Low latency is crucial for real-time applications such as video calling, online gaming, and TV streaming. Low-earth orbiting satellites tend to have higher latency due to the distance signals must travel. In contrast, fiber internet networks offer much lower latency, ensuring faster communication between devices and a smoother experience.

Local Economic Benefits

Alpine Communications’ fiber networks involve local providers using local labor, resulting in economic investment that benefits the community. Money spent on fiber internet tends to stay within the local economy, supporting jobs and infrastructure. In comparison, subscription fees for low-earth orbiting satellite services usually go to larger, distant corporations, offering fewer direct local economic benefits.

Customer Support

Local fiber internet providers, such as Alpine Communications, offer higher levels of customer satisfaction through personalized support and responsiveness to local issues. In contrast, larger global companies like low-earth orbiting satellite providers may struggle to provide the same level of localized customer service.

Whether considering speed, reliability, economic impact, or customer support, fiber internet presents several advantages over low-earth orbiting satellites. If you have any questions about how fiber internet can benefit your home or business, Alpine Communications’ customer service professionals are available to help. Stay updated through our social pages to learn more about the Fusion fiber network.