Internet connection speed and reliability are essential factors for businesses of all sizes and industries.
If a disruption in our home connection does not allow us to watch the movie or game on our favorite streaming platform, we will experience an unpleasant feeling of frustration. We will probably look among other operators’ offerings. But we will not suffer economic losses.
Let us now imagine the effects of the same disservice within a company. Between cloud storage or video surveillance, streaming video conferencing, sending large files, or managing logistics with Iot, the economic damage of a week without connection is quite obvious.
Which connection should you choose for your business?
With the evolution of connection technologies, there are several options to choose from to ensure a high-quality Internet experience for your business.
Among connection types,FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet) has been the most popular solution so far. For areas not covered or poorly covered by operators, it was more like the only solution.
However, there are some important differences between FTTC and FTTH (Fiber to the Home), which are often not clearly explained.
FTTC uses a combination of fiber optic and copper cable to bring the Internet connection from the telephone exchange to the cabinet closest to the company’s location. The signal is then transmitted to the building via the existing copper cable. In other words, the fiber optic cable extends only to the cabinet and not to the company’s building.
This means that the actual connection speed could be limited by the quality of the copper cable used and the distance between the cabinet and the company building. In addition, the connection could be affected by electromagnetic interference caused by other devices connected to the copper cable.
FTTH, on the other hand, brings the Internet connection to the company’s building via fiber optics. This means that there is no electromagnetic interference or speed loss due to the distance between the cabinet and the company building.
In addition, FTTH offers higher speeds than FTTC. While FTTC in fact can reach a maximum download speed of 300 Mbps, FTTH can easily exceed 1 Gbps. Important to remember that the actual speed will depend on the terms of service offered by your Internet Service Provider.
Because if there is copper … it is not real fiber optics
It is important to note that if there is copper in the connection, it cannot be called true fiber optics. FTTC uses a combination of fiber optic and copper cable to bring the Internet connection from the telephone exchange to the cabinet closest to the business location, but the signal is then transmitted from the cabinet to the business location via the existing copper cable.
This means that, in reality, FTTC cannot be considered a true fiber connection, but rather a transitional solution that still uses the old copper cable to transmit the signal. In other words, FTTC is still constrained by the inherent limitations of copper, such as electromagnetic interference.
In contrast,FTTH exclusively uses fiber optics even from the cabinet to the company’s building, ensuring maximum connection speed and reliability.
FTTH therefore is the ideal solution for companies (and all business users in general), who need the assurance of a fast and reliable Internet connection and continuous service. In particular, companies that depend on online applications and services, such as cloud computing, video conferencing, VoIP, and real-time data transmission, without an FTTH connection will not be able to compete on a level playing field in the market.
In addition, companies wishing to expand their operations nationally or internationally will have more opportunities for growth with FTTH. Fast and reliable connectivity can improve collaboration among geographically distributed teams and communication with customers and business partners around the world.
This is why we read “real fiber”: ultrabroadband is not all fiber
Although FTTC is still considered ultra-broadband, to distinguish it from all-copper connections, this mixed solution cannot ensure performance comparable to that of an all-fiber network.
While, therefore,FTTC may be a sufficient solution for households, with its associated connection needs, FTTH is a superior option, offering significant advantages for businesses that wish to be truly competitive in the marketplace.
IT managers in the company should carefully assess the internet connection needs and choose the most suitable solution for the type of business, with an eye on possible future developments as well.
If your business is located in an area covered by the FTTH network, you should seriously consider this option to take full advantage of the benefits of fiber optics.
It is crucial to remember that the Internet connection is not just a cost item, but is one of the supporting assets of business efficiency. A fast and reliable connection has repercussions on both productivity and time reduction, but above all, it allows improving the quality of services offered to customers.
Choosing a high-quality Internet connection such as FTTH, true fiber, offers a long-term competitive advantage.