How fast is gigabit fiber Internet?
- A gigabit fiber Internet connection offering speeds of 1 gigabit per second, or 1 Gbps, can transmit 125 megabytes of data per second.
- A service that offers speeds of 100 Gbps can transfer data at 1.25 gigabytes per second.
- A 1 Gbps fiber Internet connection is 20 times faster than a 50 Mbps broadband connection, while a 100 Gbps fiber Internet service would provide speeds 500 times faster than a 50 Mbps broadband connection.
A growing number of businesses are abandoning slower Internet connections in favor of gigabit fiber Internet access. By transmitting data over fiber-optic cables rather than traditional copper wiring, gigabit fiber Internet services offer large businesses greater speed, more secure connections and more reliable network performance. But how fast is gigabit fiber Internet service in reality? And can organizations actually realize all the benefits that fiber Internet promises?
This article answers the question “How fast is gigabit fiber Internet?” and provides a brief comparison to broadband speeds.
How fast is gigabit fiber Internet?
The fiber cables used in a gigabit fiber Internet network are comprised of thin strands of glass that allow data to be transmitted as pulses of light rather than electrical signals. This technology enables data to travel incredibly fast—at nearly the speed of light.
How fast is gigabit fiber Internet, theoretically?
In theory, gigabit fiber Internet speed of 1 gigabit per second, or 1 Gbps, can transmit 125 megabytes of data per second. A service that offers speeds of 100 Gbps can theoretically move 12.5 gigabytes of data per second over a gigabit network.
How fast is gigabit fiber Internet in practice?
The actual speed of a gigabit fiber Internet service may be slowed by a number of factors, including:
- The network controller
- Network cabling
- Hubs, switches and routers
- Read/write speed on a hard drive
- Available memory
- Other overhead and demands on the network or on a computer system
How fast is gigabit fiber Internet when downloading files and media?
Documents, video and other large files that take 8 minutes to download over a 50 Mbps broadband connection could be downloaded in 1 second on a 100 Gbps fiber service.
How fast is gigabit fiber Internet with Spectrum Enterprise?
Spectrum Enterprise is a leading provider of fiber Internet services to many of the largest businesses in the country. Offering dedicated Internet access, affordable connectivity, and guaranteed availability through SLAs, our gigabit fiber Internet service provides bandwidth from 25 Mbps to 100 Gbps, delivering the scalability that organizations need to meet evolving business requirements.