Fiber and ADSL: FTTC, FTTH, Copper and Differences in Power and Safety
The optical fiber for the home internet connection is not always the same. Here are the differences and the quality of the signal.
In EU, in 2019, 76% of households have internet access 1 available and, in the majority of cases, it is a broadband connection. But what does broadband mean? Is your ADSL broadband or can only fiber be considered as such? Let’s find out what the difference is between the two connections and how to choose the right connection for you, also to help you interpret and evaluate the best rates and the most suitable solutions based on your use of the internet.
Differences between ADSL and Fiber
ADSL is an acronym and stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, a technology that allows you to transfer data through traditional telephone lines. The connection is considered “asymmetrical”, as understood by the acronym, because it is characterized by a difference in speed between the download (ie the moment in which data is downloaded) and the upload, ie when information is loaded on the internet. Usually, in a home use, you download mainly: mail, a film, information, images or social pages. The upload action is decidedly more obsolete and for this reason a greater bandwidth, which corresponds to more speeds, is reserved for the download than is available for the upload.
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The speed of the network can change both according to the contract, and according to the operator you decide to choose. Furthermore, the speed of the normal ADSL network also depends on:
- network traffic clogging: it could be important to know how many people are using the same network in your building or even in your street. The more people there are on the same operator and at the same time, the slower the connection will be.
- the type of modem and computer that can affect the speed of data processing and therefore also, indirectly, the speed of the connection.
- the number of applications open simultaneously. Yes, sometimes the slowness may not be the “fault” of the type of connection: if you are watching a movie, at the same time your child is following an online lesson and maybe someone else at home is playing online, it could be normal to experience a slowdown.
- the distance from the telephone exchange and the quality of the data cables: in the case of ADSL, this also makes the difference. The further away the control unit is, the lower the bandwidth will be.
Sometimes climatic interference also plays its part: if it rains a lot, for example, signal slowdowns or interruptions may occur due to damage to the network.
Due to these factors, it may happen that the speed declared by the operator in the contract may be different from the real speed.
Differences Between FTTH and FTTC
Today there are two types of fiber-based connections: FTTC (Fiber to the Cabinet) and FTTH (Fiber to the Home). The first is a combination of the old copper connections and the new ones in optical fiber, the second brings the optical fiber into the house.
In FTTC connections, the cables arriving at the roadside cabs are completely in fiber and guarantee high transmission speed and quality; the next leg towards your home or towards the building you live in is still copper so the speed may be subject to differences depending on whether the cabin is more or less close to your home. This means that the power of the link may be lower than that of the fiber, but it will still be sufficient to surf without problems, make video conferences, watch movies or follow events in streaming. A nice step forward compared to a normal ADSL line that reaches 20 Mbps, in its optimal conditions.
To avoid misunderstandings or errors, the authority for the guarantee in communications, has decided to use stickers that can help you choose between the different types of connections. In the case of the FTTC, a yellow stamp was chosen, with the initials “FR”, fiber / copper, while for the FTTH, the stamp is green and the initials “F” are present. If fiber optic cables have not yet been brought into the building where you live, then FTTC is the best compromise before the arrival of FTTH if you want to continue using the physical network, i.e. connected by cables.
Family Connected by Multiple Devices
If on the street you have seen excavations and works and wells with OpenFiber written on them, then you can count yourself lucky: the FTTH connection is close to home. OpenFiber is the company that has been chosen to build an ultra-broadband (BUL) network infrastructure entirely in FTTH (Fiber To The Home) optical fiber in all regions. Thanks to these interventions, the fiber optic connection reaches your home, without compromise or degradation.
There is also an intermediate step between the FTTC and the FTTH: the “Fiber to the Building”, FTTB. In this case, the optical fiber cables start from the transmission center and arrive at a condominium control unit, connected to the apartments with copper cables. The differences between an FTTH and FTTB link are very minimal.
Thanks to these connections, the connection arrives in your home more stable, without noticeable speed losses and with a quality that is unaffected by the traffic present on the network at that time. Furthermore, given the composition of the fiber optic cables, the risk of damage is practically minimal. The speeds that can be achieved with this type of connection go up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second), allowing you, for example, to see more events in live streaming at the highest possible quality.
Fast Surfing, Safe Surfing
Thanks to FTTC and FTTH fiber you can surf fast, but it is important to do it safely. Downloading very quickly can mean having the ability to access a lot of content but also being subject to more dangers. First of all, check beforehand if your home is covered by an efficient cable service, or, alternatively, you can try to evaluate a provider that offers you a wireless service, that is, via antenna.