Why Fiber Optic Internet is Not a Viable Option for Many Rural Americans

Many individuals in urban and suburban America have enjoyed the benefits of fiber optic Internet for decades. Fiber optic Internet has been prized for its speed and reliability, with many fiber optic Internet providers yielding speeds of 1Gbps. The secret to its effectiveness lies in the thin strands of glass it uses to transmit data, which gives it capabilities that surpass the electric cables many mainstream Internet service providers use. Because of its unparalleled data transfer specs, fiber optic Internet is considered one of the best types of Internet service on the market.

However, many residents of rural areas do not have the privilege of experiencing what makes fiber optic Internet so impressive. Fiber optic is not yet available in all 50 states, and for the most part, rural communities do not have the infrastructure necessary to support fiber optic Internet for rural areas. Instead, rural residents have relied on relatively outdated rural Internet service providers such as dial-up and DSL Internet.

Despite this digital divide, many Internet providers have leveraged new technologies to provide rural residents with high-speed, high-performance Internet service that can supply advantages comparable to the perks offered by fiber optic Internet. For example, unlimited 4G rural Internet providers such as UbiFi are capable of providing fast speeds and low latency. This makes UbiFi and its mobile Internet cohorts ideal for activities such as rural gaming. In addition to mobile Internet providers like UbiFi, satellite Internet providers such as Starlink are also capable of providing high-speed Internet service, albeit with a few latency issues because of the distance satellite signals need to travel. Be sure to do your research before choosing the Internet provider that is right for your needs.