Spectrum is in fact among the largest cable internet service provider in the United States where millions of clients have access to internet service. However, the network infrastructures associated with Spectrum involve coaxial copper cables instead of the fiber optic cables.
Is fiber optic, Spectrum Internet?
In a word – no, Spectrum’s ‘baseline’ residential Internet service Provider is not; the company’s standard broadband service is provided over a fiber optic network. Nevertheless, Spectrum does provide some fiber internet services in some limited extent for commercial customers and large multi-unit residential like apartments and condos. Let's take a closer look at Spectrum's network and fiber optic options.
Spectrum's Standard Network
At present, the overwhelming majority of Spectrum’s home broadband connections is provided through hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) cable. This network exploits a hybrid of a number of optical fiber cables and regular coaxial copper cables.
The fiber optic lines stretch from the regional centers to neighborhood nodes. This constitutes the network’s ‘backbones’ to transport quickly large amounts of information over long distances.
Connecting the nodes with homes involves using coaxial cable lines for the last link. Thus the signals switch to copper coaxial cables from fiber optic lines at the neighbourhood nodes close to homes.
Now, fiber optic cabling is incorporated in some of the Spectrum’s network; however, the wires directly connected to homes are not fiber optic. This means that the majority of residential Spectrum customers are not connected to fiber internet service right in their homes.
The following are some of the benefits that are likely to be realized once fiber optic network becomes fully operational;
Fiber optic networks offer some advantages over traditional copper cable networks
1. Faster Speeds: This is due to the fact that fiber optic cables can transmit data at speeds that are far much higher than that of copper cables and has the capability of having infinite bandwidth. This means that fiber Spectrum Customer Service can attain an internet speed of more than 1Gbps.
2. Reliability: Fiber optic networks have a lower attenuation level over the same distance because of the material used, compared to copper. This causes the internet service to be more stable with less disruption as compared to the traditional approach.
3. Future-Proof: Compared to other types of networks, fiber networks provide almost unlimited potential for back haul upgrades that would allow for faster speeds in the future. Fiber speeds are only limited by the connection network equipment, not the fiber-optic cables.
Thus, for consumers who have been looking for gigabit download and upload internet, true fiber internet may be more appealing if offered in the consumer’s locality. But still, the basic offers for cable internet by Spectrum provide a rather good connection for most households.
Spectrum Fiber Options
While most residential customers don't have direct fiber optic connections from Spectrum, the company does offer some limited fiber internet services:While most residential customers don't have direct fiber optic connections from Spectrum, the company does offer some limited fiber internet services:
Business Fiber Solutions: Fiber connectivity services, up to 10Gbps and above for medium and large business persons are offered by Spectrum Business. This helps to extend the reliability and high-performance fiber to business sites located in the Spectrum region. However, its availability is restricted when compared to the cable internet service that is prevalent in the residential areas.
Apartment/MDU Fiber Internet: Spectrum now provides direct fiber connectivity from the premises to the unit for huge apartment and condo buildings in some parts of the country. Spectrum has been offering gigabit fiber speeds for residents in the properties that have agreed to participate. However, availability remains very limited at this time to the extent that a study conducted by the author found only 16 guaranteed and verifiable success stories in which all of the following factors have been met:
So in summary, Spectrum does utilize fiber cabling in certain portions of its network but, most of its residential clients are not wired directly with fiber into their premises. Spectrum mainly employs hybrid fiber-coaxial or coaxial cables for conventional internet connections that go up to 400 Mbps. Fiber connections that are provided by T-Mobile are only available for business or multi-dwelling unit residences in certain markets.
In this section, you will compare two fiber providers in your area.
A significant portion of the population still has no or limited access to fiber internet. Still, each year, more and more providers add new fiber connections to their portfolios. Therefore, you could have fiber even if Spectrum did not offer fiber to you, not forgetting that you may get fiber from other service providers.
A few companies offer fiber connectivity with the likes of Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber, or your local government fiber optic internet. Further plans should be searched, and in most cases, the provider’s website can be used to determine whether fiber optic is available at the given address.
If fiber is not available to you at the moment, Spectrum will still provide some of the best cable internet connections today. Depending on the area of the country that the customer resides in, Spectrum offers download speeds of up to 400 Mbps and can offer sufficient Internet connection for most homes to engage in activities such as streaming of HD videos and online gaming. It also keeps on expanding networks upgrading with DOCSIS 3.1 technology to handle faster internet speeds.
Spectrum’s basic network is copper coaxial cables, not fiber optics directly into homes, but they do offer gigabit service using a combination of fiber and coax technologies. What many consumers have come to appreciate today is the fact that Spectrum offers a very fast and highly responsive internet connection even when it is not a fully end-to-end fibre connection.
Call (844) 533-0888 to get a new Spectrum connection now!
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