Exploring the Key Differences: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
The Distinct Worlds of 5G and Fiber Internet
Fiber internet and 5G cellular internet are two of the most advanced connectivity technologies, rapidly becoming more accessible to American consumers and providing high-speed internet access to millions of Americans who previously had very few connectivity options. 5G and fiber internet are very different technologies, but both offer advantages and disadvantages for consumers and for carriers who want to provide these services.
Choosing which service is right for you can be a challenge, especially when tech influencers and advertisements use confusing terminology. Today, we’ll examine some of the key differences between 5G and fiber internet, their similarities and the challenges of bringing each of these technologies to the doors of Americans across the country—as well as how these problems can be overcome to bridge the digital divide.
Here is everything you need to know about 5G vs. Fiber Internet:
Technology Fundamentals: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
You’re probably familiar with 3G and 4G cellular services, which use radio waves to transmit information. 5G, the abbreviation for the fifth generation of cellular technology, offers significant improvements over the previous 4G (fourth generation) and 3G (third generation) service standards. 5G uses shorter radio signals than its predecessors, so new, small cell towers are being built across the country to accommodate the surging demand for the faster speeds, lower latency and improved network consistency offered by 5G connections.
5G towers can be put up reasonably quickly in a wide variety of environments, making it a great choice for people who live in areas that are hard to serve with traditional wired internet connections. 5G also works better in crowded areas than previous cell technology, allowing cellular providers to build in dense urban environments or areas where crowds will gather, such as stadiums.
5G in-home internet plans available from major carriers average less than 300 Mbps download and 15-30 Mbps upload. To read more about the speeds associated with 5G in-home internet, read our blog 5G vs. Fiber: Which is faster?
Fiber internet may be slightly less familiar to many people than the technology behind cell phones, as fiber is traditionally less ubiquitous than cellular service. Unlike 5G, fiber internet uses pulses of light to transmit information along glass cables.
Fiber internet is extremely fast, with providers like EPB in Chattanooga offering speeds of up to 25 Gbps to your home or business. Unlike 5G and other forms of internet service, fiber offers symmetrical speeds, which means your upload speeds will be the same as your download speeds. This makes fiber internet an excellent great choice for people who work or go to school at home, or people who need to upload large files, such as photographers.
However, fiber internet requires more time and money to build out than 5G, so it may only be available in some areas. Once available at your home or business, it’s easy to scale up based on your needs or budget when you need a higher bandwidth solution.
Speed and Latency: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
The latency of 5G is much lower than previous generations of cellular connectivity, which is helpful for applications such as video calling or online gaming that could be affected by a lag in information transmission. While 5G theoretically offers speeds of up to 10 Gbps, providers in 2024 offer plans with up to 1 Gbps download speeds. The upload speed on these plans is usually significantly lower than the download speed, which can be a problem if you need to upload large amounts of information.
5G speeds can also be affected by the amount of traffic on the network, such as in urban environments where many people are on their cell phones while using 5G home internet at the same time. However, despite these limitations, 5G internet provides much faster speeds than some forms of internet, making it an attractive alternative in areas where these legacy products are the majority of what is available.
5G is also being explored for a variety of applications that require mobile connectivity, such as autonomous vehicles and Smart City infrastructure. This is due to 5G’s wide range of coverage and the fact that it does not require cables to work—only a clear line of sight to whatever it is connected to.
Fiber internet offers much higher theoretical speeds than 5G, but most service providers offer bandwidths of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 10 Gbps. Some regional providers offer higher speeds than this for residential and business customers.
Companies choosing to purchase direct internet connections can usually find connections with even higher bandwidths. Fiber is less likely to experience interference from the environment or network congestion than 5G. The combination of higher bandwidths and very low latency make fiber an ideal choice for people who love gaming or streaming, who work or take classes from home or for businesses that rely on their internet connection.
Reliability and Coverage: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
Fiber and 5G are both relatively new types of internet compared to legacy systems, such as cable internet. Because of this, their coverage may not be as widespread as more traditional types of internet services.
However, 5G is rapidly expanding and will soon cover most of the country, making it an accessible option for people who do not have access to other types of internet service beyond satellite. Fiber internet has also had a boom over the past few years, and continues to expand as companies prepare their networks for the future using this scalable, high-bandwidth technology. Fiber may not be available in rural areas or locations with especially difficult-to-navigate terrain.
Coverage isn’t the only consideration when choosing an internet provider, although it is one of the most important ones. Another thing to think about when choosing your internet service is reliability, because what good is an internet connection if you’re not able to use it? Wired connections, such as fiber, tend to have the lowest latency and are generally not affected by things like bad weather or seasonal changes.
5G, on the other hand, offers low latency (especially when compared to previous generations of cellular wireless internet) but is affected by distance from the cell tower, network congestion and obstacles between your home and the cell tower. That means that if you live far from the cell tower and there are quite a few trees in between, you may suffer service quality decline in the summer when the trees are covered in leaves, but get better service in the winter when there is no foliage in the way.
Both 5G and fiber internet are scalable solutions, which means more infrastructure can be built to meet changing needs as more people and systems come online. However, fiber internet offers higher bandwidths and much faster upload speeds, which is important for gaming and streaming performance, working from home and future technology like VR.
Installation and Accessibility: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
Getting internet at home can be a confusing process, and it can be tedious to try to find an install time that matches both your schedule and the availability of the provider. Check out this video from the EPB Tech ProsSM to learn about essential questions you should ask a potential ISP: Major Questions to Ask Before Signing With an Internet Provider.
One of the first steps to any internet service installation is to ensure the technology is available in your area. Luckily, most providers have a tool on their website that will allow you to input your address and determine whether or not service is available in your area. Depending on the provider, you may pay an installation fee on your first bill.
If you do not already have fiber in your neighborhood, it can be a time-consuming and costly process for providers to bring the fiber to your door. Due to this, fiber build-outs often take several years, so even if fiber internet is available in your city, it may not be available at your home immediately. Your internet provider will usually let you know once the fiber has been built near your address and you can take advantage of the technology.
Once the fiber is installed in your area, it’s time to set up an appointment to have the fiber brought to your home and equipment installed inside. You will be provided an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and, depending on your provider, a router for Wi-Fi. Some providers provide a router for free, while others may offer routers as an add-on service or require you to provide your own.
With 5G internet, you will also need to check the provider’s website to ensure that you have adequate coverage in your area. Most 5G internet companies will deliver or mail your new 5G home internet equipment to your home for self-install.
You will use an app on your cell phone or other mobile device to guide you through the self-install process, which generally takes 30 minutes or less. The app will help you choose the best spot to set up your new cellular router, and will walk you through the activation process. One downside of 5G internet is that you generally cannot bring your own router, so if you are a heavy gamer or especially security-minded, you may not have the equipment that best matches your needs.
No matter which option you choose, the infrastructure being created by companies bringing fiber and 5G internet to more homes will significantly decrease the digital divide. Access to the internet is more important than ever due to changing work styles and the rise of online schooling, as well as the increase of online bill pay and shopping. 5G and fiber internet both allow people to take advantage of high-speed broadband.
Cost Considerations: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
When it comes to price, fiber internet and 5G can be very competitive. In some areas, fiber may be a pricier choice, usually due to the higher bandwidths and symmetrical speeds as well as the cost of providing the fiber infrastructure. 5G can be a cheaper option, especially in areas where fiber is newer or you need to pay to bring it all the way to your home. As the equipment is included in most 5G internet plans, this can be a cost-savings as well.
Both fiber and 5G are usually provided without the need for a contract, which can be helpful as you are not locked into any service for any amount of time. This allows you to upgrade or change your plans with no repercussions. Both 5G and fiber internet plans can usually be bundled with other services such as cell phone or TV, which can help you save money.
Although fiber internet has a reputation for being more expensive than other types of service, this is not necessarily true. In many cases, fiber internet is as affordable or more affordable than other similar services offered in the area. As more services are provided in an area, prices change to become competitive for all types of services, giving customers more options and allowing you to choose the best internet for you based on service quality and speed rather than focusing on the cheapest option.
Future Prospects and Use Cases: 5G vs. Fiber Internet
5G and fiber internet are two technologies that are bringing connectivity into the future. While 5G connectivity focuses on mobile technologies, fiber internet can provide a backbone structure for a variety of high-bandwidth activities that may develop over time, such as quantum computing and AI.
When looking to the future, 5G is known for its ability to create improved connectivity in smart cities, with autonomous vehicles, and in areas that require internet only during some times of the year, such as event grounds. Fiber, on the other hand, is looked to as a future-proof connectivity solution for high-bandwidth activity that may be developed as computing power continues to grow and more of our lives move online.
In the future, 5G may be powering Internet of Things (IoT) devices that bring sensor data back to a main network for a smart city deployment. From weather data to traffic information, this can be used to make cities more eco-friendly, better for pedestrians, and generally more efficient.
Fiber will continue to power utilities and industries, where applications like VR and smart controls will help reduce load on power grids across the country, develop new technology in theory before it is built in practice, and allow applications like telemedicine to be extended far beyond their current capacities. While consumers tend to think of 5G and fiber internet as competitors for their home network, the future will bring us complex interconnections between network types, allowing the internet to improve our lives in ways we didn’t think possible.
Choosing Between 5G and Fiber Internet
Choosing your home internet can be difficult with more players in the market. Knowing and understanding the benefits and coverage of each technology can help you make an informed decision to power your home network.
When you are determining what internet solutions best fit your needs, be sure to consider both upload and download speeds, latency and future technology that you may want to take advantage of. While you may not be vying for a VR headset today, it’s important to remember how quickly devices like cell phones and Wi-Fi home security cameras come into play, bringing higher bandwidth needs and requiring stronger Wi-Fi connections than in years past.
5G is more widespread than fiber right now, making it a more accessible choice for many people. Combined with the low price point and included equipment, 5G can be a good choice, especially for those who want to purchase their internet from the same provider they use for their cell phones.
However, people who need higher upload speeds, those who live in dense multi-dwelling units, and those who live far away from cell towers or in areas with poor visibility to the tower may see their online experience suffer.
In areas where fiber internet is available, the network reliability and internet speeds are unparalleled. While some providers include a router in the cost of service, you may want or need to rent one from the provider or purchase your own, which may increase the cost of service when compared to 5G internet.
However, fiber internet often provides the best value for the amount of bandwidth you receive, which can make a difference in your gaming or streaming experience. Customers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, can get EPB’s fiber to the home internet to power all their connected devices, starting at $57.99 a month.
Over the next few years, 5G and fiber internet are likely to intersect when providing your home or company internet. 5G can serve as a backup for fiber internet when natural disasters like severe storms damage fiber optic infrastructure. Likewise, fiber infrastructure may be used to connect the fixed wireless towers that deliver 5G internet. These technologies are rapidly converging to keep us all connected and create the internet infrastructure of the future.
