Reliability factors into everything in your business: product, service, access, solutions, technology. You just can’t survive without it. Same goes for your internet service and your connectivity. So, if right now you’re considering different options for your business internet provider, put reliability at the top of your list.

And internet reliability means fiber. If fiber internet is available in your area, you can rely on some of the fastest upload and download speeds around and for being resilient against weather, line damage and electrical interference. Here’s how and why it all adds up.

How does fiber optic internet work?

Fiber optic lines send data back and forth as pulses of light through cables made up of tiny fibers. The technology is very efficient at speedily transmitting data at near the speed of light, and researchers regularly set new speed records for transferring data using fiber optic technology.

As a result of the demand for superior internet service for small businesses, internet service providers (ISPs) are actively expanding their fiber for business network. The expansion projects replace traditional copper line telephone service and the coaxial cables used for cable TV and internet with speedier fiber connections that can deliver gigabit internet or even faster speeds. It’s generally much faster than purely wireless connections you might get to your business. Once you install fiber internet to your business, you can generally connect to it the same way you’d connect to any other modern high-speed business internet connection, using Wi-Fi signals or wired Ethernet cables based on what’s convenient for you.

You’ll generally be able to connect a POS system, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, computers, smartphones and any other digital devices to your fiber connection and get a fast internet speed, including upload and download speeds. The high speeds means that you—and your customers—can often bring new devices onto your network as needed or use them for demanding tasks, like uploading and downloading high-quality video, without having to worry about slowing your existing devices to a crawl.

Fiber optic internet also often has lower latency, so when you visit a website or download or upload a file, it’s faster than with other types of internet connections. Both the lower latency and the higher speeds are useful for a variety of applications, including video conferencing and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone calls, where any delays or hiccups can be both noticeable and annoying to people on both sides of the call.

Availability of fiber optic internet varies by location. Talk to your ISP or to multiple providers that serve your area to see what fiber options are available in your area and if the company offers other services along with the fiber connection that might be useful, like free cloud storage or antivirus protection.

5 advantages make fiber more reliable

1. Fiber optic cable degrades less over time. Lasting longer than other types of wiring, with fiber it’s less likely you’ll need a service call to replace older cables or see your internet speeds decline as equipment ages. Even if cables are bent or damaged, they tend to suffer less signal weakening than traditional copper lines, which is one of the reasons ISPs are often phasing out older systems in favor of fiber optic connections.

2. Fiber optic cable experiences less interference. You’re less likely to see slowed internet speeds from electrical storms, nearby heavy machinery or broadcasting equipment. Interference can be annoying and slow your internet connection noticeably, yet can be hard to diagnose, especially if it only occurs sporadically under particular weather conditions or when certain machinery is operating nearby. Of course, you may still have interference with non-fiber cables inside your offices or with Wi-Fi signals between your router and devices.

3. Fiber optic cable transmits signals farther without slowing down. This can be an advantage if you’re located relatively far from your ISP’s facilities.

4. Fiber optic cable can withstand temperature differences. It’s also less affected by temperature fluctuations than traditional copper cables, so seasonal changes are unlikely to have an effect.

5. Fiber optic cable is on when the power goes out. Even if you lose power at your place of business, you may still be able to connect to the internet through your fiber optic connection. As long as there’s still electricity where your fiber connection connects to your internet provider, you’re likely to have internet service.

Of course, your router (and other devices) will still be reliant on power, but if you have generator power or battery backup, such as an uninterruptible power supply system, you’ll likely still be able to connect to the internet even after a bad storm. This can be an advantage over other types of internet connection.

Enhance the reliability of your business. Your customers have come to count on you, so it’s time you count on fiber to keep your connections running.