Fiber and 5G are still in an early stage of development, especially with 5G which is the newbie in the Internet market. Here we are talking about the difference between 5G vs Fiber Optic (5G vs Fiber).
5G (5th generation of wireless networking) has been talking of IT world especially due to its low deployment cost and high bandwidth. In Fiber vs 5G, 5G has great potential to grow rapidly and will surely be a tough challenge for Fibre-optic communication.
What is 5G?
After the 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, 5G is the next global wireless network. 5G is the latest mobile network technology, which connects billions of people and things. In addition to machines, objects, and gadgets, 5G networks are intended to connect virtually everyone and everything.
They will provide higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra low latency, enhanced reliability, increased capacity, increased accessibility, and a more even user experience to more people. New users can benefit from higher performance and enhanced efficiency, resulting in new user experiences and new industries being connected.
Related- 5G Mobile Technology
How 5G will affect the end user?
As we have mentioned that using 5G, we can enhance our lives by getting
- faster downloads,
- lower latency, and
- more capacity and connectivity for billions of devices (especially in the fields of virtual reality, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence)
For example, you may access a variety of new and enhanced services, including near-instant access to cloud services, multiplayer cloud gaming, augmented reality shopping, real-time video translation and collaboration, and much more.
Related- 5G vs 4G
What is Fiber Optic?
Fiber optics are pure glass strands that are as thin as a human hair. Optical cables, which bundle fiber optics together, are utilized to transmit light over long distances. Optical fibers are used to send data. Long-distance and high-performance data networking is accomplished by using optical fibers that pulse light as it travels down the length of the fiber.
Is it worth using Fiber Optic?
Fiber optic communications is the most popular solution for internet communications today. Fiber optic internet is preferred by consumers because of its high speed rates. Fiber optics also have lower latency than other known technologies.
With the right conduits in place, fiber optic internet can last up to 50 years. The best part, however, is that it doesn’t cost much to replace, which is a big concern for many businesses trying to determine if it’s a worthwhile investment.
You can also watch related video for better understanding:
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Comparison: 5G vs Fiber
- In terms of technology, 5G uses radio waves for sending and receiving data while Fiber optic communication uses light to transmit data through fiber optic cables.
- Whereas 5G can have downlink speed up to the scale of 20 Gbps and 10 Gbps uplink. On the other hand, theoretical speed of Fiber Optic can reach upto 1 Petabit per second, while practical speed measured on Fiber cables is 100 Gbps.
- One major drawback with using 5G technology is that each cell/station can have expanse up to a few 100 meters while Fiber provisioned signal can reach up to 70 Kms. The signal support up to 70 KM is possible on Single Mode Fiber with special type of transceivers.
- While 5G installation cost, rollout time and cost to end-user are considerably lower than costly Fiber optic, former lags behind in terms of operational cost which is significantly higher (up to 5 times) in comparison to Fiber Optic.
- Fiber Optic also boasts of providing much lesser response time which is not the case with 5G technology.
Comparison Table: 5G vs Fiber
To summarize, the table below illustrates the comparison between 2 high bandwidth technologies i.e. 5G vs Fiber –
Download the comparison table: 5G vs Fiber Optic
Related- Dark Fiber
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being – “The more you share, the more you learn.”
I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband.
I am a strong believer of the fact that “learning is a constant process of discovering yourself.”
– Rashmi Bhardwaj (Author/Editor)
