Fiber Optics and 5G are still in their early stages of development, especially 5G, which is a relative newcomer in the Internet market. We are comparing 5G and Fiber Optic (5G vs Fiber) in this article.
Due to its low deployment costs and high bandwidth, 5G (5th generation of wireless networking) has been making headlines in the IT world. Fibre-optic communications face a very difficult challenge in 5G due to its great potential for rapid growth.
Fiber optics is a type of communication that transmits data by using light instead of radio waves. While 5G can boast downlink speeds of up to 20 GB/s and uplink speeds of up to 10 GB/s, practical speeds measured on fiber optic cables range from 100 GB/s to 1 Gbps.
The 5G technology has a major disadvantage in that each cellular cell can cover an area of a few hundred meters, whereas a fiber-provisioned signal can cover an area of 70 kilometers. Though 5G installation, deployment time, and end-user costs are considerably lower than Fiber optics, the latter has significantly higher operating costs (up to five times as much) than 5G. In addition, fiber optics boasts a much faster response time than 5G technology.
So, which one do you think is better? Do not panic. You do not have to decide right now. We will go through the advantages and disadvantages of both so that it is easier for you to choose one according to your needs and budget.
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Back to the fiber vs. 5G battle.
Why Fiber Optics is the Better Choice?
Despite all the hype around 5G, fiber optics may be a better solution in the following circumstances:
- Security is a major benefit of fiber optics. In order to secure IoT data that traverses area networks, fiber optics is the clear winner since you cannot tap into the glass strands within the cable.
- Fiber also outperforms copper for long distances, as mentioned. If you need to send streams of sensory data to a centralized location from a remote weather station, fiber optics is the obvious choice. There is little logic in littering rural landscapes with 5G antennas and towers.
- When it comes to cell technology, latencies have been and continue to be a challenge. For low latency performance, fiber optics is the ideal solution.
- Urban environments can also pose challenges for 5G, despite its strong presence in cities today. Because of this, 5G cannot easily travel through thick foliage or physical barriers. The cost of putting a cable through highly obstructive environments may make fiber a better choice.
Why is 5G the Better Choice?
- Can 5G be used in IoT environments? Of course, it can. Firstly, there are environments where fiber optic cable cannot be implemented. However, challenges go beyond topography and environmental conditions. No matter how slow or slow 5G is, it still cannot be beaten when it comes to high capacity and mobility.
- In cases where there is a vast collection of devices that need to exchange data, 5G is the best option. There is no physical connection needed. Switches and racks are not required. As effortless as Wi-Fi, 5G has better speed and responsiveness. Imagine a factory with hundreds of sensors that traverse the production line. A large number of high-definition video cameras is another example. 5G’s blanket coverage will be crucial to autonomous vehicles as well.
Collaboration Rather Than Competition
The use of fiber optic cable networks in conjunction with 5G wireless is the fastest way for businesses to increase their internet speeds. Due to the rapid growth in devices and data over the years, advancements in technology have allowed faster internet connections than ever before. In spite of the fact that we love to pit technologies against one another, they really should work in tandem.
That is because fiber optics are essential for 5G. While there are densely populated areas with 5G coverage in many urban cities, these towers still require fiber optic cables to get their data to the next high-density region. These two transmission methodologies will remain intertwined until 5G proliferates much more.
During the original installation of fiber, additional lines were often installed but not activated in order to prepare for future growth. By adding fiber to the network, a provider can expand network data capacity as we mentioned earlier. This can be done by “lighting” the existing fiber with an optical signal.
In addition to providing the mobile companies with a reliable network backbone, this will increase their bandwidth and enable them to implement and use 5G wireless technology faster.
Conclusion
It is easy to identify the winner in the 5G debate over fiber optics. That is because both are winners. Together, these two technologies will create a world powered by IoT in which the entire world will benefit. Wireless carriers must leverage high-capacity fiber networks in order to thrive and grow with 5G.
Briefly, fiber and 5G should be called best friends. Would you agree? Please let us know in the comments section below. Did you find this post helpful? You can also drop down your suggestions and queries. We will get back to you soon.