Fiber vs. Cable: What’s the Real Difference?

When it comes to choosing an internet provider, you’ve likely come across two main options: fiber and cable. While both promise fast connections, the differences behind the scenes are major — and they can affect everything from your streaming quality to your Zoom calls and beyond.

At ZiTEL, we specialize in fiber internet, and here’s why we believe it’s the clear choice.

Speed — Especially Upload Speeds

Both fiber and cable can offer fast download speeds, but fiber leaves cable in the dust when it comes to upload speeds.

• Cable internet typically offers upload speeds of 5 to 50 Mbps.

• Fiber offers upload speeds equal to download — up to 1 Gbps or more.

Why it matters: If you work from home, back up files to the cloud, play online games, or use video conferencing, fiber’s upload speed makes everything faster, smoother, and less frustrating.

Reliability — Even During Peak Times

Cable internet shares bandwidth with your neighbors. That means your speed may drop during busy hours, like in the evening when everyone is online.

Fiber uses a dedicated line to your home, delivering more consistent performance regardless of the time of day.

Translation: No more lag during a family Netflix night or dropped video calls with your boss.

Latency — A Gamer’s Best Friend

Latency is the delay between sending and receiving data. Lower latency means faster response times — critical for things like online gaming or virtual meetings.

• Fiber latency is typically under 20 milliseconds.

• Cable latency often runs higher, especially during congestion.

Future-Proof Infrastructure

Fiber is built to handle tomorrow’s technology today. With higher capacity and faster speeds, fiber networks are ready for growing demands — from smart homes to 8K streaming to whatever’s next.

Cable may require major upgrades in the future just to keep up.

Durability and Maintenance

Fiber-optic cables are more resistant to weather and electromagnetic interference, meaning fewer outages and service interruptions.

Cable lines, especially older infrastructure, are more vulnerable to signal degradation over distance and environmental wear.

At ZiTEL, we’re committed to bringing true fiber internet to the communities that need it most. It’s not just about speed — it’s about reliability, performance, and long-term value.

Whether you're working remotely, running a business, gaming competitively, or just streaming your favorite shows, fiber is the future-proof choice — and we're proud to deliver it.

Ready to experience the difference? Visit ZiTEL.com to learn more.