Fiber optic internet is pretty tough, but can you count on it to last? Learn how durable fiber optic cable is & what you can do to fix broken cables here.
Fiber optic internet is the best around for several big reasons. It’s faster than coaxial internet, offers symmetrical [KT1] upload and download speeds, and makes it easier than ever for households to enjoy smooth, steady surfing or streaming without worry.
At least, so long as fiber optic cables don’t break. Fiber optic internet uses glass fibers, so you might wonder how durable fiber optic cable is and whether you can really trust it to survive cold winters or extreme weather events. Today, we’ll break down the toughness of fiber internet and what you can do if one of your home’s network cables breaks.
Fiber optic cables use thin glass fibers woven into a tight cord that is protected by a sheathe of protective material. But that doesn’t mean fiber cables are fragile.
As opposed to common glass, the glass used for optical fiber cables comes from pure silica rods or tubes. The fiber cable manufacturing process creates purer, stronger, and more transparent glass that's both more resilient against wear and tear and better for transmitting the light pulses that transfer internet data from place to place.
In fact, fiber optic cable glass has a theoretical maximum tensile strength of 2,000,000 pounds per square inch! Of course, the small size of fiber internet glass cables makes them vulnerable to certain kinds of damage, like cracks. That’s why fiber cables are protected with materials like hermetic plastic coatings, strength members made of materials like Kevlar, and more.
Thanks to its extreme durability and flexibility, fiber optic internet is widely considered to be the most resilient residential internet type available.
It can, but most of the time fiber optic internet providers bury fiber cables below the ground’s “frost line” – the depth beyond which soil doesn’t freeze from cold temperatures. By burying most of the cable in a fiber optic network below this point, fiber cables might get chilly, but they'll never freeze fully.
That's a good thing, too, because wet fiber cables are particularly susceptible to damage. When water freezes, it forms expanding ice crystals that can crush or exceed the bend radius of fiber cables in certain instances.
Fiber can also be installed over the air, similar to coax, but in those instances, they are generally protected by stronger sheathing and a UV-resistant outer jacket.
So long as your home’s fiber network is set up by capable contractors, you shouldn't have to worry about your cables freezing anytime soon.
Well-made fiber optic cables are very tough, making them great choices for homeowners who would like to limit weather-related internet outages as much as possible. The comparatively high durability of fiber optic cables comes from a series of factors, including:
On average, fiber optic cables should last for decades without faltering or requiring serious maintenance.
Even though fiber cables are very durable, they can still sustain damage, particularly cable sections that are exposed to the elements. If you see a damaged cable section near or connected to your home, it's theoretically possible to repair that fiber optic cable just like you could repair any other kind of electrical cable.
That said, you’ll be better off calling your internet service provider, who can send knowledgeable contractors out to analyze the damage and replace damaged cable sections quickly and safely. This is the fastest way to get your high-speed fiber internet back if you’re experiencing an outage!
At the end of the day, fiber optic cables might not be invincible, but they’re the closest things you can get with modern internet infrastructure! If you're looking to upgrade the internet of your home for years to come, you can’t go wrong with a trusted fiber optic internet provider like Glo.
With superior coverage, future-proof fiber cable installation, and hyper-fast speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps, we’re the internet service provider you've been looking for. Contact us today to learn more about our plans and benefits!