If the WiFi network in your office handles everything from HD video streaming and web research to music streaming and online data management, it may be time to consider Gigabit Internet service also called Gig-speed and ultra-high-speed Internet. The promise of this next-generation high-speed Internet — capable of delivering speeds up to 40 times faster than the typical home connection, based on the FCC benchmark for what constitutes broadband speeds — is allowing users to optimize their home Internet use across all devices.
How Gig-speed Works
Gigabit Internet service can be delivered to your home using either fiber-optic cable or the coaxial cable currently used to deliver your TV, Internet, and phone service.
Most home Internet service delivers faster speeds for downloading vs. uploading, due to average consumer needs. For example, the data speeds needed to download an HD movie are much greater than the speeds needed to load a link in a web browser. However, gigabit service over a fiber-optic network can deliver the same speeds uploading as downloading.
Alternates
Consider Ethernet connections. With bandwidth-hungry PCs and video streaming devices, consider using wired Ethernet cable connections rather than WiFi. The reason? Internet speeds won’t be affected by interference from other wireless devices (such as smartphones and tablets) in your home. Ideally, you’ll want category 6 Ethernet cables, which can support speeds up to 10 Gbps. Older category 5 cables (100 Mbps max) cannot deliver Gigabit Internet speeds.
