What is fibre broadband and why should it matter for your home?

We hear a lot about fibre broadband being the gold standard for high-speed internet access. But what actually is it? And does it really matter?

Fibre broadband enables users to access the fastest broadband in Ireland. It is a high-speed internet connection that doesn’t use traditional copper wires. Instead, it transmits data through fibre-optic cables. In doing so, it boasts a range of benefits from lightning speeds to uninterrupted, lag-free internet usage. Essentially, fibre broadband allows households to simultaneously stream video, play games and listen to music without slowing down their service.

How does it work?

Standard broadband still relies on old copper cables to deliver internet connection. However, this has become substandard for the average household, as well as anyone wishing to work from home. The European Commission has set 2030 as the preferred deadline for the complete switch-off of copper networks across the EU. It will be replaced by fibre broadband, which for many areas is already the default for broadband connections. It works by transmitting light signals through fibre optic cables at high speeds to deliver significantly faster broadband. These cables can also carry more data, allowing for multiple users without slowing the connection.

Getting the fastest broadband speeds in your home

When it comes to finding the best broadband package, speed is often the priority. Today’s users, both through work and leisure, are constantly downloading vast volumes of data. We do this through activities that have become essential parts of our daily lives, like joining video calls, streaming movies or scrolling through social media. Fibre broadband enables users to do these activities and more without having to think about speeds. If you are doing these activities and find that your connection is consistently slow, or videos are buffering, it could be time to speak to your broadband provider about a fibre connection.

What else sets fibre broadband apart?

Fibre broadband is like a supercharged version of traditional broadband. With Pure Telecom’s Lightning Fibre broadband, users can reach speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Downloading, meanwhile, takes just milliseconds. Unlike copper-wired broadband, fibre cannot be affected by bad weather, and it has larger capacity at peak times, meaning that higher usage in your areas won’t affect your connection. The result is less stress and more consistent reliability.