Remote work is a lifeline for professionals everywhere, especially in rural areas where commuting options are limited. But one factor can make or break the work-from-home experience: reliable internet. For remote workers, their choices are often limited to traditional cable, DSL and satellite. However, Mercury Fiber Internet may just be the new best option for your rural network.
How Fiber Internet Works vs. How Satellite Internet Works
According to the Fiber Broadband Association, 75% of rural adults believe high-quality internet is important. Understanding the difference between fiber and satellite internet helps explain why fiber delivers better, more reliable service.
How Fiber Works
Uses optical cables to transmit data at near-light speed directly to your home. Signals travel distances through fiber optic lines, which makes the connection stable and consistent. These cables are a direct landline connection to your home, providing a smooth connection. If it is available in your area, Fiber is often the best option available.
How Satellite Works
A traditional satellite relies on signals sent from a satellite orbiting 22,000 miles above Earth to a dish at your home, and then back again. That long journey introduces delays and makes the connection more vulnerable to disruptions. Satellite is great for getting coverage to remote locations, but it’s not consistent or reliable.
Why Fiber Is the Clear Winner
Here is the key takeaway: Fiber’s infrastructure is designed for high performance where it’s available, while satellite is more of a stopgap solution for areas that may lack coverage.
Latency and Speed: Why Fiber Wins for Remote Work
Latency matters greatly for remote work. Having a low-latency connection leads to less lag or dropped connections, which could be important in video conferencing or working in the cloud. Who wants to deal with dropped video calls or wait all day for a download of a large file that interrupts your workflow?
Weather and Environmental Impact on Reliability
Imagine working from home during a storm or inclement weather. If you are working on a satellite connection, bad news. You could be facing even slower internet speeds than normal. This problem only gets worse with more active devices in your home. On the other hand, Fiber cables are hidden underground and out of harm’s way. Since they are a hard-wired connection, storm interference is nonexistent.
Bandwidth and Data Limits
Data usage has skyrocketed with remote work. Large file transfers, constant video calls and cloud storage all eat up bandwidth. Satellite data plans often have strict data limits and can lead to throttling once you reach them. Fiber solutions provide robust bandwidth with unlimited data in most plans. Multiple users in one home can work, stream and upload without interruptions.
Consistency During Peak Hours
Limited bandwidth shared among users on a satellite connection slows service to a crawl in the evening or during peak usage. It’s frustrating when your internet slows down due to factors you can’t control, like heavy usage from neighbors. Fiber has higher capacity and dedicated lines, which maintain consistent speeds throughout the day, even when demand is high.
Cost vs. Value for Rural Remote Workers
Satellite may appear cheaper upfront, but can cost more in lost productivity and overage fees. Fiber offers a higher return on investment due to reliability, speed and long-term stability.
Upgrade Your Connection to Fiber
Fiber internet is the foundation of tomorrow’s connectivity. When comparing the options in your area and if fiber is available, the winner is as clear as our fiber optics. At Mercury, we can upgrade you to our fiber network. Whether you need help choosing the right gear or want a full-home connectivity plan, our team is here to guide you. We’re proud to serve families across Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. Check to see if we’re available at your home!