www.alliancecom.net 11 GeeWhiz! What Do All the G’s Mean? When it comes to abbreviations in communications technology, the letter G is currently causing some confusion, particularly when it’s paired with the number 5. Hopefully, this will clear things up for you: The G in 5 Gbps stands for Gigabits, as in Gigabits per second—a measurement of internet speed. A 5 Gbps internet plan, also referred to as 5 Gig, is unbelievably fast and equivalent to 5,000 Mbps. The G in 5G stands for generation. This refers to the fifth generation of wireless data networks (the network your phone uses to access the internet and receive cell service). The fifth generation is a step up from the fourth generation of wireless data, which is referred to as 4G or 4G LTE. The G in 5GHz stands for gigahertz — a Wi-Fi frequency. Wi-Fi comes in two frequencies, 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5GHz, to carry Wi-Fi signals. While 5GHz Wi-Fi is faster and better at penetrating network interference, it struggles to travel through walls and has a shorter range of coverage than 2.4GHz. 5G Home Internet How It Works 5G home internet uses the 5G network towers of a cellular company to provide a fixed wireless connection. Speeds will vary by location, depending on how far the customer is from a local tower or transmitter. Speeds Speeds offered by 5G home internet average just 150 Mbps. What’s more, several factors can adversely affect speeds, including network congestion and lineof-sight issues from obstacles such as buildings or terrain. Even inclement weather can slow things down. Reliability 5G home internet can get bogged down by high-traffic demands and technical issues stemming from poor cell service. Fiber Internet How It Works Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables consisting of bundled strands of glass, which are buried under the ground to provide a direct internet connection. Fiber is the gold standard. Speeds A range of fiber internet plans are typically offered, with speeds up to 2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps) and more. You may also be able to get symmetrical speeds, meaning your uploads are just as fast as your downloads. Reliability Fiber internet has a much larger capacity to carry data and is less prone to technical malfunctions or slowdowns. This results in a connection you can count on, with a proven track record of 99.9% reliability. It’s clear that despite the hype around 5G, fiber remains the go-to connection type for extremely fast and reliable internet. Simply put, you can’t do better than fiber internet. It’s the preferred connection—and the best overall value—for large households with multiple users and devices, people who work from home, online gamers, and streaming enthusiasts. Let’s say both 5G home internet and fiber internet are available to you. Which is the better choice? Here’s a quick summary of key factors to consider. A Side-by-Side Comparison
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