Fibre Broadband

[Coldicote]

ISP Orange has sent me information about imminent changes - Orange is to become EE. It refers to upgrading to Fibre Broadband if I live in an area where it's available. What is Fibre Broadband - anyone know please?

[snags]

A broadband internet connection using fibre optic cables (like VirginMedia offer), typically giving faster data transfers than via a telephone modem or dial up connection.

[ChuckFickens]

The fibre broadband as referred to here is a bit of a misnomer. all it means is there will be a fibre optic connection to your local telephone street box, the connection into your house will still be the same as it is now.

It would be faster though, typically upto about 40Mb/s

[boxtops]

I must say that since we upgraded to fibre optic, our service has been much faster and more reliable.

[Coldicote]

Interesting answers thank you. To me 'Fibre' implies some sort of fabric, like jute for instance! I wonder what fibre optic cables actually are and could I buy one for my PC - or is it another misnomer?

[ChuckFickens]

" I wonder what fibre optic cables actually are"

They are cables made from very thin strands of glass (or clear plastic) which transmit data using light instead of electricity, you might have seen the more gimmicky use of them in lamps and Christmas trees.
http://www.canadianwh...ashing/fiberlamp2.jpg

"could I buy one for my PC"

Well, you could, but you'd get no benefit from using fibre optic network cables over traditional network cables unless your computer was located a few miles away from your router.

[Coldicote]

Thanks Chuck - you're a mine of information.