Verizon Fios vs Comcast Xfinity

FAQs

• Which is better, fiber or cable?

• Fiber typically offers an advantage over cable internet with better reliability and faster upload speeds. Unlike cable connections that use coaxial cables with copper wiring, fiber optic connections are transmitted with pulses of light through strands of glass, and these pulses can travel faster across great distances. Fiber is also more reliable than cable for broadband internet service because it is not as easily affected by environmental conditions like storms, power outages and electrical interference. In addition, Verizon Fios offers symmetrical (equal) download and upload speeds up to 500 Mbps, which not all cable companies provide.

• Does Comcast Xfinity have a fiber-optic network like Fios?

• Not like Fios. Unlike other internet providers that use a combination of coaxial cable and fiber optics, Fios offers a 100% fiber-optic network. Verizon Fios launched in 2005 as one of the first internet providers to offer true “Fiber to the Home” (FTTH) internet services to residential customers. Many other providers use fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) connections, which use fiber cables to carry data to a hub close to your home and then switch to coaxial cables or copper wire for the last hop.

• Is Fios better than Comcast Xfinity?

• You decide. Both providers serve customers in much of the northeastern U.S, but Verizon Fios has been a PC Mag.com Reader’s Choice Award Winner 14 years in a row.+ Fios Internet is also rated higher than Comcast in customer service and technical support compared to all measured providers in a recent PC Magazine Reader’s Choice Survey, and it’s more likely than Comcast to be recommended by customers to friends and family.+

  + Reprinted from www.pcmag.com with permission. ©2019 Ziff Davis, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Based on PCMag.com’s Readers’ Choice Survey customer ratings of National ISP performance.

• Is Fios faster than Comcast Xfinity?

• While both providers offer fast internet^, only Verizon Fios has been rated #1 in satisfaction with speed 14 years in a row in PC Magazine’s Readers Choice Survey.+ Right now, Fios Gigabit Connection offers speeds up to 940/880 Mbps.* Keep in mind that internet companies are continually upgrading their networks and offering faster internet speeds every day, so today’s answer might be different than a few months from now. Speed is important, but so is a strong connection, fiber-optic line, high bandwidth and a powerful network. To comparison shop internet service providers, start by checking out Fios Internet plans.

  ^ Comcast offers 2G symmetrical internet with limited availability.

  + Reprinted from www.pcmag.com with permission. ©2019 Ziff Davis, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Based on PCMag.com’s Readers’ Choice Survey customer ratings of National ISP performance.

  * Speeds up to 940/880 Mbps available in select areas.

• Is Fios better than cable internet?

• Fios offers several advantages over cable, including matching download and upload speeds (up to 500 Mbps) that many cable companies don’t provide. In addition, because it’s a 100% fiber-optic network, Fios delivers more reliable service that's less susceptible to inclement weather and easier to maintain.

• What is the difference between fiber-optic and coaxial cable?

• Traditional cable internet uses an older cable TV infrastructure with coaxial cables to transmit data, while fiber-optic internet uses cutting-edge fiber-optic technology to send data via small, flexible strands of glass that transmit light. In addition to providing higher bandwidth, fiber optics offer a more reliable connection.