Differences between fibre and 5G

• Although they are two different ways of achieving connectivity, they are not competing technologies, but rather complementary ones.

Fibre optics and 5G are two technologies that have some differences but can be complementary in continuing to improve connectivity not only in the home but also in business and industry.

Before analysing the relationship between these two technologies, let's briefly review what each one consists of.

Fibre optics: what is it?

When asked what fibre optics is, we could answer that they are an indispensable technology for today's telecommunications, in which the refraction and reflection of light are used to send data through optical cables.

It may sound relatively recent, but the truth is that the first fibre optic telephone connection was made back in 1977, using technology based on the property of light rays not to distort, which means that they retain their power and can be transmitted over long distances quickly and stably.

Fibre optic cables are network cables that transmit data in the form of light, as mentioned above, and are made up of a central core surrounded by protective layers that guide the light without significant signal loss.

5G: what is it?

When considering the question of what 5G is, the answer could be as follows: the fifth generation of mobile telephony, successor to 4G, characterised by higher data transfer speeds, greater capacity due to the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously, and ultra-low latency.

One of the obstacles still facing this technology is that not all devices are compatible with it, so for its correct application - as well as for its popularisation - it is necessary to have 5G devices.

Differences between fibre optics and 5G

When it comes to Internet connectivity, either of these two technologies can be an option, although they do have some specific characteristics.

The first difference between these two technologies lies in the type of connection. While fibre optics works via cables, 5G technology is wireless.

Precisely because of this type of connection, there is another difference, in this case in terms of installation: fibre requires work to be carried out at the place where it is to be used, as well as associated infrastructure. On the other hand, 5G technology only requires a router, which speeds up and facilitates the installation process.

These particularities also give rise to another distinguishing feature: fibre optics does not allow mobility with the device we are connected to, whereas 5G does.

Depending on the type of use, fibre optics is more suitable for places where there is intensive use, such as businesses or homes for certain purposes, such as teleworking, streaming or gaming.

For its part, 5G is a more interesting alternative in areas without fibre and/or if we are on the move, as mentioned above, or if we are looking for a temporary solution or for second homes.

Having looked at the main characteristics of each of these two concepts, we can conclude that they are not competing technologies, but rather complementary ones: the weaknesses of one can be supported by the strengths of the other to achieve better connectivity.