We are in the midst of an IoT revolution. Thousands of devices will be feeding us data in the years to come, which will drive more revolutions. An oft-deliberated issue is how the IoT devices across the estate will be able to connect to the ubiquitous internet of things. Are fiber optic connections or 5G the way to go? 

Due to its hype, 5G tends to take up most of the oxygen in the room. However, do not jump to the conclusion that everyone will gravitate toward 5G for their IoT environments. IoT needs can be met by 5G, but it is not the perfect solution for every situation. Five-generation networks and fiber optics are both expected to grow faster than average over the next five years, so both will have a role to play in the future.

5G vs. Fiber Optics: What is the Difference?

In terms of transmission mechanisms, fiber optics and 5G are quite different. IoT devices must just be within the coverage area of 5G towers in order to be connected to the world, but 5G’s coverage is unique since it uses radio waves to send and receive data. However, fiber optics transmit data through glass strands encased within fiber optic cabs. In order to utilize fiber optics as a direct point-to-point network, Internet of Things devices need to be connected to the fiber in some way. 

In addition, the cost and construction structure will be different. It is never fun to pull the cable, and it is not easy to roll fiber optic cable across a city regardless of the type. Underground conduits are required to feed fiber across a city. Furthermore, last-mile installations are significantly more expensive than 5G due to the longer rollout periods. Due to the fact that radio waves travel through the air, 5G implementation is much less disruptive, which provides a faster and more cost-effective rollout.  

Installing 5G is cheaper, but its operational costs are much higher. Compared to fiber, 5G requires much less maintenance over time. In the end, 5G ends up being cheaper for users than 4G. 

Distance is another factor. Radio waves from 5G can only transmit about a hundred meters, a shorter range than 4G. In order to make use of smaller towers and antennas, 5G relies on less infrastructure than 4G. For large distances, you will need many towers to transmit data. It is possible to transmit data 70 kilometers using fiber optic cable. As a result, fiber optics are the best choice for transferring data through vast rural areas with little connectivity.

Finally, fiber optics are more energy efficient. The energy required by a fiber is significantly less than that of a cell tower. As companies strive to improve greener behaviors and efficiency, this may not seem like a big deal, but it is something to think about.

What Fiber Optics Have in Common with 5G

In the near future, 5G is expected to be considerably faster than fiber optic cable; however, 5G is still in its infancy and will rapidly improve as it is implemented. Fiber optics offers speeds of up to 100 Gbps, while 5G has a potential speed of 20 Gbps. Fiber offers the highest speeds, regardless of how you slice it. Although fiber optics offers a slightly lower latency rate than Ethernet, both technologies are known for great response times.

The Benefits of Fiber Optics

Before we get into the benefits, we have a recommendation for your ease. If you are looking for a fiber optic internet, Wave might be a good option. The speeds are pretty good and the deals and offers they have are quite affordable. 

The following are some situations where fiber optics make more sense than 5G:

Fiber optics are known for being extremely secure. When it comes to securing IoT data that traverses area networks, fiber optics is a clear choice. This is because the glass strands contained within fiber optic cables cannot be tapped.

Cell technology has and continues to face the problem of latency. It is imperative to use fiber optics when low latency performance is The fiber optic network outperforms other technologies for long distances. You can send streams of sensor data from remote weather stations to a centralized location with fiber optics. The use of 5G antennas in rural areas isn’t a great idea. 

In cities today, 5G is strong, but urban environments can present challenges as well. This is because 5G cannot pass through thick foliage or physical barriers easily. The cost of putting a cable through may be prohibitive, but fiber may be the better choice in places with high obstruction rates.

 Benefits of 5G

Can 5G ever be used in IoT environments? The answer is a resounding yes. In the first place, fiber optic cables cannot be implemented in certain environments, but this is not the only problem. Although 5G isn’t the quickest or most responsive, it is unbeatable when it comes to high capacity and mobility. There is nothing to physically connect to 5G if you have a large number of sensor devices that need to send data somewhere. You do not need to purchase rack switches. 

5G has the ease of Wi-Fi, but is much faster and more responsive. A large factory might be an ideal example if it relies on hundreds of sensors that traverse its production line. A large fleet of high-definition video cameras would be another instance.

Conclusion

If 5G and fiber optics are compared, it is easy to determine who wins. That is because we’re the winners. By using these two technologies together, the world as a whole will benefit greatly from IoT.