Fiber Internet Is Better Than LEO Satellite Internet
3 Rivers delivers broadband internet service using Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), the best technology available, linking co-op members to our world-class fiber optic network with a direct fiber connection to their individual homes or businesses.
LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, such as those utilized by Starlink, send a signal to a dish from satellites orbiting from 500 to 1,200 miles above the Earth.
Fiber internet is always the better choice. Here’s why:
- Faster Available Speeds – Fiber internet can easily deliver symmetrical upload and download speeds of 1 Gbps or more—LEO internet is asymmetrical, and upload speeds are significantly slower than download speeds. When you see 3 Rivers advertise a speed of 100 Mbps, it means upload and download are both 100 Mbps. When an LEO offers 100 Mbps, they are generally referring to download only. Upload speed may be important for folks who work from home, and other users as well.
- Shared Bandwidth – LEO internet utilizes a shared bandwidth model, meaning all users within a single satellite's footprint share the total available internet capacity. This could lead to reduced performance during peak usage hours. Individual fiber broadband users have a direct connection.
- More Reliable – Buried fiber optic cables are not affected by weather or obstructions, while LEO satellites can face outages or interference from storms, trees, or buildings.
Latency –LEO latency (the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back via your internet connection) is typically five times that of fiber and varies widely because of the constant handoffs between satellites. This delay might be a concern for competitive gamers.
Future-Proof – Fiber optic networks have a 30- to 50-year life span, while LEO satellites require continuous replacement.
Of course, when your FTTH broadband service is delivered by 3 Rivers, there are more advantages. Tech support is provided by a local team—often your neighbors. And our crews are nearby, offering quick responses should maintenance issues arise.
Next issue—3 Rivers FTTH vs In-Home Cellular Internet