How Do Fiber Optics Work in the Home?
Fiber optic internet delivers blazing-fast speeds directly to your home using thin glass strands carrying light signals. Here's how it works:
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External Connection: A fiber optic cable runs from the main network, either underground or via aerial lines, to a small box usually mounted outside your home. This is often called a "clamshell" or similar designation depending on the provider. [Source: How Does Fiber Internet Connect to Your Home?, Race.com Blog]
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Interior Connection: From this external box, the fiber cable is connected through a small hole drilled into your home's exterior wall [Source: Fiber Optic Cable Installation Process: Connecting Homes - Dgtl Infra] to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside.
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ONT: The ONT converts the light signals from the fiber optic cable into electrical signals your home's networking equipment can understand. This is then connected to a router/modem.
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Home Network: Your router/modem receives the data from the ONT, allowing you to access the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables [Source: r/googlefiber].
Inside Your Home: From the ONT to Your Devices
The ONT is the key component linking the outside fiber optic cable to your home's internal network. Once the data has been converted from light signals to electrical signals, your home network operates just like other internet connections.
- Wi-Fi: Your router broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal that your wireless devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) connect to.
- Ethernet: Devices can also connect directly to the router or a network switch via Ethernet cables for faster, more stable connections.
Key Technology Aspects
- Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) or Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP): This is the method of connecting optical fiber directly to your house or business. [Source: A Guide To Understanding Fiber-to-the-Home, What is FTTH (Fiber to the Home)?]
- Light Signals: Fiber optics use pulses of light to transmit data at incredible speeds. [Source: How Does Fiber Internet Work: Connected at the Speed of Light ...]
- Optical Network Terminal (ONT): This essential device converts the light signals into electrical signals compatible with your home network.
