Slow internet in the neighborhood? Try dedicated fiber optic internet instead

Nothing is more frustrating than a slow internet connection. Slow internet can cause frozen cameras or dropped video calls when working from home, sudden interruptions during climactic moments in a TV show or movie, or be the difference between winning and losing at a key moment of a video game.

What causes slow internet? One of the main culprits is an overloaded shared internet connection. With shared connections, multiple households in the same area rely on the same bandwidth provided by their internet service provider. This means speeds can drop significantly during peak hours when everyone in your home — or even neighborhood — is online at the same time.

While you can't control who uses the internet and when, you can avoid a slow internet connection by switching from shared to dedicated internet.

Shared versus dedicated internet: What's the difference?

You may not be familiar with the term shared internet, but if you have cable internet, you're using a shared connection. Cable is the most common type of internet connection in residential areas.

Cable internet service providers (ISPs) operate on a shared network, meaning multiple households in the neighborhood rely on the same infrastructure for their internet connection. These companies use coaxial cables to deliver internet from local hubs through neighborhoods to homes, but these cables have physical bandwidth limitations. As a result, speeds can slow down when too many people are online at the same time — especially during peak times.

This issue is becoming even more problematic today as most households connect multiple devices to the internet at once for their work, gaming, learning, streaming and even security needs. Lots of households with lots of devices means lots of sharing of that same bucket of internet bandwidth. It's kind of like a highway. During rush hour, more users are online, creating internet traffic that slows the flow of bandwidth.

On the other hand, a dedicated internet model like fiber optic internet from a company like Ziply Fiber offers true 100% end-to-end fiber directly to your home. This works like a private toll road: it's a direct, private connection to your ISP's network that provides dedicated bandwidth to your home. This means your connection is not shared with anyone else in your area, ensuring fast and reliable symmetrical speeds regardless of the time of day, the number of users in your household or how many other people are online in the neighborhood.

What internet is right for you?

If you are trying to decide what internet is best for you, the answer is simple: fiber. In today's world, shared connections just don't cut it anymore. With more devices, more video calls, more streaming and more data-intensive tasks than ever, your internet should work when you need it — not slow down because your neighbors are online.

Sure, shared internet is widely available and works for casual browsing, but it struggles with speed, is more susceptible to security breaches and offers less reliable service. On the other hand, dedicated internet boasts faster speeds, higher reliability and enhanced security. Fiber is the clear choice if you:

• Have multiple devices like TVs, tablets or phones using the internet at the same time
• Work from home and rely on the internet for video conferencing, data transfer and cloud applications
• Are a gamer or streamer
• Run a business from home that relies on internet for critical functions
• Handle sensitive data or regulated information that would benefit from higher security features

Are you ready to commit to dedicated internet?

If you're ready to experience fast and reliable internet at home for work and play, consider switching to a dedicated internet like fiber optic internet. A dedicated fiber optic internet connection is designed for speed and reliability so you can get the most out of your internet connection — and likely at a fraction of the cost of what you're paying for that expensive cable bundle.

For residents of the Northwest, Ziply Fiber offers a superior network infrastructure, local support and flexible plans. Price points vary depending on the speed you're looking for, but Ziply Fiber has dedicated fiber internet plans that start at just $20 per month. If you're ready to upgrade your digital experience, visit ZiplyFiber.com to learn more about its internet plans and find the one that best fits your needs.