Optimum Internet or 5G Home Internet: Which to Choose?

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In this article, we will be discussing the differences between Optimum’s Internet and 5G Home Internet so you can decide which type of service best suits you and your family.

Unlike 5G Home Internet, which brings Internet service to customers through cell towers and mobile hubs, Optimum Internet is served to customers through both HFC and Fiber connections.

Hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) refers to combined optical fiber and coaxial cable. It has been employed around the world by cable television operators since 1948. It provides high-quality service without compromising cost since users do not need to change their coaxial networks as it provides a separate connection and supports high-frequency bandwidth.

Optimum home Internet customers enjoy 99.9% secure Internet reliability, the inclusion of Smart Wi-Fi 6, allowing for whole home Internet coverage, increased bandwidth to connect to multiple devices, and so much more.

In certain areas, Optimum offers Internet speeds up to 8 Gig (8,000 Mbps). These super-fast speeds power more connected devices in the home, while providing symmetrical download and upload speeds. Optimum is diligently working to get 8 Gig Fiber Internet throughout our service area, please click here to see when Optimum's 8 Gig Internet becomes available in your area.

5G often refers to traditional mobile service that followed 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G (LTE) networks. The average 5G speeds range from 75 - 400 Mbps with top speeds going up to 1 Gbps. Maximum speed is dependent on factors such as proximity to a 5G tower and how much traffic it is handling.

5G Home Internet speed relies on the same cell towers as 5G mobile devices, which means they are essentially competing for capacity with cell phones, and impacted by the same obstructions such as buildings, trees, and inclement weather.

5G stands for fifth generation, as in the fifth generation of mobile networks dating back to the 1990s. It does not stand for 5 gigabits per second. 5G Home Internet users will experience Internet speeds at a fraction of what wired services can provide.

5G networks are mobile networks. This means they are inherently less reliable than wired networks due to mobile users in the same area sharing the same capacity, as well as the same signal obstructions such as weather, buildings, and trees. This may lead to unwanted speed fluctuations and lagging in response during video calling and gaming - what insiders refer to as latency. Home Internet services based on mobile networks face continuous issues since they were built for users on the go. It results in slower speeds and lagging due to sharing space with mobile user traffic.

Some other downsides of 5G are that it is not available everywhere yet. It is most prevalent in large cities and can be a decent option for those not eligible for fiber Internet.

Optimum Fiber Internet can deliver symmetrical (upload and download) speeds up to 1 Gig via Fixed Internet or 8 Gig (8,000 Mbps) via Fiber. These are fast, reliable options which allows for fast speeds amongst multiple devices throughout your home. Please click here to see if our 8 Gig Internet is available in your area. 

5G home Internet download speeds range between 33–300 Mbps. Upload speeds typically range from 6-23 Mbps, averaging around 10 Mbps. It offers faster wireless speeds than previous generations, but it is not as fast as the speeds offered through a reliable cable connection.

It is a common misconception that 8 Gbps Internet and 5G mobile are one in the same. This is because 5 Gig Internet is often mistakenly called "5G." 5GHz adds to the confusion. 8 Gig, also known as 8 Gbps (Gigabit per second) is an ultra-fast fiber to the home (FTTH) Internet. It provides powerful network performance and speed. As mentioned above, 5G refers to the fifth generation of cellphone networks being installed by mobile carriers. G stands for "generation." 5 GHz is short for five gigahertz. It is 5 billion Hertz (cycles per second). This is a Wi-Fi frequency band that you might find in your home or office. To learn more about the differences, be sure to read our article Optimum Explains 5 Gig, 5G and 5GHz.

Fiber Internet is difficult to tap into since they emit electromagnetic energy and emissions cannot be intercepted. Fiber is the most secure medium available for carrying sensitive data.

5G Home Internet consists of an over-the-air broadcast. and unless the 5G network is private, there are concerns about the security and privacy of the public network, since more users can be connected to the network.

Options to consider include 4G Home Internet, Satellite, Cable Internet, and Fiber Optic. You can do so by utilizing fixed wireless, 4G, 5G, home Internet, mobile hotspots, and satellite.

You can learn more about home Internet connection options by checking out our article The Best Options for Internet-Only Plans for Your Home.

Optimum Fiber is the faster and more reliable option. Optimum home Internet customers, when combined with Optimum Smart Wi-Fi, have a wall-to-wall service which mitigates Wi-Fi coverage issues throughout the home. Users receive automatic software updates on their network-connected devices to maintain protection against online threats.

In comparison, most 5G home Internet services typically deliver speeds from 100 Mbps up to 500 Mbps — with speeds varying based on your service; the location of the modem, router, or internet gateway in your home; and potentially the time of day you are trying to get online.

In order to provide you with more information on the differences between Optimum Fiber Internet and 5G Home Internet, please visit our newest page.

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