The Fiber Difference: Symmetrical vs Asymmetrical

Most people have become accustomed to working from home over the past two years, and even if you haven’t experienced it, you are likely to know someone who has. As we discussed in a previous article, current broadband speeds have made this option viable for more people. But for some, their internet connection has presented a few pain points that are only avoidable with fiber-optic internet. Let’s discuss some practical differences between cable and VNET Fiber internet that will help you to make a more informed decision about what kind of internet service you want to power your home office.

Have you noticed that cable advertisements only mention one number when it comes to speed? For instance, you might see a company advertising an introductory offer for 100 Mbps. While this might sound appealing, this ad may only tell you half the story. The advertised speed is only for receiving data, not sending. Your upload speed could be a mere 10 Mpbs – that is just a 10th of the download speed! This is referred to as “Asymmetrical” internet, and often means that you may not be getting the great deal you think you’re getting.

Unlike other internet providers, VNET Fiber is always “symmetrical”, meaning the upload speed matches the download speed. The VNET Fiber base package includes a fast 300 Mbps x 300 Mbps connection. It is clear that a fiber internet connection through VNET Fiber is designed to offer speedier service at the best price possible.

You might wonder why it is so crucial to have a fast upload speed. It comes down to time, network congestion, and a bit of mathematics. Pretend that you are going about your typical workday. Perhaps you connect to the office on a VPN to access some spreadsheets and join a weekly video call with your team. Everything is working fine, until the audio garbles and the video feed stutters and pauses. While there can be many causes for these interruptions, the most likely culprit is your upload speed. All it might take is your smartphone backing up photos from the weekend to max out that 10 Mbps upload.

Because it takes more time to upload a Gigabyte of data over a slow 10 Mbps connection, your network will be congested for a longer stretch of time. As that congestion occurs, it impacts the download performance that your work depends on. If you have other people and Internet-connected devices in your home, it is likely that this situation is exacerbated even more.

With VNET Fiber’s symmetrical internet, those photos and videos on your phone can upload to the cloud much faster. This ability to upload in rapid bursts of speed significantly reduces the possibility of congestion. In short, fiber is the most efficient way to get things done on the internet, and it’s baked right into VNET Fiber’s network.

Symmetrical speeds are just one of the many standout features of VNET Fiber service. With transparent pricing, 100% local customer service, and no marketing gimmicks, VNET Fiber is the clear choice to power your home, remote workers, and your business. Contact the sales team today to get started: sales@vnet.us.