How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Fiber Optic Technology

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the way many people in the U.S. (and across the globe) live and work. Before the pandemic, working from home wasn’t as accepted and only about 7% of all Americans had a solely work-from-home job. While some people did take their job home during a portion of their workday, it was still only about 30% of workers. That percentage doubled at the beginning of the pandemic.

 

Work-From-Home Demands

Employees who worked in offices before the pandemic relied on their company’s internet connection. Businesses had to ensure that connectivity was reliable and that the bandwidth could handle the data transmissions without interruption. Prior to the pandemic, people needed stable connections at home, but interruptions weren’t as serious. Generally, interruptions were inconveniences. Now, an interruption can cause a company to lose a sale or even critical clients.

Those who work from home also need the ability to link to various other workspaces. They may need to connect to the main office, colleagues, and their clients. Cable internet connections may not always be able to provide the stable connection that work-from-home employees need.

 

Social Demands

The demand for better connections capable of transmitting larger amounts of data doesn’t come solely from workers. The demand comes from everyone. Due to social distancing, people are traveling less. To decrease the spread of the virus, more people are staying at home. Technology has provided people with the means to stay connected from the safety of their homes. An increase in digital meetings and movie streaming parties requires a more stable connection. People are finding new ways to stay connected with family, friends, and other loved ones. When the workday ends, the need for a fast connection doesn’t.

 

Educational Demands

Nowadays, it’s common to see parents and children at home during the day. The entire family has work to do. Children meet with teachers and other classmates in an online school environment, whereas the parents are working from home. That means the entire family is using the same connection which can cause a huge drain on the cable internet. Classroom time can be more challenging during the pandemic, but is still crucial for children’s learning and development. A weak internet connection can cause students to be left behind in their schoolwork.

 

Fiber Optics Meets Demands

Since the maximum bandwidth people need in their homes has changed, many have started to look for better options. Fiber optic technology is an option that can be delivered into people’s homes. Some paths can go straight into a residence.

Unlike copper cables, which use electrical pulses, fiber optic cables use light to transmit data. This creates a faster and stronger connection. Those who have a fiber optic connection will experience less data loss.

Before COVID-19, most people used the internet at home for entertainment. Now, with more people staying at home to stop the spread of the virus, the internet has become essential. High-speed internet capable of transmitting large amounts of data over secure connections has become even more of a priority. Fiber optic technology has boomed since the beginning of the pandemic because it can provide the connection people need.