How to Increase the Value of Your Home

Over the past two decades, the Internet has evolved to play an increasing role in our everyday lives. From essential functions such as communication, telemedicine, and distance education, to more recreational activities such as movies, music/podcasts, and online gaming, we often rely on the Internet to carry out our various day-to-day functions.

As the reliance on the Internet increases, so does the demand for reliable connection and adequate speeds. Yesterday’s Internet simply cannot meet the needs of today’s online activities, which is why many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are turning to Fiber Optics as the technology of the future.

But Fiber does more than meet (and surpass) the level of Internet service necessary for day-to-day online activities. According to a 2015 study, Fiber can also increase the value of your home by 3.1%!

This means equipping your home with Fiber not only facilitates your online activities, but also makes for a wise investment into the future. 

Why Is Fiber Better?

In the past, we had no choice but to put up with hit-or-miss Internet connection, and anticipated downtime while waiting for basic webpages to load. With the technology of years gone by, that was the nature of the Internet.

Over time, as technology advanced and Internet access became more consequential to life offline, that waiting time has decreased significantly - along with our patience for it. Thanks to Fiber Optic technology, webpages, movies, music, and video calls can appear in a flash. This is due to the fact that Fiber uses light to transfer data from one network to another, meaning your data can quite literally travel to or from your device at the speed of light.

Outdated Internet technology, such as copper wire, uses electricity to transfer data. This causes it to travel at a much slower pace. Copper wire also leaves the network vulnerable to outages, as this type of Internet is reliant on electrical current. Fiber, on the other hand, is not dependent on electricity and is unphased by electrical outages.

Using antiquated copper technologies also increases the potential for outages because some providers push the physical limits on how far the Internet must travel without its signal needing to be regenerated. This results in a weaker signal by the time it reaches the home. Additionally, each time the signal is regenerated it is exposed to outdoor elements such as extreme temperatures and moisture, which increase the possibility of electrical failure.

What’s more, is that Fiber allows your data to travel freely on a two-way street. This is because a Fiber Optic network has no limits on how much data it can withstand, so there is no fear of overloading the system. With older technology, overworking the network all but guarantees an outage.

This potential for data overload led Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to decrease upload speeds and make them much slower than the advertised download speed you pay for. Because of Fiber’s ability to take on more data at once, the custom of asymmetrical download and upload speeds is history. WTC Fiber delivers matching upload and download speeds, meaning you can send data just as fast as you receive it.

Clearly, the argument for Fiber’s effectiveness has a long list of strengths - speed, reliability, and resilience, to list a few. You might be thinking, “Alright, got it: Fiber is better. But how hard is it to actually get?” This answer varies, but it could be easier than you think.

How Do I Get Fiber?

When you decide to make the leap into equipping your home with Fiber, the most important factor to consider is your location. To find out if your home is eligible for WTC Fiber, click here and enter your home’s address.

If your home is within our Fiber footprint, you could be prepared to receive WTC Fiber with no construction necessary. This means you could be enjoying the benefits of fast, reliable WTC Fiber in as little as a week’s time.

In the case that your home is within our Fiber footprint but does not yet have a Fiber drop, some construction will be necessary. Construction is completely free and requires very minimal disturbance to your property. This process, from your initial service request (via phone or web) to the final installation, takes about 3 weeks to complete.

You can verify what stage of the process your home is in first by visiting wtcks.com/internet, then completing an online signup or calling our 24/7 Help Desk (877.982.1912). If you’re outside of our Fiber footprint, you can enter your zip code and find a provider in your area at broadbandnow.com.

In addition to location, another factor to consider is that all Fiber networks are not equal. While WTC Fiber uses predominantly fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) - meaning the fiber optic cable feeds directly into your house - other ISPs use different methods to provide Internet.

Examples of these other methods are fiber-to-the-curb (where fiber is run to a utility box outside your home and delivered from there via copper) and fiber-to-the-neighborhood (where fiber is run to within a mile of your house before being delivered by copper wiring). The greater the distance your data has to travel through metal wiring, the slower your connection  

Fiber Optic technology is becoming increasingly available around the world as the Internet becomes a bigger part of everyday life. With Fiber available to 43% of Kansans, chances are you either currently have access to Fiber, or will gain access very soon.

Future-Proof One of Your Biggest Assets

While fast, reliable Internet was once an extra amenity to consider when purchasing a home, it is now a necessity. Just as water, gas, and power have been the standard for home utilities for quite some time, reliable Internet could now be added to the mix as well.

By equipping your home with Fiber Optic technology, you are readying it for the future. It is a simple investment which pays off immediately by improving your daily online experience - benefiting education, occupation, entertainment, and much more.

Invest in your home today by having it equipped with Fiber - the technology of the future.

Questions? Comments? Send us a message at support@wtcks.com.