10 Gbps fiber is a reality. It is already offered by Orange or Digi and more and more operators are preparing for the expansion of this ultra-fast fiber optic option. However, there are a series of requirements that we must take into account in order to enjoy this Internet speed in our homes.
To achieve this, the operators will make use of the XGS-PON technology . In this way, they will allow us to enjoy symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps. So we will have speeds 10 times higher than the current 1 Gbps already marketed by different operators in Spain.
How to have 10 Gbps at home
Right now, most homes have Gigabit Ethernet , which gives us, at most, access to an Internet speed of 1 Gbps, which is approximately 940 real Mbps . Although, in those houses where they have computers with Multigigabit network cards you can get to enjoy 2.5 Gbps.
In order for us to reach 10 Gbps , the truth is that there are several requirements that we must meet and know. First of all, it must be clear that, to achieve this fiber speed at home, we will need to be connected via an Ethernet network cable . Otherwise, it will be impossible. More than anything because, although WiFi 6 achieves high speeds, not everyone can afford a router compatible with WiFi 6 and 10 GBPS, since the operators, at the moment, do not offer it. So we will have to buy it on our own and the cost cannot be assumed by everyone. In any case, we are going to see in detail what we need.
Network cable and card
So, it is clear that via WiFi we will not get 10 Gbps without having a very good router. So it will be easier to get to enjoy this fiber speed if we connect through a network cable . Although, we will have to fulfill two more points. Specifically, for this, we will need to meet these two requirements as a minimum:
- 10 Gbps network card .
- Cat6 Ethernet network cable. However, it is recommended to have a Cat 6A or higher cable .
XGS-PON Router
Another key factor that not all users take into account is that, in order to have a 10 Gbps connection at home, we will need an XGS-PON compatible router . Basically, because not all equipment has this new fiber speed standard that reaches these figures. For example, in the case of Digi we find that it offers the Zyxel AX7501-B0 router, while Orange has opted for the ZTE ZXHN F8648P.
In this case, we are dealing with equipment that has 10E Ethernet ports, so we can get to take advantage of this type of connection in a single device. And, therefore, it will be essential to have the two previous points, in addition to the fact that we need an Ethernet compatible with 10GBASE-T , the minimum being the Cat 6 Ethernet cable that we mentioned before.
Compatible devices
In addition to the above requirements, we cannot forget that not all devices are supported. Or rather, not all devices out there right now come with 10 Gbps Ethernet ports . Therefore, in this case, we can only use this speed on a computer that has this port.
In the event that our PC does not have this type of port, but we do not have in mind to change it for now, the truth is that we can buy PCIe cards with 10G Ethernet ports, such as the ASUS XG-C100C.
And if in your case you have a laptop, as long as it has a Thunderbolt port , you can buy an external network card with a port that can give you this Internet speed. For example, the Sabrent adapter is one of the best options.
