Fibre-optic internet uses pulses of light through glass strands. Cable internet uses electrical signals through copper coaxial lines. Fibre is faster, has better upload speeds, lower latency, more consistent performance during peak evening hours, and dramatically more headroom for future speed increases. Cable is still a capable technology for many households, but it has hit real physical limits that fibre hasn't come close to. Where fibre is available, it's almost always the better choice.
You've probably heard "fibre is better than cable" at some point. It's mostly true, but the reasons why aren't always well explained. Here's what actually matters, in a way you'll notice.
The quick answer
Fibre wins on almost every technical category: top speed, upload speed, latency, consistency at peak hours, and future-proofing. Cable is still very much a working technology and it's fine for many homes, especially if fibre hasn't reached your address yet. But when fibre is available, it's the better choice for almost every household.
At a glance
Fibre-Optic Internet
- Pulses of light through glass
- Symmetric or near-symmetric speeds
- Very low latency (under 10 ms typical)
- Consistent at peak hours
- Massive headroom for future speed increases
- Purple Fibre offers up to 8 Gbps on XGSPON
Cable Internet (Coax)
- Electrical signals through copper coax
- Asymmetric (fast download, slower upload)
- Higher latency (20 to 40 ms typical)
- Can slow at peak evening hours
- Closer to its physics ceiling
- Still capable, and widely available
Head-to-head comparison
| Category | Fibre | Cable |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Light through glass strands | Electrical signals through copper coax |
| Top download speed | Up to 8 Gbps on Purple Fibre (XGSPON) | Typically up to 1 to 2 Gbps |
| Upload speed | Symmetric or near-symmetric | Much slower than download (asymmetric) |
| Typical latency | Under 10 ms | 20 to 40 ms |
| Consistency at peak hours | Dedicated connection, no slowdown | Shared with neighbours, can slow in evenings |
| Future headroom | Massive. Research labs have hit 450 Tbps on the same kind of fibre already in the ground. | Near its physical limits. Cable operators use tricks to squeeze more out of it, but the ceiling is real. |
| Weather sensitivity | None. Fibre runs underground. | None for the line itself. Both go underground. |
| Availability in Nova Scotia | Growing quickly. Check your address for Purple Fibre. | Widely available across urban and suburban Nova Scotia. |
The real-world differences you'll notice
Upload speed
Cable connections give you a lot more download than upload. A typical 500/50 cable plan is 500 Mbps down but only 50 Mbps up. That's fine for streaming or browsing, but you'll feel it when you back up photos to cloud, run video calls, upload files for work, or livestream. Fibre plans (including Purple Fibre) are close to symmetric, so your upload matches or nearly matches your download.
Latency (ping)
Latency is how long a signal takes to make the round trip. For gaming, video calls, and cloud applications, lower is dramatically better. Fibre is typically under 10 ms. Cable is usually 20 to 40 ms. Small numbers, but a huge difference in how responsive everything feels.
Consistency at peak hours
Cable is shared with your neighbours in the local segment. When everyone in your neighbourhood gets home from work and turns on Netflix, the whole segment slows down. Fibre doesn't have this problem. Each home gets a dedicated connection back to the provider's core network, so your speed doesn't drop during peak hours.
Future speed increases
This is the one most people don't think about. Fibre has enormous headroom. Researchers in London recently set a 450 Tbps world record using the same kind of fibre that runs into homes today. Every time the industry releases new hardware (like XGSPON), the fibre already in the ground gets faster without anyone digging up your street. Cable is much closer to its physical ceiling.
What each is best for
Fibre is best for:
- Multi-person households with lots of connected devices
- Work from home (video calls, cloud backups, uploading files)
- Gaming, where latency matters more than raw speed
- Content creation, where upload speed is critical
- 4K and 8K streaming across multiple TVs
- Smart homes with 20+ connected devices
- Anyone who wants their connection to keep getting better as the technology improves
Cable is fine for:
- Households where fibre isn't yet available
- Lighter single-person households where speed and latency aren't critical
- People who mostly download and rarely upload
Is fibre available in Nova Scotia?
Purple Fibre is Purple Cow Internet's own next-generation fibre network, and it's expanding across Atlantic Canada. Coverage is growing area by area, with new neighbourhoods added on an ongoing basis. Purple Fibre uses XGSPON, the latest generation of fibre-to-the-home technology, and Purple Cow was the first internet provider in Atlantic Canada to deploy it. Speeds up to 8 Gbps are available on Purple Fibre plans.
To find out if Purple Fibre is at your address, use the address checker linked below.
Frequently asked questions
Is fibre internet really faster than cable?
Yes, especially at the top end. The best cable plans reach about 1 to 2 Gbps in most Canadian markets. Fibre plans on Purple Fibre reach up to 8 Gbps. Fibre also has faster upload speeds and lower latency than cable.
Does fibre work during a power outage?
The fibre line itself isn't affected by power. But the equipment in your home (the ONT and your router) needs power to function. Same story as cable. A battery backup on your router will keep you online during a short outage.
Is fibre more expensive than cable?
Not necessarily. Purple Fibre is priced meaningfully lower than typical incumbent cable plans while offering higher speeds. Prices vary by provider and plan, so compare what you'll actually pay after any intro rate expires.
Do I need special equipment for fibre?
Yes. Fibre connections use an ONT (optical network terminal) that converts the light signal into an electrical one for your router. If you sign up for Purple Fibre, the ONT is installed for free by the technician who sets you up.
Does fibre slow down during peak hours?
Much less than cable. Fibre gives each home a dedicated connection back to the provider's network, so your speed doesn't drop when everyone in the neighbourhood is streaming at the same time.
What is XGSPON?
XGSPON is the latest generation of fibre-to-the-home technology, capable of delivering symmetric multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps. Purple Cow was the first internet provider in Atlantic Canada to deploy XGSPON.
Can I switch from cable to fibre without downtime?
In most cases, yes. When Purple Cow installs Purple Fibre, we activate the new connection first, then help you cancel your old service. You're on the new network the same day, with no downtime in most cases.
See if Purple Fibre
Reaches Your Address
Check in about 10 seconds. If we're on your street, you'll almost certainly do better on Purple Fibre than on cable.
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