Everyone talks about it, but few people know what it really is. Optical fibre is a strand of glass that carries your data in the form of light. Here is how it works, what “hybrid fibre” means when we talk about the cable network, and how to know what speed you really need at home.
What is optical fibre? A strand of glass, as thin as a hair
An optical fibre is a flexible strand of very pure glass, about as thick as a hair. To make it, a cylinder of silica glass is heated to nearly 2,000 °C, then drawn into a strand whose diameter is continuously checked by laser, so that it is perfectly even from one end to the other.
The strand is then coated with a protective resin, hardened with ultraviolet light, which protects it from moisture and impacts. Finally, several fibres are grouped in a cable, surrounded by sheaths and by reinforcing fibres that are highly resistant to pulling.
Data that travels in the form of light
At one end, a transmitter turns the electrical signal into pulses of light. The light stays trapped in the core of the fibre: it reflects off the walls as it would off a mirror, and so travels for kilometres while losing very little intensity. At the other end, a receiver turns the light back into an electrical signal.
Why optical fibre is so fast
- Huge capacity. A single fibre carries far more data than a copper wire.
- Little loss. The signal stays clear over long distances.
- No electrical interference. Light is not disturbed by electrical devices nearby.
Hybrid fibre: fibre as far as your neighbourhood, cable to your home
The modern cable network is a hybrid fibre network: optical fibre runs as far as your neighbourhood, then coaxial cable, already in place in most houses and buildings in Quebec, takes over to your home. You get the speed of fibre with no work needed in your home: no wall to open, no new wire to pull.
It is on this network that Club Internet offers its home Internet plans, from 6 to 450 Mbps, all with unlimited data, starting at $34.95 per month.
Optical fibre or cable: what difference does it make for you?
In both cases, optical fibre covers most of the distance. The difference is in the last few metres: with fibre to the home, the glass strand comes into your home; with hybrid fibre, coaxial cable completes the journey. Day to day, what matters to you is the speed of your plan and the quality of your Wi-Fi, far more than the kind of wire that reaches your wall.
If the Wi-Fi is weak in one room, the problem most often comes from the router and where it sits, not from the connection: read how to get a powerful Internet connection at home.
What speed do you really need?
The highest speed is not necessarily the right one. It depends on how many people live with you and what they do at the same time:
- 6 to 11 Mbps: one person, email, browsing, standard-definition video.
- 17 to 35 Mbps: two to four people, working from home, HD video on one or two screens.
- 70 to 118 Mbps: a family, 4K, online gaming, several devices at the same time.
- 140 to 450 Mbps: a very connected home, large downloads, cameras and home automation.
Here are Club Internet's nine speeds on the hybrid fibre cable network, all with unlimited data, monthly or yearly:
| Plan | Speeds (download / upload) | Per month | For the year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mbps | 6 / 1 Mbps | $34.95 | $384.45 |
| 11 Mbps | 11 / 1.5 Mbps | $39.95 | $439.45 |
| 17 Mbps | 17 / 11 Mbps | $44.95 | $494.45 |
| 35 Mbps | 35 / 11 Mbps | $49.95 | $549.45 |
| 70 Mbps | 70 / 11 Mbps | $54.95 | $604.45 |
| 118 Mbps | 118 / 36 Mbps | $59.95 | $659.45 |
| 140 Mbps | 140 / 23 Mbps | $69.95 | $769.45 |
| 240 Mbps | 240 / 36 Mbps | $79.95 | $879.45 |
| 450 Mbps | 450 / 50 Mbps | $89.95 | $989.45 |
Prices before taxes. Monthly or every 6 months, installation is $50, one time only. Yearly, you pay 11 months for 12 months of service and installation is free. There is no contract and no term commitment.
Is it available at your address?
The speeds available depend on each address in Quebec, not just on the city. Check your address in one minute: you will know what is available at your home before you order. The modem is a free rental: it is lent at no charge, it remains the property of Club Internet and it is returned to one of our offices, in Montréal or Varennes, at the end of the service.
What it changes for you
- Series in 4K on several screens at once.
- Clear video calls, with no frozen picture.
- 50 GB game updates downloaded in a few minutes.
- A smart home (cameras, voice assistants, thermostats) that doesn't slow anyone down.
To go further
- The unlimited cable Internet plans: speeds, prices and payment options.
- Unlimited Internet plans in Quebec: which provider to choose?
- Frequently asked questions: installation, modem, payment and support.
Is it available at your address?
Check in one minute which speeds are available at your home, or call us at 1 833 541-2582 (toll-free).