Fibre internet changed the game for South Africans when it rolled into town back in the early 2010s. Kids today will never understand the anguish of setting hours aside just to upload a photo album to Facebook. (They will also probably never understand uploading a photo album to Facebook. It was cool back then, ok.) Thanks to fibre, we have internet gaming, Netflix binges and TikTok. But speed and reliability are not all fibre internet has going for it. It’s also more ecofriendly than its ADSL predecessor – for a number of reasons. 

Fibre Internet Is More Energy Efficient

Fibre internet uses fibre-optic cables, made using a naturally occurring mineral called silica, with strands thinner a human hair. Where copper cables use electricity, fibre-optic cables use light signals. This means it can travel further distances, faster and you can pack a lot more capacity into a single cable (which means a faster internet connection).

But it also generates minimal heat, so data centres don’t need big, energy-guzzling cooling systems, making them more eco-friendly. 

Fewer Resources; Less Waste 

Fibre-optic cables are more durable than copper cables, making them less susceptible to degradation and weather interference – hence a fibre internet connection is more dependable. That durability also gives them a longer lifespan. The result is they don’t have to be replaced as often, so fewer resources go into producing and maintaining them.

It also means less waste needing to be disposed of. What’s more, we have yet to realise the full potential of fibre-optics, so it’s a future-proof technology, too. 

Reduced Carbon Emissions 

In the days before fast, reliable internet connections, people had no choice but to commute to office jobs every day. If you had to do business with someone in another city or country, you had to go there – even if it meant flying across the country or the world just for one meeting. Not very ecofriendly.

Fibre internet has changed that. With fast, reliable internet connections available, we can now meet face-to-face with someone in another part of the world without leaving home. It has reduced the need for commuting and in the process reduced carbon emissions. 

Social Upliftment 

A number of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals have to do with social issues – including “no poverty”, “zero hunger”, “quality education” and “reduced inequalities”. Fibre internet helps reduce inequality by providing access to resources that would otherwise be unattainable. A strong and reliable internet connection enables virtual education, allowing people to upskill themselves with online qualifications. It can even facilitate children’s education through online resources like Vodacom e-Learning, which offers free content with no data costs. For those in the job market, it means access to virtual work opportunities – people can earn an income without having to pay for transport and childcare. It also opens opportunities for persons with disabilities who find it difficult to commute.  

We’ve come a long way since the early dial-up internet connections of the 1990s. Now, with fibre internet, we can see a brighter future for all. Connect your home with Vodacom fibre and stream, browse and game efficiently online.