Latest FBA Research Underscores Fiber is the Superior Broadband Technology

The Fiber Broadband Association’s annual Broadband Consumer Study reveals fiber is the best technology to deliver digital equality across North America

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#broadband–The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) today released its 2021 Broadband Consumer Study that reveals fiber is the clear superior technology to meet broadband needs. The research, conducted by RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting (RVA), concludes that when compared to other broadband technology—including cable, DSL/FTTN, satellite, mobile wireless and fixed wireless—fiber has stronger reliability, the highest satisfaction rates and lowest cost per Mbps.

RVA consumer broadband studies have been conducted for the FBA since 2006. The data for the latest study was collected from 4,300 surveys of U.S. and Canadian broadband consumers in May 2021. This annual research provides a snapshot of the current broadband market. It includes the latest broadband technology deployment numbers, satisfaction rates and market growth rates. The FBA leverages the results to set strategic initiatives, and FBA members utilize this data to guide current and future fiber deployment plans.

“We’re experiencing a defining moment in building broadband infrastructure, and our research will help influence public policy to ensure that the remaining 20 – 40 million Americans without broadband access can finally realize digital equality,” said Gary Bolton, President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “We know that when broadband capacity is unlimited, our communities’ potential is limitless. This research underscores the fact that fiber is the superior broadband technology because of its ability to reliably connect families and businesses to new opportunities.”

This year’s survey revealed several key findings that note fiber has the:

Highest Satisfaction Rating
- Fiber has an average net promoter score of 20% (scores of other broadband types range from -5% to -45%).
Highest Reliability based on reported outages
Highest Speeds and Lowest Latency based on random speed tests.
Lowest Cost per Mbps at $0.66
- Other technologies range from $1.00 – $6.00 per Mbps.
Increase in value to Real Estate
- Increasing the value of homes by 3.4%, apartment rental prices by 8.1% and apartment operating income by 15%.

Click here to download the full 2021 Broadband Consumer Study.

The Fiber Broadband Association is part of the Fibre Council Global Alliance, which is a platform of six global FTTH Councils in the Americas, LATAM, Europe, MENA, and APAC.

About the Fiber Broadband Association

The Fiber Broadband Association is the largest and only trade association that represents the complete fiber ecosystem of service providers, manufacturers, industry experts and deployment specialists dedicated to the advancement of fiber broadband deployment and the pursuit of a world where communications are limitless, advancing quality of life and digital equity anywhere and everywhere. The Fiber Broadband Association helps providers, communities and policy makers make informed decisions about how, where and why to build better fiber broadband networks. Since 2001, these companies, organizations and members have worked with communities and consumers in mind to build the critical infrastructure that provides the economic and societal benefits that only fiber can deliver. Learn more at fiberbroadband.org.