
Fiber Optics Equals Faster Internet
The technology behind Elevate Internet: Fiber Optics
With 90% of U.S. adults using the internet these days, we think it’s safe to say that fast internet isn’t just a luxury anymore. It’s the modern way of life. But, what really is the internet and what makes it fast—or for some people, so very painfully slow?
The state of Colorado ranks 23 in internet connectivity and it is reported that the average speed for most of us is 40 Mbps. (Yeah, right?! Insert eye roll here.) We all know our area trends even slower, with many reports coming in from real people living right here in this valley that are getting speeds less than 10 Mbps.
So, what’s this all have to do with Elevate? Slow speeds, poor service, and lack of affordability were (and still are for many) the reality of internet service in our communities. That’s why the citizens of Montrose and Delta counties came to DMEA (our parent company) asking for a solution—expand DMEA’s fiber network to the homes and business in the communities and provide high-speed internet that is truly fast, affordable, and reliable. Building a fiber network from the ground up is a pretty cool story, but that’s not what we’re talking about today. So, let’s talk internet and what makes it tick.
What is internet?
By definition, the internet is a global communication network that transmits data. You experience that data as things like this webpage, that Pandora stream you’re listening to, and last night’s Amazon prime splurge. The internet is really a global communication system that includes both the hardware and infrastructure—think data centers, servers, computers, and wires—and hosts what we know today as the world wide web. Internet and world wide web are used so interchangeably today that for most of us they are one and the same.
Definition aside, the internet is now one of the most powerful tools we use to navigate modern life—even in rural places such as Montrose and Delta counties. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center just 15% of people living in rural areas don’t use the internet. That means 85% of us do. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
But, if the internet is so important now, why don’t we know more about what makes it tick? Well, we’re here to help.
How do you access this internet?
There are four main ways people in our corner of Western Colorado access the internet: