Though fiber-optic internet is run with literal cables, it's quite different from a traditional cable internet. Fiber transmits the internet through strands of glass rather than copper; as such, it's completely unaffected by environmental conditions, and it multiplies typical internet speeds.Fiber providers are few and far between, with minimal availability. Traditional cable providers like Comcast are beginning to introduce fiber service, but it has a long way to go before reaching the same nationwide availability as other internet types.