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Internet Infrastructure | LandmarkSAS

Helping our partners understand, design, and upgrade the physical internet infrastructure that powers their homes, buildings, and communities.

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Communication Network Infrastructure

A clear view of how internet reaches your property

Your internet service does not appear by itself. It travels across a physical network that can be made of twisted copper pairs, hybrid fiber coax, or full fiber optic cable. Each one has different limits for speed, distance, stability, and capacity. The choice of cable and architecture between the provider and your building is one of the main reasons why one user experiences smooth connectivity while another sees constant freezing and interruptions.

In many cities there is a mix of technologies in the ground and on the poles. Telephone companies deployed twisted pair copper for voice, cable companies deployed coaxial cable for television, and newer providers or utility projects have started to deploy fiber optic cable. The service you receive and the experience you feel are directly tied to which of these infrastructures is present at the entrance of your property and how they are combined internally.

Three main infrastructures that carry your service

Twisted pair copper is the most traditional form of telecom wiring, created many decades ago for analog voice communication and later adapted for internet through DSL. Hybrid fiber coax is a transitional model that uses fiber in the backbone and coaxial copper in the last segment from the optical node to the user. Fiber optic cable represents the current reference standard for high speed and long distance connectivity, where data travels as light through a glass core.

On the surface, a subscription can look similar. The contract may promise a certain download speed and a brand name that you recognize. Behind that, however, the physical medium can be very different. Twisted pair and coaxial systems rely on electrical signals that are sensitive to distance, weather, age, and interference. Fiber uses light, which keeps the signal clean and stable across far greater distances with less sensitivity to outside conditions.

How infrastructure affects speed and reliability

The infrastructure in place sets a ceiling for what your internet can do. A modern router cannot perform beyond the limits of the cable feeding it. On older copper, the signal can start strong at the central office but weaken with every meter of distance, especially on very thin twisted pairs. On hybrid fiber coax, the backbone performs well but the last stretch still inherits many of the limitations of copper. On fiber, the signal remains strong for long distances, which allows higher speeds, more stable upload performance, and lower latency for real time applications.

This is why two addresses on the same street can see very different results even with similar service plans. One property may be tied to a long loop of twisted pair from an older telephone network. Another may be served by an optical fiber that arrives directly to the building or to a nearby cabinet with very short copper segments. Understanding which scenario describes your property is essential when planning new services, adding devices, or evaluating constant performance issues.

Factors that contribute to slow or unstable internet

The most common causes of freezing video, calls that drop, or web pages that take too long to load are often traced back to the physical layer. Copper based systems depend on electrical transmission, which is affected by the length and quality of the cable, splices and joints along the path, moisture, corrosion, and the presence of other electrical sources nearby. As the infrastructure ages, the number of weak points and potential failures grows, and with that the number of outages and service tickets.

Fiber optic systems behave differently. Because the signal is carried as light inside a glass core, it is immune to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference. It is much less sensitive to distance within the usual ranges for access networks, and it requires fewer amplification points. This means fewer places where something can go wrong, fewer service calls, and more consistent performance during the entire life of the system.

Why this matters for homes, buildings, and communities

For a home user, better infrastructure means smoother streaming, more reliable video calls, and support for smart devices without constant buffering. For a commercial building it means more stable point of sale systems, cameras, access control, and office connectivity. For a residential community, it means every unit can access modern services without overloading a network that was never designed for current demand.

At LandmarkSAS, our focus is to help you translate this technical reality into practical decisions. We look at what is in place, map the paths between entry points and users, and design a roadmap from older copper based systems to a fiber centric architecture that prepares your property for future services, higher densities of devices, and more demanding applications.

A recommendation for future proof upgrades

If your network today is built on twisted pair copper or hybrid fiber coax and you are planning for higher speeds and more reliable service in the coming years, the natural path is migration to fiber optic technology. The initial investment is offset by its durability, superior performance, and reduced need for reconstruction. Once fiber is in place, upgrades are achieved largely through changes in active equipment rather than replacing the underlying cable, which makes it a stable platform for long term growth.

Twisted Pair Copper

Twisted pair copper is the oldest and most basic telecom cable still in use. It was originally installed by telephone companies to carry analog voice calls between homes and central offices. When internet services became popular, providers introduced DSL technology, which allows data to travel over the same copper pairs that were once dedicated only to voice. The cable itself is very thin, and the signal that travels along it is electrical. Under ideal conditions, twisted pair can reach speeds of up to about two hundred megabits per second, but performance in the real world is limited by distance, cable quality, and the number of joints and splices between the central office and the user.

One of the most important characteristics of twisted pair is that signal quality degrades quickly as distance increases. A property that is very close to the central office can see acceptable results, while another address farther away on the same network experiences much lower speeds and more interruptions. The thin copper conductors are also sensitive to external electrical noise, weather, and aging. Over time, this combination leads to more frequent outages, limited upload performance, and an overall experience that does not align with modern expectations for high definition streaming, cloud applications, security cameras, and interactive services.

Hybrid Fiber Coax

Hybrid fiber coax, often called HFC, is a transitional architecture widely used by cable television companies. It combines two different physical media in one system. In the core and distribution backbone, providers deploy fiber optic cables that can handle high capacity over long distances. Closer to the customer, at an optical node, the light signal from the fiber is converted into an electrical radio frequency signal. From that point on, the service travels over coaxial copper cable, which is thicker and better shielded than twisted pair.

Historically, HFC networks delivered speeds between ten and one hundred megabits per second. Modern versions, with updated equipment and better spectrum usage, can offer up to around one gigabit per second near the customer premises. This makes HFC a significant improvement over basic twisted pair for many users. However, it still relies on electrical transmission in the last segment and is often shared among many homes in a neighborhood. As a result, performance can fluctuate at peak hours, and the system remains more vulnerable than full fiber to interference, aging cable, and distance from the node.

Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber optic cable represents the current reference standard for high speed communications. Instead of carrying electrical signals, fiber uses pulses of light that move through a very thin glass core, sometimes as fine as a human hair. Because it uses light rather than electricity, fiber is immune to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference and can transport data across long distances with very little signal loss. This makes it ideal for both long haul networks and access networks that must support demanding services for homes, businesses, and entire communities.

Fiber supports extremely high data rates, starting from one hundred megabits per second and scaling all the way to multi gigabit speeds suitable for enterprise and carrier grade applications. It also supports symmetric profiles, where upload capacity matches or approaches download capacity. This is critical for modern usage patterns, which involve constant video calls, cloud backups, shared workspaces, and remote access to applications. The physical characteristics of fiber allow the infrastructure to remain in place for generations while electronics evolve, which is why it is considered a future ready choice for new developments and for upgrades in existing properties.

Key advantages of a modern internet foundation

Higher reliability

Reduce outages, service tickets, and emergency visits by moving away from aging copper loops toward fiber based infrastructure with fewer weak points.

Consistent performance

Maintain stable speeds across distance and time of day so that streaming, cameras, access control, and cloud tools remain responsive when they are needed most.

Capacity for growth

Support more users, more devices, and more applications without rebuilding the entire network every few years as demand increases.

Long term value

Invest in an infrastructure that can serve for decades and unlock future services, turning connectivity into a stable asset instead of a recurring problem.

Use cases where infrastructure makes a difference

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Commercial buildings

Offices rely on stable connectivity for calls, collaboration platforms, point of sale, and security systems. A fiber centric design reduces downtime and supports modern tenants.

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Residential communities

Multi unit properties require shared infrastructure that can support high speed service to many homes at the same time without congestion or constant complaints.

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Industrial and campus sites

Warehouses, plants, and campus environments connect cameras, machinery, control systems, and staff networks. Fiber backbones and structured distribution are essential for safe operations.

Our internet infrastructure model

Current state assessment: We start with a physical and logical review of your existing network. This includes identifying cable types, entry points from service providers, distribution closets, and the paths that connect equipment rooms with user areas.
Infrastructure mapping: We document where twisted pair copper, hybrid fiber coax, and fiber optic segments are used, how they are interconnected, and where bottlenecks appear. This map becomes the reference for all future decisions.
Upgrade strategy: Based on your goals, we design a phased migration plan that introduces or extends fiber, reduces the dependence on legacy copper, and aligns budgets with realistic milestones for your property or community.
Implementation and coordination: We coordinate with service providers, construction partners, and internal teams to execute the physical changes. The objective is to minimize disruption while ensuring that each new segment is properly installed and tested.
Validation and support: After the upgrade, we validate performance with measurements, monitor stability, and assist as new services and devices are layered on top of the improved infrastructure.

FAQ

Why does my internet freeze or drop so often?

Many issues are related to the physical layer. If your service runs over older twisted pair copper or long coaxial runs, the electrical signal can degrade with distance, age, and interference. This leads to unstable speeds, latency spikes, and more frequent outages even when your plan seems adequate on paper.

Is hybrid fiber coax the same as full fiber?

Hybrid fiber coax uses fiber for the backbone but converts the signal to radio frequency over coaxial copper for the last segment. It is more capable than thin twisted pair but it is not the same as a full fiber connection that reaches the building or the unit. Full fiber keeps the signal as light for a much larger portion of the path, which improves stability and performance.

What makes fiber optic more reliable?

Fiber carries data as pulses of light inside a glass core. This makes it immune to electromagnetic and radio frequency interference and allows it to maintain signal quality across long distances without the same level of amplification and conditioning that copper requires. Fewer intermediate devices and fewer external influences result in fewer outages and a more predictable experience.

Do we have to replace everything at once to move to fiber?

Not necessarily. Many projects use a phased approach. A property can start by upgrading main backbones and critical segments, then extend fiber closer to end users over time. This approach spreads investment across phases and reduces disruption while steadily improving the quality of the network.

Is upgrading to fiber a short term or long term decision?

Upgrading to fiber is a long term infrastructure decision. Once fiber is installed, the same physical cable can support multiple generations of service simply by upgrading the electronics at each end. This makes it a strong foundation for future demand and reduces the need for repeated construction work.

How can I know what type of infrastructure I currently have?

A site survey can reveal the type of cable that enters your building, the location of optical nodes and distribution panels, and the path that connects these points with user areas. LandmarkSAS can perform this evaluation and provide a clear, visual report of your current infrastructure and its limitations.

Can LandmarkSAS help with planning and provider coordination?

Yes. We act as a technical partner to help you understand provider offerings, validate the infrastructure that is being proposed, and align the physical design of your network with your operational needs, growth plans, and budget.

Build a better internet foundation

If your property still depends on copper based systems, we can help you evaluate your options and design a fiber ready infrastructure that supports your users and services for many years.

Talk to our internet advisor