hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: An IT manager is comparing cable broadband and…
An IT manager is comparing cable broadband and fiber-optic for a new office. They need the lowest possible latency for real-time financial trading applications. Which connection type should they choose, and why?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that 'faster download speeds' or 'immunity to interference' are the primary reasons for choosing fiber, when the actual exam focus is on latency characteristics and dedicated bandwidth for time-sensitive applications.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Fiber-optic, because it provides lower latency due to the speed of light in glass and dedicated bandwidth
Fiber-optic connections transmit data as light pulses through glass, which travels at approximately 2/3 the speed of light in a vacuum, significantly faster than electrical signals in copper. Additionally, fiber provides dedicated bandwidth per user, eliminating the contention and latency spikes common in cable broadband's shared coaxial architecture. This combination of propagation speed and consistent low latency makes fiber the optimal choice for real-time financial trading where microseconds matter.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cable broadband, because it uses coaxial cable which is faster than fiber
Why it's wrong here
Coaxial is slower than fiber; fiber uses light, which is faster.
- ✗
Fiber-optic, because it uses light signals and is not subject to electromagnetic interference
Why it's wrong here
EMI is not the primary reason; fiber's lower latency comes from light speed and dedicated lines.
- ✗
Cable broadband, because it has higher download speeds
Why it's wrong here
Download speed is less critical than latency for trading; fiber also often has higher speeds.
- ✓
Fiber-optic, because it provides lower latency due to the speed of light in glass and dedicated bandwidth
Why this is correct
Fiber's use of light and lack of shared bandwidth results in the lowest latency.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
TCP/IP and Common Ports for A+
Key term
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can travel over a network connection in a given amount of time, usually measured in bits per second.
Key term
Latency
Latency is the time delay between a request being sent over a network and the response being received, often measured in milliseconds.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.