- A
Fiber has higher download speeds
Why wrong: While fiber is fast, the key for VoIP is low latency and consistency, not just raw speed.
- B
Fiber is less prone to electromagnetic interference
Why wrong: EMI is less of a factor for VoIP; latency is more critical.
- C
Fiber provides symmetrical upload and download speeds
Symmetrical speeds and low latency ensure clear VoIP calls without jitter.
- D
Fiber is cheaper than cable
Why wrong: Fiber is often more expensive than cable broadband.
Question 3 of 1,020
Fiber vs Cable for VoIP
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of internet connection types. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is deploying VoIP phones and needs a connection with low latency and consistent speeds. They are choosing between cable broadband and fiber-optic. Which factor makes fiber the better choice?
Quick Answer
The answer is fiber, because its symmetrical upload and download speeds provide the consistent low latency that VoIP requires. Unlike cable broadband, which relies on a shared network node that can cause latency spikes during peak usage, fiber-optic technology uses dedicated light signals through glass strands, ensuring each call’s data packets travel without contention. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of network performance factors for real-time applications; a common trap is assuming cable’s higher download speed alone guarantees quality, but VoIP’s two-way audio demands equal upload capacity. Remember the mnemonic “Fiber is Fair” — symmetrical speeds mean no bottleneck for voice traffic, while cable’s asymmetrical design prioritizes downloads, leaving uploads and latency vulnerable.
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 provides symmetrical upload and download speeds
Fiber-optic connections use separate strands for upstream and downstream data, enabling symmetrical speeds. For VoIP, this ensures consistent upload bandwidth for voice packets, which is critical for low latency and jitter. Cable broadband (DOCSIS) typically has asymmetric speeds due to shared upstream channels, making fiber the better choice for real-time voice traffic.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Fiber has higher download speeds
Why it's wrong here
While fiber is fast, the key for VoIP is low latency and consistency, not just raw speed.
- ✗
Fiber is less prone to electromagnetic interference
Why it's wrong here
EMI is less of a factor for VoIP; latency is more critical.
- ✓
Fiber provides symmetrical upload and download speeds
Why this is correct
Symmetrical speeds and low latency ensure clear VoIP calls without jitter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Fiber is cheaper than cable
Why it's wrong here
Fiber is often more expensive than cable broadband.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ tests the misconception that low latency is primarily about download speed or interference immunity, but the real trap is that VoIP requires symmetrical upload/download speeds to maintain consistent voice quality, which fiber provides inherently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
VoIP uses RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) over UDP, which is sensitive to packet loss and delay. Fiber's symmetrical bandwidth ensures that upstream voice packets (from phone to network) are not throttled by DOCSIS's upstream channel contention, which can cause jitter buffers to overflow. In real-world deployments, cable's upstream speeds are often 10-20% of downstream, causing voice quality issues during peak usage.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Internet Connection Types — This question tests Internet Connection Types — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Fiber provides symmetrical upload and download speeds — Fiber-optic connections use separate strands for upstream and downstream data, enabling symmetrical speeds. For VoIP, this ensures consistent upload bandwidth for voice packets, which is critical for low latency and jitter. Cable broadband (DOCSIS) typically has asymmetric speeds due to shared upstream channels, making fiber the better choice for real-time voice traffic.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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