ADSL uses copper cables and offers limited asymmetric speeds that are highly dependent on distance and the condition of the cabling. Fiber requires new. It runs over fiber-optic cables that use the literal speed of light (or something close to it) to give internet access to your phone or laptop. On the other hand, DSL internet is old-school, kinda slow, and heading towards extinction. How Does Fiber Internet Work? Fiber internet uses fiber optic cables—lines made of small fibers of glass—to. Fiber-optic internet, also known as "fiber", transfers light signals along thin strands of glass.