How to make gigabit internet at home truly gigabit. Interview with a Vega expert

Blackouts are the main trigger for users to switch to gigabit optics

Since 2021, Vega has taken a strategic course to transition to GPON technology, which supports the operation of the Internet during power outages. This was the group's investment in the quality and independence of the network. So when the war began and a little later - blackouts, the network was already ready for new challenges.

The company currently serves over 300 thousand subscribers. At the same time, demand for modern technology is gradually forming.

“Subscriber migration really started to pick up right after the first power outages,” notes expert Vega. Before that, GPON was mainly of interest to people for whom increased data transfer speeds were of particular importance.

Therefore, blackouts really became a trigger for a mass transition to more stable and high-speed connections.

Consumption profile: from IoT to 4K

A typical family in 2025

For a family of 3-4 people, it is typical:

• Minimum of one device per family member
• Mobile devices: laptops, tablets, smartphones
• IoT appliances: vacuum cleaners, microwaves, refrigerators

“Every year, the scale of consumption increases,” emphasizes Igor.

Specifics for IT specialists

In families of IT specialists, there are usually additional requirements for Internet quality:

• Global availability: sites from all over the world should work fast
• File sharing environments for workflows
• Video conferencing: Zoom, Teams and similar
• Working with large files: 4K video

"A 4K quality movie already requires a higher connection than 100 Mbps ideally. It's not just about speed, it's also about network quality," explains a Vega specialist.

Gaming: Is ping more important than speed?

For gamers, there are also several key connection parameters that a high-quality optical network can typically guarantee:

1. Speed ​​– for high image quality
2. Ping - game server response time

"If the ping is high, then players will have anomalies such as freezes, freezing, they will not have time to see anything on their screen," explains Igor Hrynevych.

Gigabit networking provides better ping thanks to a fiber optic connection without unnecessary interference.

It is important to understand

The quality of the connection depends not only on the provider:

• Other networks on the way to the server
• Server location (Europe, America)
• Client equipment — routers, gaming routers, laptop

Mesh networks: solving coverage problems

What is Mesh?

This is a special network technology that allows you to build a high-speed Wi-Fi network at home, without losing speed and signal quality. A mesh network can be supported by several devices that are combined into a single network. This technology is ideal for large households with several floors, where a regular gigabit router will no longer cope with the task of providing continuous coverage.

Key benefits:

• Seamless transition between access points
• Single network — no need to reconnect
• Stable coverage throughout the room

Practical tips:

When choosing equipment, consider:

• Number of rooms and area
• Wall material (brick/wood vs reinforced concrete)
• The presence of a Mesh function in the router (perhaps your home router already supports it).

"Mesh is a common topology, a common protocol. It is supported by both TP-Link and ASUS, by all manufacturers," emphasizes Igor Grinevich.

Mesh alternatives:

• Amplifiers simply amplify the signal, but create separate (not continuous) networks, often not guaranteeing gigabit speeds.
• Powerline adapters — transmit the signal directly through the home's electrical network (a less popular solution).

10G Internet: the future or marketing?

10-gigabit networks are a new step in the development of home Internet networks, which both providers and users will definitely have to take someday.

Technical side

• GPON (regular) = 1 Gbps
• XGS-PON = 10 Gbit — the next level of equipment

"We are currently testing the connection of base stations using XGS-PON technology. We may even be the first in Ukraine, the first in the world to do such things," says specialist Vega.

The implementation of XGS-PON at base stations opens up the possibility of a rapid transition to the fifth generation of communications - 5G.

Market reality

What Vega says:

• Ready network to deliver 10G
• There is practically no demand among home users
• Single requests from private clients
• Main focus — business clients

Implementation barriers

First of all, this is the cost of equipment:

• 10G router: from 10+ thousand UAH (but the choice is very limited)
• ONU (optical modem): support 10G
• Network card: with 10G support
• Powerful processor: for handling traffic

“That is, all equipment on the way from the provider to the client must be at the same level of technological development,” emphasizes Hrynevych.

Practical recommendations for IT professionals

When planning a home network:

1. Assess your needs: do you really need gigabit/10G?
2. Check the Mesh support in the router (in the specifications or control panel)
3. Consider the architecture of the property when choosing a solution
4. Invest gradually: first a quality gigabit router with Mesh

For a gaming setup:

• Priority on connection quality, not just speed
• Consider gaming routers (higher price range)
• Check the PC's network card

Mesh vs amplifiers:

• Mesh — for a seamless experience
• Amplifiers - a budget solution with compromises

Conclusions: what awaits us

The Ukrainian gigabit internet market is showing organic growth, driven by real needs, not marketing. Blackouts have become a catalyst for realizing the importance of a quality connection.

10G technologies are technically ready, but are waiting for equipment costs to come down and real demand to emerge. For now, it is a niche for businesses and enthusiasts.

For most IT professionals, the optimal solution remains high-quality gigabit Internet with a properly configured Mesh network.