The short answer is no, fiber optics and broadband are not the same thing. fiber is the decision most enterprises face when upgrading connectivity. Unlike traditional ADSL broadband, which relies on copper phone lines, fibre is built for. When choosing between different types of internet services, one of the most common questions is: What's the difference between fibre optic broadband and regular broadband? The two terms can seem similar, but there are some significant differences that can have a big impact on your internet. Broadband internet is a general term used to refer to high-speed internet or as the term specifically means, it is an internet connection that has the ability to handle a broad bandwidth of data.