GFiber 8 Gig Plan Overview

Maximize your GFiber 8 Gig plan. Discover the hardware setup needed for symmetrical 8 Gbps speeds, including Cat6A cabling, 10 Gbps switches, hardware specs, and why you must use the Ookla Desktop App to run accurate speed tests.

Your GFiber 8 Gig internet plan brings massive, professional-grade bandwidth into your home. Because 8 Gig speeds are vastly faster than what standard consumer devices were originally built to handle, this guide explains exactly what to expect and how to configure your hardware to unlock the absolute maximum performance of your plan.

Looking for an upgrade? GFiber now offers Edge 8 Gig in select areas, featuring faster symmetrical speeds and upgraded features. To check availability or change your plan, log into your account and select Manage Plan, or use the mobile GFiber App.

Speed Specifics: What is 8 Gig?

What are symmetrical speeds? Download speed is the rate digital data travels from the internet to your device. Upload speed is the rate data travels from your router back to the internet. Symmetrical plans give you equal speed for both, ensuring lag-free video calls and fast file sharing.

The 8 Gig plan is a symmetrical connection, meaning your download and upload caps are identical:

Maximum Download Speed: Up to 8 Gbps (8,000 Mbps) through a wired connection.
Maximum Upload Speed: Up to 8 Gbps (8,000 Mbps) through a wired connection.

Aggregate vs. Single-Device Speed

For the Whole Household: Technology and data professionals, as well as serious tech enthusiasts, benefit the most from this plan. Massive datasets, cloud applications, and remote servers can run simultaneously across your household without a single hint of slowdown. It provides unprecedented shared headroom for the most demanding network environments.
For a Single Dedicated Device: To see a speed test hit the full 8 Gbps mark on a single computer, your machine must be specifically outfitted with 10-gigabit compatible hardware. Due to browser-based limitations at these extreme speeds, you will also need to download and use the Ookla Desktop Client App rather than a web browser to accurately test your full line speed.

Reach Maximum Wired Speeds

If you want to achieve maximum 8 Gbps file transfers, system updates, or flawless speed tests on a single machine, your wired hardware chain must support multi-gigabit throughput from the 10 Gig capable Fiber Jack onward.

Network Component	Requirement for Full 8 Gig Speeds
Ethernet Cable	Must be Cat6A or newer. Standard Cat6 cables cannot reliably reach 8 Gbps speeds. Look for the rating labeled directly on the cable jacket.
Device Port / Adapter	Built-in 10 Gbps ports are rare on laptops but available on high-end desktops (like the Apple Mac Studio or Mac Pro). Otherwise, you must use a compatible 10 Gbps USB/Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter.
USB & Hardware Interface	External adapters must plug into a high-speed USB 3.0 port or newer (Type-A or Type-C). Your PC should ideally feature an 8-core processor or higher and a Solid State Drive (SSD) with PCIe 4.0 to handle 8 Gbps throughput.
Network Switch (Optional)	To split maximum speeds across multiple wired devices, you must use a specialized Multi-Gig switch rated for 8 Gbps or greater.
System Maintenance	Ensure your operating system and network interface card (NIC) drivers are completely up to date to prevent data throttling.

For a complete breakdown of maximum wireless capabilities across all plans, visit the Maximum Internet Speeds on GFiber Guide.

Maximize Your 8 Gig Wi-Fi Experience

Your 8 Gig plan includes a specialized GFiber Multi-gig Router and two GFiber Mesh Extenders.

Expected Wireless Speeds: Under optimal wireless conditions, you can expect real-world Wi-Fi speeds up to 700 Mbps. Exact speeds will vary based on the device you are using.
The Device Age Factor: Devices manufactured before 2020 may lack internal Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) chips. While they will connect to your network seamlessly, they cannot reach the top wireless speeds this plan offers. Check with your device manufacturer if you are unsure.

Quick Tips to Clean Up Your Wireless Signal

Prefer 5 GHz: Ensure your high-performance devices are connected to your network's 5 GHz frequency rather than the slower, more crowded 2.4 GHz band.
Bypass Physical Barriers: Distance matters — the closer you are to the router, the faster your speed. Thick building materials like concrete or cinder block walls heavily degrade wireless signals. Position your workspace with a clear line of sight to the router whenever possible.
Drop Local Interference: Keep your router away from common household appliances that emit competing wireless noise, such as microwave ovens, baby monitors, cordless phones, and garage door openers.