Everyone wants fast internet, and word is spreading about the benefits of being on a fiber-optic network. With fiber internet comes faster speeds, more reliable connectivity, less latency and less network congestion. Beyond that, fiber internet may bring economic opportunities and even higher property values.
So, what's the holdup? Why wasn't fiber internet available in your area yesterday?
Here are a few reasons fiber internet may not have landed in your neighborhood or community yet, and what it will take to get it there.
Why doesn't my area have gig-speed fiber-optic internet?
The short answer is that your area may not have the infrastructure for fiber internet.
Many communities, especially smaller towns and rural areas, are still using coaxial cable or DSL, legacy technologies that rely on the copper lines originally installed for phone or television. But as more of our lives go online, whether to attend school, work remotely, stream or play video games, the ultra-fast, symmetrical speeds of fiber internet are going to become more of a demand. It's hopefully just a matter of time and investment before your house is hooked up to the best internet on the market.
In the meantime, here are some of the challenges to getting fiber-optic internet to your area.
Geography: Why does it seem like fiber is harder to install in some areas?
To bring fiber to a given area, an internet service provider (ISP) has to string fiber-optic lines to the existing utility poles or bury them underground.
Critically, the fiber internet backbone (think of this as the main highway of data transmission) and middle mile (think of these as roads that bring data out to local hubs) need to be physically built. That can be hard to do in places with topographical challenges, like mountainous areas, and reaching rural communities with small and dispersed populations also poses a challenge for the physical connection.
The good news is that the federal and local governments are aware of the digital divide—the reality that many communities are far behind others in terms of connectivity—and have been investing in fiber infrastructure development to close it.
Ziply Fiber partners with local governments to increase fiber-optic development and lower costs for cities. Ziply Fiber has connected parts of Idaho and Montana, two states that rank among the lowest in the United States for internet speed and connectivity.
Still, some areas have additional or unique challenges. Utility poles may not be available or amenable to connecting fiber lines, or the ground may be frozen or difficult to dig. Emerging practices, like soft surface placement, involves digging a shallow, narrow path for fiber lines, which takes less time and money than full-on trenching.
Budget: How much does it cost to build a fiber network?
Aerial installation is less expensive than underground installation, with cost per mile running into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
Unfair as it may be, an ISP may not see the return on investment in connecting a small, rural area to fiber technology. Providers have to hire contractors to place miles of fiber cables across large areas. That's a big investment that won't pay off if there aren't enough people paying to use the service. So, areas with small populations and limited local funding are going to be among the last to get fiber internet.
State and local governments are aware that reliable internet is becoming critical, and many are working with public utility companies and the private sector to help fund fiber infrastructure. The 2021 federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program invested $42.2 billion in increasing broadband infrastructure across the country, but it will cost more than that to connect all the communities in need, especially those in rural areas.
Companies like Ziply Fiber hold the value that everyone deserves fast, reliable fiber internet. That's why we work hard to partner with local governments. However, it's important to note that challenges still exist, including permitting, financing, utility pole agreements and construction.
Can I get fiber internet installed in my home?
First, find out if your home has access to fiber internet. You may find that it's already available or coming soon. If fiber internet isn't available yet, sign up for updates.
How long will it take for fiber internet to get to my street?
If fiber isn't in your community, it may take a while if it needs to be built. While the process varies from place to place, here are some steps that are usually involved:
- Local governments need to approve the installation. The length of time this takes varies greatly from community to community. In some places, local leaders are eager to get fiber internet as soon as possible. In many towns, the permit process can be lengthy, which can slow down the process. Since installing fiber may involve digging into streets and yards, public concern may be something that has to be mitigated before the project can get the green light.
- Contractors have to lay the fiber-optic cables. ISPs usually work with local contractors to install the fiber lines that will serve homes and businesses in the community. Depending on the amount of cable needed, the physical size of the location receiving service, and area-specific challenges (like frozen ground or rocky terrain), this process could take several months to a year, or longer.
- ISPs bring fiber from the street to individual homes. In most cases, this is the fastest part of the process. Once the primary infrastructure is in place, it won't take long to bring fiber directly to your home and get you up and running.
What happens when fiber internet comes to my street?
Once we determine to build in a particular area, these are the steps of our construction process:
- Surveys and utility marking. We send survey crews to gather information about the neighborhood. After that, we paint or place markers to point out utility lines before digging.
- Fiber installation. After preparing the area for installation, we hang cables on utility poles or install fiber in underground conduits. Weather and traffic can impact the timing of this part of the installation. We always schedule our efforts to minimize traffic delays and/or parking inconveniences.
- Cleanup. After laying or hanging the cable, we fill in holes and clean up all of the equipment or disposable materials we left at the installation site.
After that, all that's left to do is bring fiber to your property line and connect it to your home. It might take a couple of visits to bring fiber from the street into your home, but in many homes, it's possible to get fiber installed in just a single visit.
After installing an optical network terminal, or ONT, our technician connects your WiFi router and installs any required extenders. We'll get you up and running on fiber internet and verify that you're getting the speeds you signed up for.
The arrival of fiber internet depends on where you are, what ISPs are in your area and how attentive your local government is to building out infrastructure. Because fiber internet is in high demand, fiber internet will hopefully be arriving on your doorstep sooner than later.
Who knows? Maybe fiber-optic internet is already in your area and you're just a few steps away from surfing, working, gaming and streaming on fast, reliable fiber internet.
