Before you can order fiber optic internet for your home the infrastructure to support this connection type must be in place where you live. Let’s look at what’s involved in building that out, and then we’ll see how it gets installed at your home.

Fiber Optic In Infrastructure

Fiber optic infrastructure installation involves a series of steps to establish a high-speed internet connection using thin strands of glass or plastic fibers. Here's a general overview of the process:

1. Planning and Design: Before any physical work begins, there's a planning phase. This involves determining the best route for the fiber optic cables, considering factors like geography, existing infrastructure, and potential future expansion.
2. Obtaining Permissions: Before laying cables, especially in public areas or across properties, necessary permissions and permits must be obtained from local authorities and property owners.
3. Preparing the Ground: This involves digging trenches along the planned route. In urban areas, existing underground ducts might be used.
4. Laying the Cables: Once the ground is prepared, the fiber optic cables are laid. These cables are usually protected in conduits to prevent damage.
5. Splicing: Given the long distances, individual lengths of fiber optic cable need to be joined or "spliced" together. This is done using special equipment to ensure the integrity of the connection.
6. Installing Repeaters: For long-distance connections, repeaters are installed at intervals to boost the signal and ensure data integrity.
7. Connection to Main Network: The new infrastructure is then connected to the main network, which might involve integrating with existing fiber optic lines or other types of infrastructure.
8. Testing: Once everything is in place, the new infrastructure is tested to ensure it's working correctly and at the desired speeds.
9. Final Touches: This involves restoring any disrupted areas, like repaving roads or replanting grass, and ensuring everything is properly labeled and documented for future reference.

How Fiber Optic Internet Gets Installed at Your Home

Installing fiber optic internet at a residence involves a series of steps to ensure the home is properly connected to the fiber optic network. Here's a breakdown of how fiber optic infrastructure typically gets installed at a home:

1. Pre-Installation Survey: The service provider may conduct a survey of your property to determine the best entry point for the fiber optic cable and where the equipment should be placed inside the home.
2. Trenching or Boring: A small trench or bore might be made from the street or nearest access point to your property to lay the fiber cable up to your home.
3. Installing the Fiber Drop: The "drop" is the cable that runs from the main line to your house. This drop cable is run through the trench or bore to your house.
4. Setting Up the Optical Network Terminal (ONT): The ONT converts the optical signals from the fiber into electrical signals. It's typically installed on the side of your house or in the garage.
5. Running Fiber Inside the House: From the ONT, a fiber cable is run to the inside of your house and then connected to a router or modem.
6. Installing the Router: The router creates a Wi-Fi network for your devices. It's usually placed in a central location inside the home.
7. Testing the Connection: The technician will test the connection to ensure you're getting the speeds you paid for.
8. Finalizing the Setup: The technician will ensure all cables are neatly arranged and any trenches or bores are properly sealed.
9. Post-Installation: After the technician leaves, it's a good idea to test the connection on various devices and in different parts of the home.

Fiber-optic internet service providers in the U.S. Include this partial list: Verizon, Google, AT&T, Frontier, Cox, Cable One, Frontier, Altafiber, Xfinity, Lumen Technologies, CenturyLink, and EarthLInk.