Verizon Fiber is marketed under the brand name Verizon Fios. Fios is a 100% fiber-optic network that delivers TV, internet, and digital phone services to homes via fiber optics. Fiber optic technology sends light through tiny strands of glass to carry data directly to the service location. It is fast and reliable and has a powerful bandwidth for multiple devices. Fiber optics can carry more information at faster speeds than traditional copper coaxial cable. Verizon Fios offers upload speeds up to 20x faster than cable. Download speeds can reach up to 940 Mbps for large file uploads.

Fios is an acronym for Fiber Optic Service for internet, phone and TV.

Fios does not use a modem. It uses a router. You can’t plug your cable modem in and expect it to work with Fios service. The device Verizon provides is an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) that converts the fiber signal to readable images on your device screens. Verizon will install an ONT either inside your home or outside on the home’s structure. Once it is activated the installer runs an ethernet cable from the ONT device to your Wi-Fi router. It connects to the WAN port. The installer turns your router on and gets an IP address so you can set up your Fios account and get online. The ONT belongs to Verizon and they will maintain it. Typically, the rental for the ONT is included in your plan fee. Your router is your own responsibility to maintain and troubleshoot.

Should you want to instead use your own modem rather than the Fios ONT, your modem would need to have an ONT setup plus coaxial input and Ethernet ports to handle fiber connections. It can’t be overstated how essential it is to research modems compatibility for Fios service. To help you get started, a few currently compatible models are the Verizon modem/router combo G3100, the ASUS ROG Rapture, the NETGEAR R6700AX and the Motorola MB7621. However, it’s worth a call to Verizon to confirm a potential purchase.

Verizon Fios, is currently available in the following metro areas:

In Delaware: Dover and Wilmington. In Maryland: Baltimore, Baltimore, Bethesda, Columbia and Germantown. In Massachusetts: Boston, South Shore, Framingham and Taunton. In New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Toms River and Trenton. In New York: Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. In Pennsylvania: Bucks County, Delaware County, Harrisburg, Montgomery County, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In Rhode Island: Providence, Pawtucket and South Kingstown. In Virginia: Norfolk, Richmond. In Washington D.C. the National Capital Region.

What customers like about Fios is that installations can be set up at night and on the weekends in most cases so that you’re not having to take time off from work to get it done. If you order online the setup charge is free. There are no annual contracts. If you are trying to get out of an existing contract with a different provider Fios may be able to help you offset the cost based on proof and following the requirements.

Pricing for plans includes taxes and fees so you won’t get hit with those additional line items on the bill.

Buying phone and internet bundles will lower your internet cost but you still have to pay for a mobile phone line. For example, the 300 Mbps internet plan is $24.99/mo. with autopay but you must also buy a qualifying 5G mobile plan or your internet will cost $49.99/mo. Plans with more speed and bandwidth are higher, and range from bundle rates of $44.00/mo. to $64.99 a month and again to get those rates you need to buy a qualifying phone line plan.

You may already have a great phone plan that’s cheap and has no contract so if you want to keep your existing phone plan make sure you check the higher unbundle price for the internet service.

Verizon offers perks and incentives to sign up, including a multi-year price guarantee that your rate won’t increase in that period. You may also be able to get a Verizon Stream TV or gift card with a few reasonable stipulations and requirements for you to follow. If you live in the service area Fios is worth checking out.