As one of the biggest telecom providers in the US, chances are you’ve heard of Verizon Wireless. But you may not know much about Verizon’s fiber optic network service called Fios. Keep reading this comprehensive guide to get the inside scoop on what Verizon Fios is, how it works, what it offers, availability, costs, and comparisons to alternatives like cable or DSL internet.
A Technical Look Under the Hood – How Fiber Networks Work
Verizon Fios provides television, internet, and digital voice services through a fiber optic network. This cutting-edge network uses flexible glass fiber cables to transmit data via light signals.
Unlike the copper coaxial cables used by cable companies, fiber optic lines offer nearly unlimited bandwidth potential. This enables exceptional speeds and reliability (Ringland, 2022).
Here’s a quick technical overview of how fiber optic networks function:
- Laser Transmitter: Converts electrical signals to light particles and sends them through the glass fiber cables
- Fiber Cable: Thin flexible glass pipes that carry light signals long distances. Nearly lossless signal transmission.
- Photo Detector: Receives light signals from fiber cable and converts back into electrical signals
- Network Node: Where signals go out to destinations like your home or computer network
So instead of electrical signals prone to interference, fiber networks send data via light – allowing huge volumes of data to be transported securely and rapidly.
The result is blazing fast speeds with almost no latency or reliability concerns.
Service Offerings: TV, Internet, and Phone
Verizon Fios provides three core services delivered over their fiber optic network:
Fios TV
- Packages with 125+ channels up to 750+ channels
- 500,000+ On Demand titles
- 4K UHD picture quality
- Voice-activated remote
- Pay channel add-ons like HBO Max
Fios Internet
- Speeds up to 940 Mbps down / 880 Mbps up
- Low latency for gaming, video calls
- No throttling or data caps
- WiFi extenders to boost signal
- Advanced cybersecurity tools
Digital Voice
- Unlimited nationwide calling
- Voicemail transcription
- Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling
- Spam Call Filtering
- E911 access
Bundling multiple Fios services can offer discounted pricing over subscribing individually.
Check If Fios is Available in Your Area
Verizon has aggressively expanded availability for Fios services throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States:
Image Source: Verizon
Areas currently served with Fios include major metro regions across:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Washington D.C
Additionally, Verizon continues actively developing the fiber network into new regions (Bode, 2023). So even if coverage isn’t available yet, be sure to keep checking as Verizon extends availability.
You can instantly check availability at your address by entering your zip code here.
Costs and Bundles: How Much Does Fios Cost?
Bundling Fios services together offers discounted pricing over subscribing to each service individually.
Here are current starting prices when bundled with Gigabit Connection internet:
| Service | Starting Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Fios TV | $50 |
| Gigabit Internet | $79.99 |
| Digital Voice | $20 |
Price includes paperless billing and Auto Pay discounts
Fios also offers introductory prices for new subscribers that can save over regular rates. And costs are guaranteed for the initial 2 years so rates remain consistent.
Some other Fios pricing details:
- Additional TV set-top boxes: $10/month
- Router rental: $15/month
- One-time setup fees around $99
Bundling multiple services like TV, internet, and digital voice together can provide monthly savings over standalone options.
The Fios Installation Process Explained
Getting Verizon Fios services established takes installing specialized equipment to enable the fiber optic connection:
- Mount fiber terminal – Outdoor box mounted where fiber line enters home
- Run fiber inside – Fiber line connected from terminal to ONT (Optical Network Terminal)
- Set up services – ONT linked to routers, set-top boxes, phones to enable services
- Connect devices – WiFi, wired connections for internet access, TVs, phones
- Activate and test – Confirm services active; speed tests
A trained Verizon technician performs the end-to-end Fios installation. Appointments range 3-6 hours depending on home size and requested services.
Some things that can impact install time:
- Number of TVs/devices being connected
- Running wiring to room outlets
- Moving existing furnishings if needed
How Does Fios Compare to Cable or DSL?
|| Verizon Fios | Cable Internet | DSL Internet |
|-|:-:|:-:|:-:|
|Average Download Speeds | 500 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
|Average Upload Speeds | 500 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
|Peak Hours Slowdown | Minimal | Moderate | Minimal |
|Number of Users Impact | Minimal | Moderate | Moderate |
|Pricing | $$ | $ | $ |
|Data Caps | None | Varies | Varies |
*Based on FCC reported averages
So while cable or DSL can offer decent speeds for most uses, a fiber optic connection like Fios stands out for those needing top-tier performance.
The fiber line running directly to your home keeps service fast and consistent – perfect for households with lots of users, devices, heavy video streaming, and online gaming.
Just be aware that availability remains limited though actively growing across Verizon service regions.
The Bottom Line
Verizon Fios leverage a cutting-edge fiber optic network to deliver incredibly fast and reliable internet. With nearly unlimited bandwidth potential, Fios stands as the top service available if you can get it in your area.
While availability is still expanding, Fios blows past cable and DSL options for overall performance and consistency. Rates remain very competitive, especially when bundling TV, internet, and phone together.
So for homes needing the pinnacle of speed for gaming, streaming, surfing and smart devices, getting Fios is a no-brainer where available. Even if you can’t get yet, be sure to keep checking Verizon’s rollout plans as availability could expand to your neighborhood soon!
