Fios is fiber-optic internet delivered through cables buried in your neighborhood

Fios is Verizon's fiber-optic internet service. Instead of the copper telephone wires or coaxial cables that carry most home internet, Fios uses fiber-optic strands — thin glass tubes that transmit data as pulses of light. Verizon buried these cables in neighborhoods starting in the early 2000s, and they now reach roughly 20 million homes, mostly in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Midwest and Florida.

The practical difference is speed. Fiber can carry much more data per second than copper or coax, so Fios plans typically start at 300 megabits per second (Mbps) and go up to 2 gigabits per second (Gbps) — roughly 10 to 100 times faster than standard cable internet in the same area. That speed matters if your household streams video, plays online games, or has many devices connected at once.

Fios is available only where Verizon has already laid the fiber lines. You cannot order it if those cables do not run past your house. Availability varies sharply by neighborhood, even within the same city, so the first step is always to check whether Fios reaches your address.

Key Takeaways

  • Fios uses fiber-optic cables instead of copper or coaxial cables, which allows much faster speeds than traditional internet services.
  • Fios is only available in certain regions where Verizon has installed the fiber infrastructure, so you must check your specific address before considering it.
  • Typical Fios speeds start at 300 Mbps and reach up to 2 Gbps, making it suitable for households with heavy internet use.
  • Fios requires a router and optical network terminal (ONT) installed at your home to convert the fiber signal into usable internet.

How the fiber signal reaches your home

When you order Fios, Verizon sends a technician to connect the fiber line running in your neighborhood to a box called an optical network terminal (ONT), usually installed outside your home or in a basement. The ONT converts the light pulses traveling through the fiber into electrical signals that your devices can use.

From the ONT, a cable runs to a router inside your home — this is the device that broadcasts your Wi-Fi signal and connects wired devices through ethernet cables. The router is what you actually interact with: you connect your phone, laptop, or smart TV to it, and it manages all the data flowing between your devices and the internet.

Because fiber carries so much data, the ONT and router rarely become bottlenecks the way they do with slower connections. The limiting factor is usually your plan's speed tier, not the equipment itself.

Fios availability and service areas

Fios reaches about 20 million homes, but the coverage map is patchy. Verizon prioritized dense urban and suburban areas where laying fiber was most cost-effective, so entire regions have no Fios service at all. The Northeast corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C., has the densest coverage. Parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland have widespread Fios. Florida, parts of Texas, and scattered neighborhoods in the Midwest also have service.

Rural areas almost never have Fios. If you live outside a city or suburb, your options are likely cable internet (through Comcast, Charter, or another cable provider), DSL (through Verizon or another phone company), or satellite. Verizon's own 5G home internet is expanding as an alternative in some areas where fiber is not available.

The only way to know whether Fios reaches your address is to enter your street address on Verizon's website or call their sales line. Availability can change block by block, so two houses on the same street might have different results.

Fios speeds and what they mean in practice

Fios plans are tiered by speed. The entry-level plan is usually 300 Mbps, which is fast enough for a household of three or four people streaming video, working from home, and browsing simultaneously. The next tier is typically 500 Mbps or 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps), and the top tier is 2 Gbps.

The speed you need depends on how many people use the internet at once and what they do. A single person browsing and checking email needs perhaps 25 Mbps. A household with two people working from video calls and one person streaming video needs roughly 50 to 100 Mbps. A family of four with multiple video streams, gaming, and work calls might want 300 Mbps or more. The 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps plans are overkill for most households but useful if you regularly transfer large files, run a home server, or have a very crowded household.

Fios speeds are also more consistent than cable internet. Cable shares bandwidth among all customers in a neighborhood, so speeds can drop during peak hours. Fiber is less prone to this congestion, so you are more likely to get close to your advertised speed even in the evening.

Fios pricing and bundling

Fios internet pricing varies by speed tier and region. A 300 Mbps plan typically costs between $40 and $60 per month, while 1 Gbps plans run $70 to $90. Prices are usually lower for the first year as a promotional rate, then increase in year two. Verizon also offers bundles that combine internet with TV and phone service, which can reduce the per-service cost if you want all three.

Like most internet providers, Verizon charges a modem rental fee if you do not own your own equipment, though the ONT is always provided by Verizon since it is part of the fiber infrastructure. Some plans include a router; others require you to rent or buy one separately. Read the fine print on the plan details to see what is included.

Contract terms vary. Some Fios plans require a two-year commitment; others are month-to-month. Cancellation fees explore if you leave during a contract period, so check the terms before ordering.

Fios versus cable and DSL in the same area

If you have a choice between Fios, cable internet, and DSL in your area, the differences matter. Fios is almost always faster and more reliable than DSL, which uses old copper telephone lines and rarely exceeds 100 Mbps. Cable internet is faster than DSL but slower than Fios, and cable speeds degrade more during peak hours because bandwidth is shared among many neighbors.

Fios also has lower latency — the delay between when you send a signal and when it arrives. This matters for online gaming and video calls. Fiber latency is typically 10 to 20 milliseconds, while cable is 20 to 40 milliseconds and DSL can be 40 to 100 milliseconds. For most people this difference is not noticeable, but gamers and people on frequent video calls may prefer Fios.

The trade-off is availability. Fios is not available everywhere, so if it does not reach your address, cable or DSL may be your only options. Price is also a factor: Fios is often more expensive than cable in the same area, though the speed difference usually justifies it.

What happens if Fios is not available at your address

If Fios does not reach your home, your alternatives depend on where you live. In most suburbs and cities, cable internet is available and offers speeds of 100 to 500 Mbps, which is adequate for most households. DSL is available almost everywhere but is slower and less reliable. Satellite internet has improved in recent years — services like Starlink now offer speeds comparable to cable — but satellite has higher latency and data caps, making it less ideal for heavy use.

Verizon's 5G home internet is expanding in some areas as a wireless alternative to fiber. It uses the same 5G cellular network as your phone and can reach speeds of 100 to 300 Mbps in good conditions. It is worth checking if it is available at your address, especially if cable and DSL are slow in your area.

The best approach is to check what services are actually available at your address — Verizon, your local cable provider, and satellite providers all have online availability checkers — and compare speeds, prices, and contract terms before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Fios if I rent my home?

Yes, you can order Fios as a renter if it is available at your address. The ONT is installed outside or in a common area, so it does not require landlord permission in most cases. However, check your lease for any restrictions on service installations, and inform your landlord that a technician will visit.

Do I need a landline phone to get Fios internet?

No. Fios internet is sold separately from phone and TV service. You can order internet alone without bundling phone or television. Many people do this to keep their costs down or because they use cell phones instead of landlines.

What equipment do I need to use Fios?

Verizon provides the ONT at no charge. You need a router to broadcast Wi-Fi; Verizon may include one with your plan or charge a rental fee. You can also buy your own compatible router to avoid the rental fee. All your devices connect to the router, not directly to the ONT.

Is Fios faster than my current internet?

Fios is almost certainly faster than DSL and usually faster than cable, but the difference depends on your current plan and provider. Check your current bill for your advertised speed, then compare it to Fios plans in your area. Fios entry-level plans start at 300 Mbps, so if you have less than that now, Fios will be noticeably faster.

What if Fios service goes down?

Fiber outages are rare but do happen due to construction, weather, or equipment failure. Verizon offers customer support by phone and online chat. If you have a contract with a service level agreement, you may be may have access to to a credit if the outage lasts more than a certain number of hours — check your plan details.