Understanding How FiOS Functions

Light travels at roughly 186,000 miles per second. Fiber optic networks, which transmit data through laser light signals, are making this incredible speed more accessible to everyday internet users through services like Verizon FiOS, or Verizon Fiber Optic Service.

FiOS employs fiber optic cables composed of numerous thin glass strands that transmit light pulses carrying data directly into a home computer. Once these light pulses, generated by lasers, arrive at the customer's home, a converter transforms them into electrical signals that computers can understand.

For years, industries and businesses have relied on fiber optic technology to transfer vast amounts of data rapidly. Recently, however, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is bringing this cutting-edge technology into the homes of everyday internet users.

As more internet users turn to the web for downloading and uploading videos, music, movies, and images, the need for higher bandwidth and faster speeds is becoming essential. Fiber optic internet service is a significant advancement. For example, Verizon claims that FiOS loads music, pictures, and videos up to 25 times faster than conventional cable.

While fiber optic internet access is gaining popularity, FTTH technology like FiOS is still not available everywhere. Additionally, the actual speed a subscriber experiences depends on several factors, such as the network's structure and the availability of other hardware.

FiOS is also competitive in terms of price and features, including email services and website hosting space. Verizon offers a variety of plans with different pricing options and feature sets.

FiOS Technology

FiOS is one of the many forms of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-premises internet service. Over 10 million households around the world have already adopted this technology, and experts from the FTTH Council predict that this number will continue to rise. This growth is due to FTTH's reputation as 'future-proof,' meaning it is well-equipped to handle the expected massive surge in internet traffic in the decades to come.

More than 34 companies are ready to offer FTTH services [source: FTTH Council]. Verizon provides FiOS Internet, television, and telephone services either individually or as a bundle. FiOS is compatible with PCs running Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000, as well as most Macintosh systems. Service specifications differ depending on the plan. While systems like Linux can be configured to work with FiOS, Verizon does not offer support for those configurations.

FiOS leverages fiber optic technology to deliver faster speeds and more bandwidth than traditional copper coaxial cables. In a fiber optic system, light signals travel through an extremely thin glass tube, about the width of a human hair. The light reflects off the sides of the tube, enabling it to carry data through the bends and turns in the network.

When a computer sends information, it converts the data into light signals and transmits them through the fiber optic network. On the receiving end, another computer decodes the light signals back into the digital information necessary for interaction with the user.

Fiber optic connections can carry all types of data—voice, images, movies, and more—which allows Verizon to offer FiOS Internet, television, and phone services over a single network.

Verizon installs FiOS service to a primary computer at no extra charge. However, there are installation fees for month-to-month plans and for additional computers. Professional installers also set up the necessary wiring, wall jacks, and an optical network terminal (ONT), either inside or outside the home. The ONT supports other FiOS equipment, including the power supply and battery backup units.

Once the ONT is installed, the technician checks the home's wiring to ensure it’s compatible with FiOS service and will make any necessary adjustments. They will also set up the FiOS router, install the required software, and connect the subscriber's computer to the Internet.

FiOS Plans and Features

Only a handful of companies have made fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) or fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) a core part of their service offerings.

Verizon markets its FTTH services under the FiOS brand, offering a range of plans with various service levels and prices. Other companies providing this service include AT&T and Cox Communications.

Cox has recently begun exploring the FTTP option and has requested information from its vendors regarding this technology. In the past, the company has provided FTTP solutions for new communities as they are being developed.

A few years ago, AT&T hesitated to make fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) a central part of its strategy, focusing instead on offering the service to new home developments. The company now emphasizes fiber-to-the-node (FTTN), which brings fiber to a local hub but often relies on standard digital subscriber line (DSL) technology to connect homes to the hub. AT&T’s FTTP service is branded as U-verse.

Verizon categorizes its FiOS plans into "fast, faster, faster plus, and fastest." Download speeds vary from 10 to 50 Mbps, with upload speeds reaching up to 20 Mbps. Prices differ depending on whether the customer also subscribes to Verizon phone service.

Each FiOS plan comes with 24/7 live technical support from the Verizon Fiber Solutions Center. Included are nine email accounts, 10 megabytes of web hosting space, member discounts, and other services. Customers also enjoy access to a variety of online entertainment, including videos, music, and games. Subscribers can read movie reviews, watch film trailers, explore album reviews, and listen to exclusive Verizon mixes, while playing games in the Verizon Arcade. Additionally, customers can create blogs, join discussion forums, and post photos of their loved ones.

Subscribers also have access to news channels and a wide selection of programs, including ESPN 360, Disney, Movies.com Max, and Soapnetic.

The price of service plans depends on the download speeds they offer. While fiber optic connections provide high bandwidth, actual speeds can vary based on several factors. These include the configuration of the subscriber's computer, the type of home networking hardware used, and how many devices are connected to the home network.

Other factors that impact connection speed include available bandwidth, network and Internet congestion, and the time of day. The condition and type of wiring at the subscriber’s location and the performance of websites visited also play a role. To achieve the best speeds, a hard-wired connection is recommended.

AT&T offers Internet, voice, and television services through its U-Verse platform. Plans begin at $44 per month and go up to $124 per month. The highest-tier plan offers download speeds of up to 10 Mbps downstream and 1.5 Mbps upstream, along with access to up to 320 TV channels, including sports and movie packages, and voice service.

This package also provides users with the ability to play online games, access exclusive music events on the AT&T blue room, unlimited online storage with Flickr, a homepage, 2 GB of email storage, 10 additional email accounts, and more.