1-866-445-8084How is fiber-optic internet installed?
As high-speed and high-tech as fiber internet is, the installation process can be very simple.
The biggest difference between installing fiber internet and other popular options, like cable internet, is the point where the optical wire coming from outside meets your home’s digital gateway (router/modem). In this guide, you’ll learn all about this point — the ONT, or optical network terminal — and the other steps and equipment required for setup.
Before diving in, here’s a quick overview of what to expect on installation day:
Set up the ONT (optical network terminal)
Connect the fiber terminal (ONT) to your home network (Wi-Fi) gateway (router/modem)
Link your devices to your home network
Secure your Wi-Fi (setting your password)
Test your speed
That’s it — five easy steps to installing fiber-optic internet at your home. Of course, your internet service provider (ISP) helps, making things even easier.
What is fiber internet, and how does it work?
Before we get to the installation process, let’s make sure you know what you’re getting. Fiber-optic internet uses wires composed of clear glass strands that reflect light.
Instead of transmitting data as electrical signals, fiber internet works by using light signals. Light (optics) moving through a clear strand (fiber) can travel exceptionally fast — about two-thirds the speed of light in a vacuum. And it retains most of its quality and speed over long distances.
With old-school copper cable internet wires, data travels at only a fraction of the speed of fiber, and it loses strength (and speed) over long distances. That’s why cable internet speeds can be slow in rural areas. Many rural homes are so far from the ISP’s terminal that the signal gets eaten up by resistance within the copper wires instead of your online browsing experience.
Bringing fiber across the country means installing brand-new lines, though, which is why the process is costly, challenging, and time-intensive. Yet, if it’s offered in your area, fiber’s reliability and speed often make it worth it to make the switch.
What equipment do you need for fiber internet?
To convert the light signal within the fiber-optic wires into electrical signals for your digital devices, you’ll need an ONT. You’ll also need Ethernet connectivity and a fiber-ready gateway (router/modem) for whole-home Wi-Fi. Your current gateway (router/modem) might be good to go, but it’s wise to check with your ISP or switch to the devices they provide.
Other specialized equipment can include:
Local network box to serve multiple homes
Fiber cables connecting the network box to each home
Optical amplifiers to boost the signal between the ISP and network hub
Backup battery for the in-home gateway (router/modem) and ONT
On that list, only the backup battery typically would be the homeowner’s concern — everything else is usually on the ISP to set up within their fiber infrastructure. Backup batteries powering the Wi-Fi gateway and ONT can keep you connected when the power is out at your home.
How do I know if my gateway (router/modem) is fiber-ready?
Generally speaking, a fiber-ready Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem) needs to include:
An Ethernet or Gigabit WAN port to connect to the ONT
Support for Gigabit (1 Gbps+) speeds
Dual-band or tri-band signals, typically 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz
Wi-Fi 5 or 6 support
Inspect the gateway (router/modem) itself to find these features or plug in the model number online and dig up the original specs. Of course, your ISP can also hook you up with the right gateway (router/modem) and even bundle it with your other services.
How is fiber-optic internet installed in my home?
You’ve signed up for fiber internet, and installation day is here. From tapping your home into the fiber infrastructure to optimizing your whole-home Wi-Fi setup, a reputable ISP can have you online in no time.
Aside from being there to answer the door and provide access to necessary spaces within and outside your home, the ISP fiber installation technician generally handles everything. They’ll involve you when it’s time to set up your Wi-Fi password and confirm your speeds. Otherwise, you just need to sit tight and daydream about the benefits of fiber internet.
Here’s what happens once the technician gets started.
1. Locate the optical network terminal.
Before the technician knocks on your door, they’ll usually have to run the fiber-optic cable from a local utility box or pole to your property. Just as your phone and old internet lines enter your house in a certain spot, so will the fiber line. This is usually near your other utility connections (water, gas, electricity) on the side of your home or building.
That line will continue inside the residence, where it plugs into the optical network terminal (ONT). Most customers have a convenient spot in their garage, basement, kitchen, or office where the ONT can be easily connected but safely out of the way. The technician will confirm the available spot is adequate, then plug in the device and move on to the next step.
2. Connect the fiber terminal to ONT.
Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem). While the ONT converts fiber signals into electrical signals, the Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem) turns those electrical signals into wireless signals that your devices can pick up.
Some ISPs offer a single device that combines the ONT and Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem) for a sleeker setup that’s easier to place in your home. Either way, the Wi-Fi gateway needs to be positioned in a spot with adequate and reliable coverage of your property. This might require moving it farther from the ONT or external fiber connection for a better signal.
The ONT and Wi-Fi gateway also need a constant power connection, so avoid plugging them into an outlet connected to a switch on the wall, lest you accidentally turn off your internet. Backup batteries can keep you online for a few more hours (or days) during a power outage, but they are not absolutely necessary.
3. Connect devices to the network
Now, it’s time to get connected. At this point, the technician will have made sure the fiber-optic data is flowing to your home, ONT, and gateway (router/modem). They will ask you to connect your phone or computer to the new wireless network.
Following their guidance you’ll take your first step into the fiber era by logging on to your new internet service via the Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem).
And you’re almost done.
4. Customize and secure your Wi-Fi network (name and password).
Your new fiber network’s name (SSID, or service set identifier, to get technical) will typically be set to something automatically, but you’ll be able to reset it in your Wi-Fi manager app. Then, you need to think about internet security.
The first line of defense is a strong password. It’s tempting to use your street name, kid’s birthday, or dog’s name since it’s easy to remember, but that puts your digital safety at risk. Choose a complex password that’s not easy to guess to help keep people from stealing or hacking your connection.
5. Test your fiber internet speed.
The final step in installing fiber internet is running a speed test. An internet speed test is a quick and easy way to confirm that you’re getting the speed you expect, measured in megabits (Mbps) or gigabits (Gbps) per second.
You and the technician can validate the speed test results with your anticipated speeds.. If speeds fall below the expected threshold, the technician will troubleshoot the issue and get you up and running.
Is fiber internet right for me?
Before wondering how fiber-optic internet is installed, consider if it’s the right type of connection for you. Does your household:
Stream HD movies and TV shows
Work from home
Game online
Connect smart devices
… and do all of it at once from multiple devices and accounts?
Then, you likely need the speed, bandwidth, and symmetrical infrastructure of fiber-optic internet. It offers speeds of 1 Gbps and above to seamlessly support multiple devices and data-heavy activities. It’s reliable in inclement weather, resistant to electromagnetic interference, and more secure.
Fiber internet, while at the cutting edge of connectivity technology, is no longer a luxury. Nearly half the country is covered by fiber networks. With expanding infrastructure and more consumer ONT devices and high-speed gateway (router/modem)s now commonly available, choosing fiber internet is simply a matter of:
Availability:
Can I get it at my address?
Price:
Does it fit my budget?
We surveyed 500 people who switched to fiber and a large majority (77%) say it is faster than their old internet plan. What’s more encouraging is that over half (58%) said fiber was priced about the same or cheaper than their old service (2024 – Kinetic Raw data report*).
Upgrade to Fiber Today
Ready to take the leap? Available in 18 states, Kinetic Fiber Internet offers super-fast internet speeds and seamlessly connects all your devices. Enter your address to see if Kinetic Fiber Internet available in your area and experience lightning-fast Kinetic Internet.
If it’s not yet available in your area, don’t fret - we’re always expanding our network to bring gigabit internet to more homes.
How is fiber internet installed? FAQs
How does fiber internet connect to your house?
Fiber internet connects to your house via a fiber-optic line from the nearby network box or utility pole. That then connects to the ISP’s area hub, which taps multiple neighborhoods into the central line.
Much like cable and phone lines of yesterday, fiber plugs into a junction box or ONT outside your home. Then, it plugs into a special optical network terminal before connecting to your Wi-Fi gateway (router/modem).
Does your house have to be wired for fiber?
ISPs and local utilities lay the fiber-optic lines between neighborhoods and network hubs to create large-scale networks. The ISP then runs a short fiber line from the utility box on your block to the junction box in your house.
Does fiber internet have to be underground?
Fiber internet lines can be run underground or above ground, just like cable and phone lines.
How long does it take to install fiber-optic internet?
Fiber-optic internet installation can take less than an hour for the customer. While building out the national, regional, and neighborhood infrastructure might be years in the making for the ISP, plugging your house into the local hub is typically simple and quick.
What does a fiber-optic cable look like?
A fiber-optic cable looks just like any other utility wire from the outside. It’s a rubber-coated cord that’s flexible yet strong. At the end, it has fiber-specific connections, but they wouldn’t look out of the ordinary to anyone but an expert.
It's inside that the real magic happens. Within that simple-looking cable are hundreds of super-thin glass (or plastic) strands as fine as a human hair. Bundled together, they make up a thick, strong rope of crystal-clear lanes for carrying light data along its journey.
*About this data: Study includes data from survey conducted by third-party survey research company on Aug. 19, 2024, of respondents aged 18 and up across all 50 states. Participants were recruited using Random Device Engagement (RDE) and do not have a relationship with Kinetic or the survey research company used. More information on methodology here.