Can I get fiber internet in an apartment or condo?

If you live in an apartment or condo building, you may be able to get fiber internet. It all depends on whether fiber internet service is available in your area and whether your building is wired for fiber. Here’s what you should know about getting fiber in an apartment or condo building.

First, if you’re wondering whether you can get fiber internet in your apartment, determine whether fiber internet is available at your address. Just enter your address and find out if Brightspeed Fiber is available where you live, or use the FCC National Broadband Map. We offer fast fiber internet in 20 states, and we’re always expanding coverage.

If Brightspeed Fiber is available in your area, your next step is to check whether your building is wired for fiber internet connections. Fiber requires a cable running from a local fiber-optic service node to your building, and not all buildings have had the necessary equipment installed. Newer construction is more likely to have built-in fiber capability than older buildings, but it’s not a guarantee.

To find out whether fiber is available for you, try these steps:

1. If your building provides internet service, check any documentation that’s available about your internet plan. It should include information about the type of connection. 

   • Tip: If you’re still not sure, try running an internet speed test. With a fiber connection, your upload and download speeds will be similar, while most other types of connections will have substantially faster download speeds than uploads. 

2. Ask your landlord, building manager, neighbors, or condo association whether the building is wired for fiber connections.

3. Look for an optical network terminal (ONT) box on the outside of your unit, or in locations such as closets and utility rooms. This is the equivalent of a modem for a fiber connection and will usually have indicator lights on the front. It will be connected via a small, thin cable that runs into the wall.

Generally, you’ll need to get permission from your landlord and/or condo association to have fiber internet installed. The process of installing fiber internet often includes drilling holes in walls and/or digging in the ground to lay fiber-optic cable. These modifications may or may not be allowed under your lease or condo bylaws.

If your landlord or HOA declines to allow fiber installation, consider talking to other tenants about working together to request a fiber connection. Fiber internet offers a lot of benefits that can make a building a more desirable place to live, including faster speeds and better reliability. Plus, once the installation is completed, other tenants in your building will be able to switch to fiber as well.