How Fiber Internet Is Installed

Here’s a quick, step-by-step overview of the fiber internet installation process for your home.

Fiber-optic internet uses ultra-fast pulses of light to transmit information through cables made of tiny glass strands. Instead of a modem, a fiber connection uses an optical network terminal (ONT) to transmit these signals to and from your router. Learn more about how fiber-optic internet works.

The fiber internet installation process resembles most other types of internet installation: a technician from an internet service provider (ISP) comes to your home and installs cable and hardware. However, because fiber internet connections use a specific type of equipment, you’ll need a fiber installation if your property hasn’t had one previously.

To install a fiber-optic connection, a technician will run a fiber-optic cable from a local fiber service node onto your property. In the next section, we’ll talk about what you can expect from a fiber-optic installation.

Here’s what happens once you’ve ordered fiber service and it’s time to install your fiber connection.

The ISP’s customer service team will work with you to schedule a date to install your fiber connection. Typically, you or another adult will need to be home to give the technician access to your property.

You’ll need a fiber-ready router (often called a “residential gateway” by internet providers like Brightspeed) in order to accommodate fiber-optic speeds. For Brightspeed customers, we strongly recommend getting a new gateway directly from Brightspeed to make sure all components of your service are compatible and will work with your new service. Check out our full selection of state-of-the-art, fiber-ready routers.

During the appointment, the technician will install a small utility box called an optical network terminal (or ONT) outside or inside your home. An ONT fills the same role for a fiber connection that a modem does for a traditional cable or DSL internet connection: It turns the signals from an internet connection into information that your devices can understand.

The technician will then run a cable from a nearby equipment box to the ONT, which will carry the fiber-optic connection from the larger network to your premises. The tech may bury the fiber cable underground to protect it. Once the terminal box is hooked up to the network, it will be linked to your router through an Ethernet connection.

After the technician completes the fiber internet installation, he or she will help set up your WiFi-enabled router. If you’re working with Brightspeed, you’ll find the assigned wireless network name (SSID) and password (security key) on the label attached to your Brightspeed router.

Once you’ve set up the network, you’ll be able to access the router’s user interface site and create your own customized network name and password to make login easier. Then, just locate the correct WiFi network on all your devices and enter the password. Once each device has been reconnected to your new network, you’re all set!

• High-speed service with options available up to 2Gb/s
• Upload speeds on par with download speeds
• Consistency low latency
• Secure, reliable connections that resist tampering and heavy weather

It only takes a few seconds to find out if Brightspeed Fiber is available in your area. Just enter your address and check out which plans are available for local fiber internet near you.