Verizon Wireless is one of the largest mobile carriers in the United States, but perhaps you haven’t heard of Verizon FIOS.
If so, continue reading because we’re going to tell you all you need to know about Verizon FIOS and what services are offered to customers, along with other details I’ve discovered!
What Is Verizon FIOS In [currentyear]?
Verizon FIOS is a fiber-optic network that the company offers, which provides customers with television, internet, and phone services in select locations throughout the United States in [currentyear]. FIOS is much more reliable and quick compared to traditional cable networks and it’ll make your home entertainment experience more enjoyable.
Do you want to know more about Verizon FIOS, such as if it’s free with Verizon and where you can get FIOS? If so, keep reading to learn even more!
What is FIOS and How Does It Work?
FIOS is a service offered by Verizon Wireless that gives you television, internet, and phone services through a fiber-optic-only network, as opposed to traditional cable lines.
Furthermore, FIOS offers a much more stable and reliable high-speed internet service compared to DSL high-speed, since it doesn’t use a node in your neighborhood to transmit the signals.
With Verizon FIOS, the fiber-optic lines run right to your home instead of through the node, which is why FIOS is even quicker than other fiber-optic providers.
Is FIOS Free with Verizon?
FIOS is not free with Verizon Wireless, as FIOS is a separate service offered by the company. Therefore, even if you have Verizon Wireless, you’ll have to pay for each FIOS service you want.
What Type of Internet Connection Is FIOS?
Verizon FIOS runs off of only a fiber-optic network and there are no traditional copper wires or cables involved, which is what makes it so much quicker than other connections.
Does FIOS Require a Phone Line?
FIOS does not require a Verizon phone line, and you can just opt for FIOS internet services or television services with no requirement for a landline or mobile phone line.
How Much Does Verizon FIOS Cost?
Verizon FIOS will cost different prices depending on which service you want, and if you want all three FIOS services together which include television, internet, and phone.
For example, Verizon FIOS TV will cost between $65 and $105 per month, depending on which television package you choose.
You’ll get one set-top box included in the price and additional boxes will cost you $12 each, which is a little more expensive than what other companies charge for additional television boxes.
Verizon FIOS Internet can cost anywhere from $39.99 per month for the 200Mbps connection to $89.99 per month for the Gigabit connection, which is 940/880Mbps.
The type of internet connection you’ll need will depend on what you’re planning to do on the internet, and how many devices you plan to hook up.
The FIOS Digital Voice landline phone will cost $25 per month if you subscribe to either the television or internet services.
Is FIOS the Same as Broadband?
FIOS is considered broadband, which is a term used to describe high-speed internet.
Additionally, fiber optics, cable, wireless, and DSL are all considered to be broadband, since it’s connected at all times, unlike an old dial-up cable modem.
Which States Is FIOS Available In?
Verizon FIOS isn’t widely available in the United States yet, but the states that FIOS is available in at this time include the following:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Rhode Island
- Washington, DC
However, Verizon FIOS does have an availability checker that allows you to see if your area is covered by FIOS, since not all cities in the available states have FIOS as an option.
How Long Does It Take to Get Verizon FIOS Installed?
If you’ve chosen Verizon FIOS to be installed at your home, you can expect that the FIOS installation will take up to 6 hours to be completed.
Additionally, there are some steps you can take to make the installation go more smoothly for both you and the FIOS installation technician, such as the following:
- Make sure someone over the age of 18 is at the house at all times during the installation, because decisions regarding setup and configuration will have to be made
- Locating the area where utilities come into your home and where the nearest indoor outlet is located since, this is where the technician will need to set up the power supply
- Ensure your computer can run FIOS by meeting the minimum requirements
- Clean the area where your utilities are located, either within the garage or your house so that the technician can work safely
- Clean the areas around computers and television systems so that the technician can access the ports easier to hook up FIOS
As well, in most cases, the FIOS installation will take around 4 or 5 hours, although the length of time installation takes depends on your setup and what services you’re ordering through FIOS.
What Do You Need for FIOS?
FIOS requires that you have a router, which you’ll need when you set up FIOS in your location. As long as FIOS is available in your area, there’s nothing else you need to do or have for the installation.
However, the Verizon technician will be installing other products around your home so that you can run FIOS, including the following:
- Installing the ONT, which is the Optical Network Terminal
- Running the fiber-optic cable to your home
- Running any wiring needed for the inside of your house
- Installing the battery backup pack
- Installing the power supply
- If you ordered FIOS TV, the tech will be connecting into the coaxial splitter
- Connecting the new router to your computer and connecting Wi-Fi devices
- Installing the set-top box if you’ve chosen FIOS television services
Can I Buy a Router Instead of Renting From Verizon?
You can purchase a router and use it for FIOS as long as it’s compatible, or you can choose to rent or purchase your router from Verizon.
However, if you purchase a router yourself, then you’re not going to get warranty service or other support from Verizon like you would if you rented a router straight from the company.
Unfortunately, you cannot rent-to-own a router through Verizon, so you’d just be paying a monthly fee to rent the equipment.
If you decide to rent the router, it’ll cost around $15 per month, but you can purchase a router initially from Verizon for $299, which may be the better option in the long run.
To know more, you can also see our posts on what is Verizon Connect, if Verizon offers unlimited data, and if Verizon offers free Hulu & Netflix.
Conclusion
Verizon FIOS is a fiber-optic line available from Verizon that can give you home internet, phone, and television services at a much more reliable and quicker speed than traditional cables.
Further, FIOS doesn’t run through a node in your neighborhood and then to your house like other connections, but instead, it runs directly to your home to give you a better quality of service.
