To escape the heat this summer, many of us will be spending the majority of our time indoors, streaming videos, online shopping, gaming, and browsing the internet. A fast and secure internet connection is a household necessity. Fiber internet is the fastest residential internet technology widely available on the market. Due to its speed and effectiveness, fiber internet is quickly growing more and more popular. In fact, the demand for fiber is estimated to grow 11.3% in the coming years.
If you’re thinking about getting fiber internet, you may want to learn more about the installation process first. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how fiber internet is installed, typically, in your home.
Find a fiber internet provider in your area
The first step to getting fiber internet installed in your home is to find a service provider in your area. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go online and search “fiber internet near me” to view your options. Most service providers also have search engines on their websites that let you type in your zip code to see if fiber is available to you. You’ll be able to compare prices and features, such as saving money by bundling services.
Your access to fiber internet depends on your internet service provider laying fiber infrastructure. If you live in a large city, fiber optic cables are likely already installed near you. For example, CenturyLink® Fiber Internet packages are available in many areas nationwide, and are continuously expanding. Check availability today and see if you can get fiber service where you live!
Schedule an installation appointment
After you’ve selected a provider and signed up for fiber internet service, you’ll need to schedule the installation. You must be home for this appointment, as the technician will need access to both the outside and inside of your home.
During the appointment, the technician will install an optical network terminal (ONT), which is a small utility box, either inside or outside your home. Then, the tech will run a cable from an equipment box close by to the ONT. This cable will carry the fiber-optic connection from the larger network to your home. Once the ONT is hooked up to the network, it will be linked to your router through an Ethernet connection.
Purchase a fiber internet router
To adapt to fiber-optic speeds, you’ll need a fiber-ready router, also called a “residential gateway.” Any fiber-ready router, or router that can support the high speeds of fiber internet, will work. To ensure compatibility, you should find out how much internet speed you’re buying before purchasing a router. Take CenturyLink’s internet speed test to discover your internet speed.
We recommend getting a new router directly from your internet service provider to make sure all components are compatible and work with your new service. However, most providers will also allow you to lease a router designed to optimize your connection.
Connect your devices to your home fiber network
After the technician finishes installing your fiber internet, they’ll help set up your fiber-ready router and connect your devices to the new network. If you’re using a CenturyLink router, you will find the assigned wireless network name (SSID) and password on the label attached to your router. You can make logging in easier by creating your own customized password and username on the router’s user interface site. After that, 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!
Once your fiber internet service is ready to go, enjoy streaming, working, online shopping, gaming, and more, with plenty of fiber bandwidth.
Ready for fiber internet in your home?
CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit packages, with speeds up to 940 Mbps, are available in many areas nationwide, and our network is continuously expanding. To get started, see if service is available near you.
