Fiber Deployment Cost Annual Report 2025
The Fiber Broadband Association partnered with Cartesian to research the cost of deploying fiber in communities and environments in the United States.
In preparing the third edition of the Fiber Deployment Cost Report, Cartesian gathered input from a wide variety of firms building fiber networks across the nation. Research was conducted via phone interviews and online surveys in September and October 2025. Participants included network operators and contractors, with projects distributed across 38 individual states. We also reviewed FCC data, company announcements, and other literature to provide context for the scale and pace of deployment.
Selected highlights from this year’s study are presented below.
More than 60% of households have access to fiber today
Fiber now passes more than 60% of US households, with 11.8M additional homes passed in 2025 (including homes with more than one passing), of which 8.1M passings represent unique homes. Fiber also won big with the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, with fiber selected for 63% of eligible locations.
Underground deployments are twice as costly as aerial deployments and more expensive than last year
This year, the typical underground deployment was reported to cost $18.00/ft, while the typical aerial deployment was $8.00/ft. Reported deployment costs were higher this year than last; the median underground deployment cost increased by 3% and for aerial, the median cost increased by 14%. While these are independent samples, the comparison aligns with reports that overall costs have increased from last year.
Labor accounts for 72% of underground deployment costs and 64% of aerial
Labor formed the largest share of deployment costs, typically 72% of underground deployments and 64% of aerial deployments. Median labor costs were reported as $12.23/ft for underground builds, and $4.50/ft for aerial builds. Using internal labor tended to provide cost efficiencies of about 10%.
Burial and construction methods are key determinants of deployment costs
Laying fiber underground directly versus in a new conduit is ~40% cheaper but offers less flexibility and potentially higher maintenance costs. Trenching was reported to have the highest deployment cost, 60% more than plowing and 6% more than directional boring based on median costs.
Most respondents felt the burden of higher deployment costs in 2025 and expect to face more cost increases in 2026
92% of this year’s respondents reported a cost increase in 2025 compared to 80% of respondents last year who expected an increase in 2025. Going into 2026, 88% of respondents expect costs to increase again next year, driven by labor and materials, with permitting and make-ready costs also cited as key contributors.
