Verizon FiOS In Black And White
Verizon FiOS, a service package featuring land line telephone, cable and Internet access through an advanced fiber optic network, is one of the most popular high speed Internet options in America. Before the release of FiOS, Verizon Internet service was limited to slower DSL service. Verizon began offering their fiber optic high speed Internet service to residential consumers in 2005, and had initially planned to offer coverage to any territory where Verizon previously offered service in the continental United States. The company increased the prices of their bundled service in 2008 as it continued to increase in areas of availability. As of early 2010, the company informed consumers that it would begin to cease expanding to new areas and would instead focus on the completion of their network infrastructure within existing areas of service. That same year, the number of customers subscribing to Verizon Internet service was estimated to be 3.8 million.
What Is FiOS?
FiOS, an abbreviated title which represents the fiber optic nature of the network offered by Verizon Internet service, is a competitive high speed Internet service which offers networks that consistently top competitors in a speed test. The service is available in a variety of speeds, some of which are able to be packaged with fiber optic television and land line telephone service in a bundle which helps to cut costs. The bundles, listed in terms of downstream and upstream speed of data transmission as verified by a speed test, are as follows:
- 15/5- This is the lowest speed offered by the service. It is available on its own or in a package. This speed range is suitable for average computer users who download only small files.
- 50/20- This is a mid-range connection, ideal for users who use streaming media or download pictures, music and videos. It is available on its own or in a package.
- 75/35- This is a high speed connection that is ideal for people who regularly download large files. It is available on its own or in a package.
- 150/65- This is a very high speed connection which requires special equipment, including an optical network terminal available only at central offices that are GPON deployed as well as a Gigabit router. This service is available on its own and is only packaged in certain markets.
- 300/65- This is the highest speed offered by the service. It requires the same specialized equipment as the previous speed, but is only offered on its own. No packages are available for this tier of Internet speed.
Where is Verizon FiOS Available?
Verizon’s high speed Internet service is currently available in selected cities in (n) states, including:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Florida
- New Jersey
- California
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Oregon
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Washington
- Delaware
- Kansas
Verizon has currently decided to stop expanding their wired fiber optic networks in favor of increasing their wireless Internet coverage, so the states that are currently covered by the service are the only ones likely to gain an increase in cities which benefit from the network infrastructure.
Currently, the company is continuing to market the high speed Internet service and solicit customers in the areas where the service is available. The website for the service shows various video advertisements featuring satisfied customers. The site also offers the option to perform a speed test, allowing a potential consumer to test the speed of the high speed Internet they are currently being provided with against the speeds of the Verizon FiOS network. Consumers can also check the availability of the service in their city and are encouraged to use Twitter to communicate with other users of the service in order to ask questions regarding their level of satisfaction. Users can read customer reviews on the website, learn more about the service packages offered by the company and place an order for an installation of the service if they live in a qualifying city and state.
