Though it’s becoming more expensive for deploy, the number of homes with fiber access grew significantly in 2025, according to the Fiber Broadband Association’s annual Fiber Deployment Cost Report, conducted by Cartesian.
More 11.8 million homes added fiber connections last year, bringing the total percentage of households with the technology in the U.S. to more than 60%. However, whether fiber is added via underground or aerial methods, the cost of deployment continued to increase.
The report found that nearly all (92%) of the respondents said their fiber deployment costs went up the in the last 12 months, though aerial deployments — at a cost of $8 per foot — remained less than half as expensive as underground construction ($18 per foot).
Annual cost increases were 3% for underground and 14% for aerial construction, with labor driving most of the total costs and increases.
According to the report, the cost of labor represents nearly three quarters (72%) of the cost of underground fiber deployment, while it represents a slightly lower (64%) portion of the cost of aerial deployment.
The cost of labor is largely driven by the construction method, the report added, noting that using conduit can cost as much as 40% more than laying fiber directly, but the use of conduit can mean lower maintenance costs in the future. For the initial deployment, trenching is the most expensive method, costing 60% more than plowing and 6% more than directional boring.
Most respondents in the report (88%) expect further cost increases this year.
“The data shows that while fiber deployment continues at a historic pace, the economics of building networks are becoming more complex,” Megan Corriveau, Cartesian strategy and analytics manager, said in a prepared statement. “Rising labor costs, materials pricing, and permitting delays are reshaping deployment strategies, making accurate cost benchmarks more critical than ever for providers planning large-scale fiber investments.”
In another recent report, FBA found that fiber deployments achieved a new record in 2025.
