2025 and Beyond: The Rise of Fiber Internet (Part 1)

Look at fiber’s future for multifamily and master planned communities.

Now more than ever, multifamily community developers and owners should reevaluate their properties’ revenue strategies and leverage the opportunities offered by fiber-optic technology. Positioning your properties for success or at an optimal market value will can separate you in an increasingly connected and competitive world. With fiber’s ultra-fast speed, scalability, reliability, and revenue potential, installing community-wide fiber can satisfy your residents’ cravings for high-performing and secure connections now and into the future.

Fiber installations will only accelerate in the United States, thanks in part, to the $1.2 trillion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

According to a 2023 consumer study by Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) and RVA LLC Market Research and Consulting, fiber optics is the preferred connectivity technology for almost two-thirds of all internet users, outpacing both cable and wireless. Plus, fiber-optic internet can add, on average, 4.9% to a home’s value.

There are four key considerations for why fiber is on the rise and can offer your communities an edge.

In Part 1, consider what’s a low-fuss, long-term and scalable connectivity solution? And how is fiber’s versatility altering the competitive landscape for all property owners and residential developers? Part 2 addresses the remaining two considerations: modern consumer needs and revenue strategies for properties.

1.    Rising with ease of future scale

Fiber stands out as an alluring  future-proof solution for connecting to the internet. Fiber cables will not need upgrading for decades while needing only minimal maintenance, resulting in few disruptions to a community’s residents and the overall business.

“Bandwidth demands won’t stabilize, but will continue to soar,” says Chris Hunt, senior manager of product management at Quantum Fiber.

Scalability and advancements to fiber networks is further disrupting the connectivity industry, including cellular, satellite, coax cable, fixed wireless, and others. XGS-PON is the next generation of Passive Optical Network (PON). Quantum Fiber network enhancements with XGS-PON significantly increases bandwidth for communities’ future needs, without modifications to the existing fiber in the ground. It’s opening up the bandwidth floodgates by operating on a different wavelength than GPON. XGS-PON can provide speeds of up to 8 Gbps (gigabits per second), accelerating the speed to a mere 1 minute to 40 seconds for an estimated download time of a 100-gigabyte video game (with 8 Gbps service).   

Fiber networks are designed to handle simultaneous, high-volume traffic from high-density areas, ensuring consistent performance even during peak usage times. Paired with in-home WiFi 7 devices, residents enjoy ultra-low latency, broad WiFi coverage, and huge bandwidth potential over an infrastructure that has been designed and engineered to minimize congestion during those times when they most need to connect.

WiFi 7 installation provides an easy way to connect homes or units to high-speed fiber internet. And better WiFi coverage than WiFi 6 means less mesh equipment and RJ45 connections are required throughout the home.

With fiber-to-the-home or fiber-to-the-unit, a community’s infrastructure is future-ready and prepared to accommodate technologies like augmented reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and even 8K video streaming as they become mainstream. This translates into being able to meet current residents’ needs while seamlessly adapting to future innovations without frequent overhauls or costly replacements.

2.    Rising by versatility for new and existing communities

Fiber is a versatile solution for multifamily communities, whether for constructing new buildings or upgrading existing ones. Its flexibility allows developers to integrate it seamlessly into new projects, while also providing cost-effective options for retrofitting older properties to meet the internet needs of current residents.

“Owners, investors and developers should consider the connectivity platform as the community’s central nervous system,” says Giles Widener, lead product manager at Quantum Fiber.

For retrofits (also called “overbuilds”), fiber can often be run through existing conduits of your legacy connections, minimizing the need for invasive construction. Micro-trenching and utilizing risers and ducts make retrofitting quick and minimally disruptive for residents and avoids negatively affecting the aesthetic appearance of a property.

Fiber cables are made from durable materials such as glass, which don’t corrode or wear out. In fact, the glass in fiber optics is strong and flexible. Because of its flexibility, fiber can be bent around corners, twisted, and angled into tight spaces. That can make it cost-effective and easy to install when modernizing existing properties. Some fiber is even small enough to be almost invisible when carefully placed along ceilings or molding.

Fiber’s future is on the rise

A Tier 1 fiber network’s future measures up with 99.9% reliability (based on network uptime or availability). Nearly unparalleled scalability can meet the evolving needs of residents and homeowners alike.

Fiber is a highly adaptable solution for multifamily communities, suitable for both new constructions and upgrades to existing buildings. Its flexibility allows developers to seamlessly integrate it into new projects and provides cost-effective options for retrofitting older properties to meet current internet needs.

Leading internet service providers, like the Quantum Fiber Connected Communities team of experts including account managers and engineers, collaborate with developers and property owners to plan tailored installations for every space requiring internet access.

In Part 2, we will explore two additional factors to complete your reevaluation assessment showing why implementing community-wide fiber can meet your residents’ multifaceted demands for high-performance and secure connections now and in the future. And why many owners and operators choose fiber for the value and financial gains.

Check out these related resources:

• 2025 and Beyond: The Rise of Fiber Internet Part 2
• Out with the old, in with future-proof fiber-optic internet
• How Big is the Leap to WiFi 7?