Wedoany.com Report-Dec.18, The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) has released its annual Fiber Deployment Survey, conducted by RVA Market Research & Consulting, showing that 2025 marked a record year for fiber broadband expansion in North America.
In the United States, deployments added 11.8 million homes passed during 2025 alone, bringing the cumulative total to 98.3 million fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) passings, including locations with multiple providers. Fiber now reaches over 60% of U.S. households. In Canada, fiber passings totaled 14.5 million, covering nearly 75% of households.
Survey findings indicate strong progress toward widespread availability. Fiber broadband is projected to surpass cable and other technologies as the primary U.S. delivery platform potentially by 2028. Despite substantial achievements, approximately 60 million homes remain as potential first-time passings, while 84% of opportunities for secondary and tertiary coverage are still available, supporting continued competitive deployments.
Adoption rates have also risen. Average take rates for primary fiber passings reached 46.5%. When a second provider offers service in the same area, overall FTTH subscription increases to around 61%, illustrating that provider competition enhances market penetration.
Emerging applications are expected to sustain fiber demand over the coming years. These include data centers, mobile tower and small cell connections, energy grid infrastructure, in-home fiber extensions, quantum networking, artificial intelligence support, and fiber sensing technologies. Many of these segments are in early stages, presenting extended growth prospects beyond residential broadband.
Investment momentum persists. Government funding programs continue to drive FTTH expansion despite implementation challenges. A forthcoming adjustment in federal tax policy will reinstate full bonus depreciation starting in 2026, anticipated to boost capital expenditure on fiber projects by 5-15%.
Mike Render, Founder and CEO at RVA said: We're at a major inflection point in the U.S. broadband market. Competition among fiber providers has intensified, and the data shows that customer experience is now a top defining factor separating market leaders from the rest. Consumers consistently rate fiber highest across every performance category and that preference is accelerating adoption. Fiber speed, latency, and jitter advantages are also seen in speed tests taken during surveys. As more providers enter the market and expand their networks, we expect this momentum to continue and further solidify fiber as the premier broadband technology in the United States.
Deborah Kish, Vice President of Research and Workforce Development at FBA said: This year's survey reinforces what we're seeing across the industry: fiber has become the clear technology of choice for both network operators and consumers. Deployment is accelerating, investment remains strong, and fiber now reaches more U.S. households than ever before. At the same time, new markets are expanding the role fiber plays in our digital economy. These trends point to sustained long-term growth and underscore the importance of continued fiber deployment to meet future demand.
The results highlight fiber's increasing dominance in broadband infrastructure, driven by superior performance, rising consumer preference, and expanding applications across multiple sectors. Ongoing network buildout supports both current connectivity needs and preparation for future technological advancements.
