The State Of The North American Fiber Deployment – January 2025
RVA, LLC. has developed a report on North American fiber deployment, which outlines the significant advancements and challenges in the industry as of 2024.
Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment reached new milestones, with 76.5 million unique U.S. homes now passed by fiber, representing a 13% growth in 2024. Notably, the average adoption rate increased to 45.2%, with more providers reporting faster adoption ramp rates. The U.S. market continues to show substantial growth potential, emphasizing the enduring demand for fiber infrastructure. Additionally, investments in fiber by private equity and government programs are expected to sustain and accelerate deployment efforts in the coming years.
Despite these advancements, the industry faces challenges with permitting delays and labor constraints. Permitting emerged as the most significant obstacle for providers, followed by difficulties with pole access and adherence to federal regulations. Workforce limitations also hindered deployment, with small providers estimating a 7% higher build capacity in the absence of labor constraints. However, the broader market outlook remains optimistic, bolstered by the expansion into emerging fiber applications such as fiber-to-the-data centers, grid, and quantum computing, which promise to extend the fiber market’s growth trajectory well into the next decade.