FiOS (Fiber Optic Service)

FiOS (Fiber Optic Service) is a fiber to the premises (FTTP) telecommunications service offered by Verizon to consumers in the United States. The word "fios" is Irish for "knowledge" and the FiOS acronym is a trademark of Verizon. FTTP, also called "fiber to the home" (FTTH), is the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point directly to individual buildings.

A typical FiOS package includes high-speed Internet access along with cable TV and basic telephone service. For consumer use, FiOS Internet access is available at downstream speeds of up to 30 megabits per second ( Mbps ) and upstream speeds of up to 5 Mbps. Verizon is building its FiOS network in most of the states where it offers landline communications services. As of early 2007 the bulk of the development activity was taking place in New York state, New Jersey and Connecticut although the pilot program began in Texas.