What to know about fiber in Phoenix
Digging for fiber needs a utility mark first
Arizona law gives utilities up to two working days to mark underground lines after a dig request, and no one may begin excavating before marking is complete. If your fiber run crosses a lot or a street, that wait goes into the schedule.
Source: A.R.S. 40-360.22
Large projects have to give notice earlier
Large projects must notify the one-call center at least 15 business days or 21 calendar days before the start date, to schedule a coordination meeting. A long multi-building run may qualify as large, so we check with the one-call center during planning.
Source: A.R.S. 40-360.22
Phoenix is building its own fiber on Deer Valley Road and 7th Street
The City is building a 3.9-mile fiber-optic and traffic-device project on Deer Valley Road and 7th Street. Construction began in early 2026 and is expected to finish by late 2026. Traffic and pedestrian movement may be modified while access is maintained. The project hotline is 623-825-3444.
Cox lists business fiber in Phoenix
Cox Business lists shared business fiber in Phoenix at symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps, and Dedicated Internet Access over fiber up to 100 Gbps with a 4-hour service level agreement. Availability depends on your address. Our fiber work sits on your side of the demarcation: inside the building and between your buildings.
Source: Cox Business Phoenix internet
When fiber makes sense
Copper network cable tops out at 100 meters. Fiber reaches much farther and ignores electrical noise and lightning. Four situations call for it. Fiber is also the easier upgrade path, since the same glass can carry faster optics later.
- A link between two buildings, such as a main building and a warehouse or a detached office.
- A backbone between floors or wiring closets in a larger building.
- A connection between racks that carry a lot of traffic, like video distribution or servers.
- A long run to a far camera or access point where copper would exceed its limit.
Single-mode or multimode
Single-mode fiber has a thin core and carries a signal for miles. It's the standard for new building-to-building runs and for anything you might upgrade later. Multimode costs less for the optics and works well over shorter distances inside a building. We match the fiber type to your switches so the optics fit.
Underground runs and Arizona's dig rules
A run between buildings usually goes underground in conduit, which brings Arizona's dig rules into the job. The Arizona dig statute lets utilities take up to two working days to mark lines, and no one may open a trench before marking is complete. Caliche soil and buried irrigation or electrical lines are common, so we hand-dig near marks.
Some sites can take an overhead run on a roof or pole instead. In older buildings, inside-duct fiber can be pulled through existing conduit when there's room.
Splicing and testing
We fusion-splice fiber so the joint loses very little light, then land it on a labeled fiber panel. Every strand is tested for loss, and you get the results. Patch cords connect the panel to your switch, with labels on both ends. The test results stay with your records for the next technician.
Job sequence
- Walk both ends and the path between them.
- Plan fiber type, strand count and the route, including any utility notice.
- Install conduit and cable, then splice and test.
- Check switch optics and patch cords against your equipment.
- Service continues Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Often paired with
Inside each building, fiber pairs with structured cabling. At the network edge, it pairs with business WiFi and backup internet. More of our Phoenix work is on the Enzo in Phoenix page.
