Fiber optics
Fiber optic installation
Single-mode, multimode, outside plant and air-blown fiber designed, installed, spliced and certified by WCC across California. Every strand tested and documented.
The short answer
WCC designs, installs, splices and certifies fiber inside buildings, between buildings and across campuses, with insertion loss and OTDR results on every strand. In-building fiber runs typically cost $300 to $900 each, terminated and tested; campus and underground projects are priced by route.
What we deliver
Fiber services, design to certification
Fiber is the part of the network you install once and expect to last 20 years or more. Getting strand counts, fiber type and pathways right up front is what keeps you from pulling new cable in five.
One team handles design, pulling, splicing and testing, so the test report matches the plant that was actually built.
Fiber design. Strand counts, fiber types, pathways and splice plans sized for today and future growth.
Inside plant. Single-mode and multimode backbones between closets, risers and data center links.
Outside plant. Underground, conduit and aerial fiber between buildings, with permits and locates handled.
Air-blown fiber. Microduct systems that let you add fiber later without pulling new cable.
Splicing and termination. Low-loss fusion splicing, LC, SC and MPO termination, labeled and documented.
Testing and repair. Insertion loss and OTDR certification on every strand, plus fault location and repair.
Fiber types
Which fiber fits each run
| Fiber | Typical reach | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-mode (OS2) | Kilometers | Building-to-building links, campus backbones, carrier handoffs, outside plant |
| Multimode OM4 | Up to about 400 m at 10 Gb | Backbones between closets, risers and data center links |
| Multimode OM3 | Up to about 300 m at 10 Gb | Existing plants and shorter in-building links |
| Multimode OM5 | Similar to OM4 | Data centers using wavelength-division optics |
Jacket matters too: plenum and riser for inside buildings, armored where cable needs protection, and outdoor-rated or direct-burial for underground runs.
Cost
What fiber installation costs
$300–$900
per in-building fiber run
Multimode OM4 runs typically cost $300 to $700 and single-mode $350 to $900, terminated and tested, before closet hardware. Campus and underground projects with trenching or boring commonly run $20,000 to $100,000 or more.
See examples in the cabling cost guide.
- Distance and strand count
- Longer runs and higher strand counts add material and splicing time.
- Pathways
- Existing conduit is far cheaper than new trenching, boring or core drilling.
- Termination
- Fusion-spliced pigtails and MPO trunks cost more than simple field termination.
- Permits and site
- Outside plant work adds permits, locates, traffic control and restoration.
- Labor rules
- Public projects in California require prevailing wage, which raises labor cost.
Installation types
Inside plant, outside plant or air-blown?
Inside plant
Fiber inside a building: risers, backbones between closets and data center links, in plenum or riser-rated cable.
Fits multi-floor buildings and data centers
Outside plant
Fiber between buildings through conduit, direct burial or aerial routes, with vaults, pull boxes and entry protection.
Fits campuses, industrial sites and ports
Air-blown
Microduct installed once, with fiber blown in now and added later without new pulls.
Fits sites that expect to keep growing
Why WCC
Why organizations choose WCC for fiber
A fiber plant is only as good as its splices and its paperwork. We do both in-house and hand you the proof.
Our own splicers. WCC technicians pull, splice and terminate the fiber, so the crew that built it is the crew that tests it.
Every strand certified. Insertion loss and OTDR results for every strand, delivered at closeout.
Inside, outside and air-blown. One contractor for the riser, the campus route and the microduct.
Licensed and experienced. CSLB #819788 with C-7 and C-10 classifications, installing fiber in California since 2003.
How a fiber project runs
- Week 1Site walkPathways, distances, closets and equipment.
- Week 2DesignFiber type, strand counts and splice plan.
- Week 2–3ProposalScope, materials, schedule and price.
- InstallInstallationPulling, splicing, termination and labeling.
- CloseoutCertificationLoss and OTDR reports and as-builts.
Industries
Fiber built for your environment
Fiber guides and services
Pricing, technical guides and related services from the team that installs it.
By region: Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego.
FAQ
Fiber optic questions
How much does fiber optic installation cost?
Inside a building, a terminated and tested fiber run typically costs $300 to $700 for multimode (OM4) and $350 to $900 for single-mode in Southern California, before closet hardware. Campus and outside plant projects with trenching, boring or new conduit commonly run $20,000 to $100,000 or more. See the cabling cost guide for examples.
What is the difference between single-mode and multimode fiber?
Single-mode fiber has a small core and carries signals over long distances, so it's used between buildings, across campuses and to carrier handoffs. Multimode fiber (OM3, OM4, OM5) has a larger core and is used for shorter runs inside a building or data center. The right choice depends on each run's distance, bandwidth and the equipment at each end.
When should we replace copper with fiber?
When runs exceed copper's 100-meter limit, when you're connecting buildings, when electrical interference is a problem, or when backbone links between closets need more than 10 Gb. Most buildings keep copper to the desk and use fiber for the backbone. See when to replace copper with fiber.
Do you install outside plant and underground fiber?
Yes. WCC installs direct-buried, conduit-fed and aerial fiber between buildings, including coordination of trenching or boring, pull boxes and vaults, building entry protection, permits and utility locates.
What is air-blown fiber?
Air-blown fiber uses compressed air to push fiber through pre-installed microduct. Fiber can be added or replaced later without pulling new cable, which suits campuses, ports and facilities that expect to grow. WCC installs Sumitomo air-blown fiber.
How is fiber tested and certified?
Every strand gets insertion loss testing with a light source and power meter, and OTDR testing that shows the length, loss and reflectance of every splice and connector. Results are delivered in a test report at closeout as your performance baseline.
Can you repair existing fiber?
Yes. We locate faults with an OTDR and repair broken strands, damaged connectors, failed splices and dirty end faces, and can add strands or re-terminate older fiber plants.
Is fiber E-Rate eligible for schools?
Yes. Fiber that connects school buildings and the internal backbone between closets can qualify for E-Rate funding, which lowers the cost of school and library fiber projects.
Related
Related guides and services
Get a recommendation
Get a fiber assessment
An engineer walks your pathways and closets, recommends fiber types and strand counts, and returns a line-item quote.