Per-foot benchmarks help compare options: $0. 20/ft for cable, $8–$40/ft for trenching, and $60–$180 per labor hour depending on skill level and fusion requirements. These figures reflect typical U S prices before any permit waivers or incentives. Commercial building installations with 100-200 network drops generally range from $15,000 to $30,000. Single-mode fiber costs less per foot than multimode fiber, but it requires more. Armored fiber optic cables designed for direct burial cost $6-14 per linear foot. These cables include gel-filled cores and water-blocking protection. HDPE conduits last longer than PVC but cost slightly more upfront. For planning, consider a project-wide range of $1,000 to $30,000+ for several hundred to several thousand feet, with per-foot costs. Installing underground fiber optic cable is one of the most reliable ways to build long-term telecommunications infrastructure. In this guide, you'll get data‑driven ranges you can reference in bids, an illustrative cost breakdown, and a step‑by‑step pricing framework you can hand to your. These networks are constructed both underground and through aerial fiber, at an average cost of $1,000 to $1,250 per residential household passed or $60,000 to $80,000 per mile.