Here is the 2026 benchmark for cost of laying fiber optic cable per foot by method: Open trench (lawn/field): $0. 80 per ft – fastest, lowest cost. Directional boring (road crossing, driveway): $3. Typical total project ranges run from about $8,000 on small, simple runs to over $60,000 for longer, heavily regulated deployments with underground. Buyers typically pay for fiber optic cable by length, fiber type, and installation complexity. Main cost drivers include cable grade (indoor vs outdoor, armoured), distance, and labor for trenching, splicing, and termination.