Verizon Fios vs. Honest Networks: Picking Internet for Your Murray Hill Apartment

You sign the lease, get the keys, and realize the next call you have to make is to an internet provider — before your first work-from-home Monday. In a Murray Hill building like The Anthem at 222 East 34th Street, you have two real fiber options: Honest Networks and Verizon Fios. Both run actual fiber, not cable dressed up as fiber. Here's how to choose between them without overthinking it.

Why Symmetrical Upload Matters More Than You Think

Most advertised internet speeds are about download — how fast a movie loads. Upload is the quieter number, and it's the one that decides whether your video calls hold steady. When you're on a call, screen-sharing, or pushing files to the cloud, you're sending data out, not pulling it in. Cable plans often give you a fraction of the upload they give you for download, which is why your face freezes while everyone else looks fine.

Fiber from both Honest Networks and Verizon Fios is symmetrical: upload matches download. If you work from home, this is the single feature worth caring about. A symmetrical gigabit connection means a full house of calls, backups, and streaming without anyone elbowing for bandwidth.

Caps, Pricing, and the Fine Print

Neither of these fiber options is the kind of service that hits you with surprise data caps the way some plans do — but plans and promotions change, so confirm the current terms before you commit. The Anthem partners with Honest Networks, and the one real promotion to know is code ANTHEM26H, which gets you two months free at honest.net/signup/anthem. That's a meaningful head start on a year of service.

On pricing more broadly, treat any number a salesperson quotes as a starting point and ask directly about the rate after any intro period ends. The promo above is the only one tied to this building, so don't assume other discounts apply automatically.

Availability and Install Lead Times

Availability is building-by-building and sometimes line-by-line, so the smartest move is to confirm what's wired to your specific unit before move-in day. Honest Networks is the in-building pick at The Anthem, which usually means a smoother setup. Verizon Fios is the alternative if you prefer it or already have an account elsewhere.

Install lead times are the part people underestimate. A technician visit can take a week or more to schedule during busy stretches, so book the appointment the moment your lease is signed — not the weekend you move in. Our concierge can tell you what's already active in the building; call (212) 684-3222 and ask before you order.

Which to Pick: WFH vs. Streaming

If you work from home and live on video calls, go with whichever gets you symmetrical gigabit fastest and most reliably — at The Anthem, that's Honest Networks, and the ANTHEM26H promo makes the math easy. If your day is mostly streaming and browsing, any fiber tier will feel instant, and you can size down to a smaller plan without noticing. Either way, fiber beats cable for the things that frustrate people most: stalled uploads and calls that drop mid-sentence.

Setting up internet is one of the easier parts of moving into a fiber-ready building — the harder part is finding the right home first. Browse available residences, get oriented with our neighborhood guide, and ask our team about Honest Networks (code ANTHEM26H for two months free) or Verizon Fios as the alternative. We're at (212) 684-3222.