Fiber vs STP vs UTP for underground conduit run to backyard office?
Fiber is the obvious choice, for multiple reasons. If you choose not to do fiber, point-to-point wireless is likely the next logical option, given a short distance.
The biggest one is that fiber does not need lightning/surge suppression, since it does not conduct electricity. You also don't have to replace lighting/surge suppressors that don't survive a surge.
Most networking companies do come in rather high on doing fiber, but if you get pre-terminated cable suitable for wet locations (probably &quot;indoor/outdoor&quot; is your best bet) somewhat longer than you need it's not too hard to pull it yourself, especially if you get &quot;reduced bend radius&quot; fiber.
However, getting pre-terminated fiber through a 3/4&quot; conduit may be a bit iffy, even with LC (small) connectors, since the connectors need to be protected for the pull and that adds some bulk. Look for a cable with a pulling eye in place, and verify with the vendor that it will work in 3/4&quot; conduit.
Myself, I learned to do &quot;old school&quot; hand-polish terminations rather than pay a company a great deal more for a project, but that was a bit larger scale than one cable in the back yard. I paid for the equipment and supplies many times over .vs. the quoted price.
There are also &quot;mechanical splice&quot; connectors out there, but the tools to use them would probably have to be rentals to make any sense unless your local company is the only option and very high priced.
If the trench is open, drop in some larger conduit.
&quot;Somewhat longer than you need&quot; - just coil the excess neatly, and enjoy not coming up short, or not worrying about having to cut some off and re-terminate if you have a problem. It's called a &quot;Moves, Adds and Changes&quot; loop, and when you don't have one, you tend to regret it, eventually.