Comparing providers and rates can help you find the best internet services in Raleigh, North Carolina. Companies including AT&T, CenturyLink, Spectrum, HughesNet and Viasat provide internet service for most of Raleigh. Some Raleigh internet providers, including AT&T, CenturyLink, and Google Fiber, offer internet speeds as fast as 1,000Mbps. Spectrum’s cable internet service delivers speeds up to 940Mbps.
Raleigh residents need reliable internet service to complete work assignments and relax with streamed shows and movies. Review your options to choose the internet provider that best fits your needs.
Raleigh: a prosperous state capital
The “City of Oaks” is North Carolina’s state capital. Raleigh is one of America’s fastest-growing cities and, along with Durham and Chapel Hill, is part of the Research Triangle.
Many residents enjoy outdoor activities. Two state parks are near Raleigh: Falls Lake State Recreation Area and William B. Umstead State Park. In 2017, Men’s Health ranked Raleigh as the third sportiest city in the country. Raleigh is home to the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, and it has the seventh most basketball hoops per capita in the nation. Raleigh also has several concert venues, including the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre and the Red Hat Amphitheater.
Raleigh internet providers
Many consumers need fast internet service to download HD movies and stream videos and games. Fast internet allows families to use multiple devices simultaneously and provides a responsive gaming experience.
The table below details the speeds available from each internet provider. When choosing a company, also review the cost of internet packages. Many service providers offer introductory rates, which means the monthly rate increases after a set period of service. Introductory rates often apply for the first year.
CenturyLink takes a different approach, offering rate security through its Price for Life program. Speeds up to 100Mbps cost $49 per month. CenturyLink locks in your rate for as long as you live at the same address.
table, th, td {border: 2px solid green;text-align:center;}th,td {padding: 10px; background-color:none;}h1{color:green;}
| Internet Provider | Type of Internet | Speeds (Mbps) | Starting Pkg – monthly |
| ATT | Fiber, DSL | 100 to 1000 | $50.00 (first 12 mos) |
| Spectrum | Cable | 200 to 940 | $49.99 (first 12 mos) |
| Windstream | Fiber, Cable, DSL | 25 to 1000 | $33.00 (first 12 mos) |
| Viasat | Satellite | 12 to 100 | $50.00 (first 3 mos) |
| Google Fiber | Fiber | 100 to 1000 | $50.00 (first 12 mos) |
| HughesNet | Satellite | Up to 25 | $39.99 (first 24 mos) |
| Frontier | DSL | 6 to 115 | $27.99 |
| Earthlink | Fiber, DSL | 15 to 1000 | $49.95 |
| Mediacom Cable (business) | Cable | 60 to 1000 | $129.95 |
| Crown Castle Fiber (business) | Fiber | 1,000 | Custom |
| Spectrum (business) | Fiber, Cable | 200 to 940 | $64.98 (incl phone) |
| CenturyLink | Fiber, DSL | Up to 1000 | $49.00 |
| Frontier (business) | DSL | 24 | Custom |
| Verizon (business) | Fiber, Cable, DSL | 3 to 1000 | $47.99 (first 12 mos) |
| Spectrum Internet Assist | Cable | 30 | $14.99 (low income) |
| MegaPath (business) | Cable, DSL, Copper | 5 to 10000 | $75.00 |
| Windstream Enterprise (business) | Fiber, DSL, Copper | 1.5 to 1000 | Custom |
| Celito (business) | Fiber, Copper | Up to 1000 | Custom |
| GTT (business) | Cable, DSL, Copper | 1.5 | Custom |
Many Raleigh internet providers help customers save money by allowing them to bundle internet with television service, phone service or both.
One-time fees, such as installation costs and equipment charges, may apply to new services. Additionally, recurring charges such as taxes and fees may increase your monthly bill. Confirm the full cost of a monthly service before making a commitment. One-time termination fees may also apply when you end service.
If your household receives Supplemental Security Income or includes a student who participates in the National School Lunch Program, you may qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist. This special service delivers moderate internet speeds of 30Mbps and costs $14.99 per month. You can add a WiFi router for an extra $5 per month.
Internet availability in Raleigh
Not all customers in Raleigh can access service from all providers. However, most residents can choose from three or four providers. AT&T, CenturyLink, HughesNet, Spectrum, and Viasat each covers much of the city.
AT&T uses a combination of fiber and DSL networks to cover 89 percent of the city. CenturyLink covers about 97 percent of Raleigh. Viasat and HughesNet deliver satellite internet, which is available to 100 percent of residents. Spectrum’s cable internet services also cover all of Raleigh.
The Federal Communications Commission compiles data on broadband services in Raleigh and across the United States.
Five fastest internet providers in Raleigh
As demand increases for live streaming and smooth gaming, Raleigh’s internet providers work to deliver faster speeds to more locations. The fastest internet speeds are available through optical fiber, coaxial cable, and hybrid DSL/fiber connections. Fiber-based services are very fast and can allow customers to download a feature-length HD movie in less than 60 seconds. Unlike other companies, which use fiber optics, Spectrum owes its 940Mbps speeds to the use of coaxial cable.
Google Fiber’s fastest service delivers 1,000Mbps speeds and costs $70 per month. AT&T Fiber also includes speeds of up to 1,000Mbps and costs $70 per month for the first 12 months. The CenturyLink Fiber 1,000Mbps plan costs $65 per month. Earthlink’s HyperLink service provides 1,000Mbps speeds and costs $99.95 per month. Many companies offer slower fiber-based services for lower monthly rates. Spectrum delivers cable internet service for $49.99 per month for the first 12 months.
Gigabit speeds are only available at select addresses. Newly constructed apartment complexes are often wired with optical fiber or coaxial cable, which can help attract tenants. Google Fiber is already available at 28 Raleigh apartment complexes.
Some companies provide employees with ultra-fast internet. Google Fiber’s business plans deliver speeds from 100 to 1,000Mbps. Fiber Business 100 costs $70 per month, and Fiber Business 1,000 costs $250 per month. With internet speeds of 1,000Mbps, you could back up 10 GB of data in two minutes.
Best internet deals
Visit Freshome.com to find a great internet deal in Raleigh, North Carolina. Consider your internet usage, lifestyle, and budget to decide which internet service is best for you.
The post Best Internet Providers in Raleigh, NC appeared first on Freshome.com.