Internet Service Providers in Greensboro
It’s often difficult — some might say impossible — to find fast, reliable internet at a great price. Even in places like Greensboro, the third-most populous city in North Carolina, residents may struggle to find fast, affordable coverage. Just a handful of companies cover this area, and residents must know what they’re looking for to make the best selection. Here are some internet service providers in Greensboro to consider.
Internet Providers Near Me in Greensboro
Six internet providers offer services to residents of Greensboro, North Carolina. Each one varies in cost and speed.
- AT&T: Prices start at $45 with speeds up to 100 Mbps
- Spectrum: Prices start at $50 with speeds up to 940 Mbps
- EarthLink: Prices start at $40 with speeds up to 1 Gbps
- HughesNet: Prices start at $70 with speeds up to 25 Mbps
- Viasat: Prices start at $60 with speeds up to 100 Mbps
- CenturyLink: Prices start at $50 with speeds up to 60 Mbps
Cheapest Internet Providers in Greensboro
EarthLink is the cheapest internet service provider in Greensboro if you choose the most basic plan. However, it only offers service to roughly one-third of the city’s residents. Luckily, AT&T offers options at almost the same price. The speeds are slower, but it provides coverage to nearly 100% of Greensboro residents, making it an easy choice if you live in or near the city.
High-Speed Internet Options in Greensboro
Once again, EarthLink is the best choice in terms of price and speed. However, if this service provider doesn’t offer coverage in your neighborhood, Spectrum is your next best choice. It covers nearly 100% of Greensboro residents with speeds up to 940 Mbps — almost as fast as EarthLink.
If you can’t find coverage from either of these two options, look into AT&T or Viasat. Both of these providers offer speeds up to 100 Mbps.
Does North Carolina Have Good Internet?
North Carolina is the 17th most connected state in the country, with more than 71% of households subscribing to some form of broadband internet. However, only one-third of North Carolina residents have fiber-optic internet service. That means the other two-thirds might reach the broadband definition of 25 Mbps, but that speed isn’t always enough to support streaming video or Zoom calls.
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, which includes $65 billion for improving broadband access, is looking to change that. This funding will likely support rural communities in the mountainous regions and marshy coastline in northeast North Carolina, where laying fiber cables is especially difficult.
What’s the Difference Between Fiber and Cable Internet?
AT&T offers fiber and cable or DSL internet. The former costs $35 and offers speeds up to 1 Gps, while the latter costs $45 and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps. Cable internet uses copper TV lines to transfer information, which inevitably makes it slower.
Fiber uses plastic lines designed specifically for internet service, allowing for higher bandwidth connections — especially for uploads — and cheaper service. Thus, fiber is often the preferred choice among consumers. However, AT&T only offers fiber to 36% of Greensboro residents while providing cable internet to more than 83%. Consequently, many customers are left with no other option than to pay more for less.
How Do I Choose an Internet Provider?
An internet service provider’s availability depends on your exact location within a city or state. That means your friends and family might have access to providers that you do not, even if they live right around the corner.
Therefore, it’s best to narrow down your options by zip code. Then, you can compare speed and pricing to find a fiber-optic or DSL connection that best meets your needs and budget. Read a few customer reviews before signing a contract to get a better feel for their customer service and discover what current clients have to say.