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Who Are The Best Rural Internet Providers For 2023 ?

Best Rural Internet Providers

A good rural internet connection may be difficult to come by, but there are a handful that provide excellent service at a reasonable cost. Here are some of our favorites. Click through each one to learn about them , the package and bundle deals they offer and availability in your neighborhood amongst a list of other factors you need to know before deciding who is the best rural internet provider for you.

  • Viasat – They are  the best satellite internet provider.
  • CenturyLink is the best DSL internet provider.
  • Suddenlink is the best rural cable internet provider.
  • Rise Broadband is the best fixed wireless internet available.
  • Verizon Wireless is the best mobile hotspot provider.
  • HughesNet is the runner-up in the satellite internet category.
  • DSL runner-up: Windstream
  • DSL runner-up AT&T Internet
  • EarthLink is the runner-up in the DSL race.
  • Xfinity is the runner-up in the cable internet category.
  • AT&T Wireless is the runner-up in the mobile hotspot category.

What Type Of Internet Service Is Available In Remote Areas?

Some rural internet providers will perform better for various purposes than others if you have choices. Here’s what we suggest in general.

Internet via Satellite

Satellite internet isn’t our first option because of the expensive costs and limited bandwidth limits, but it does serve those hard-to-reach areas where cable or DSL may not yet exist. If satellite is your only choice for internet, it may be well worth the investment , we have a list of the best satellite internet providers here. You can also learn about the differences between DSL , Cable and Fiber here

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet

When compared to satellite internet, a DSL connection is a good option since it is less expensive. It may also provide comparable speeds and data limits to cable internet, and DSL is more commonly accessible than cable. In most cases, your greatest internet choices in a remote location will be a satellite or DSL connection. DSL connects to your existing phone lines, while satellite connection may operate virtually everywhere. Wireless technology, on the other hand, has gone a long way in recent years.

While choosing the best internet providers for urban areas if often a much simpler process , for remote locations it may be very challenging, there is now a lot more variety available too which makes the decision process even harder to know who is better . Our broadband comparison guide is also a great resource to compare internet providers side by side

Shopping On The Internet In The Country

In a remote location, your choices for home internet connection may not be as restricted as you think. You may be able to select from a number of different service providers. Even if there are just one or two providers, you’ll likely have a variety of plan choices, so knowing what to look for when searching for high-speed internet in rural regions is essential.

Check to discover if alternative providers and internet kinds are accessible in your region before committing to any one internet service. Although the service options mentioned here – particularly DSL and fixed wireless – have more coverage (DSL is accessible to 89 percent of U.S. homes), they do not provide broadband speeds in all regions. The percentages below show how much of their service area is capable of providing broadband speeds, which are defined as download rates of 25 Mbps or higher and upload speeds of 3 Mbps or higher.

Broadband Internet Access In The United States

  • 99 percent coverage via satellite
  • DSL has a coverage rate of 38%.
  • Fixed wireless has a coverage of 29%.

How Can People In Remote Regions Receive High-speed Internet?

Internet Speed and Latency

Although rural internet isn’t renowned for its lightning-fast connections, you may still be able to get speeds that are enough for your online habits. For example, although working from home would almost certainly need an internet plan of at least 40 Mbps, if you’re simply surfing the web and streaming movies and TV, a plan of 3 to 25 Mbps will likely enough. Remember that the more people using the internet at the same time, the quicker the plan will need to be.

Latency is more of a problem than speed in real-time internet gaming. The significant latency of satellite internet makes online gaming unfeasible. We discuss the Best Internet Providers for Gaming here

Internet Alternatives To Consider

Have you looked into your local rural internet alternatives and still can’t seem to find what you’re searching for? Don’t worry, we’ve got a few more tricks under our sleeves. Here are some additional out-of-the-box internet alternatives for rural areas.

Dial-up – Yes, dial-up is still in use, and it’s a good and affordable internet option for people in remote regions who just need to check their email. For service through AOL Online, People PC, EarthLink, or other dial-up providers, you’ll need a home phone connection and, most likely, a suitable modem. Keep in mind that internet speeds are limited to 56 kilobits per second.

Mobile hotspots – For an additional charge, certain cellphones may be used as a mobile hotspot in your house. Check with your mobile carrier to see if you have any hotspot alternatives. Standalone hotspot devices, such as the Verizon Jetpack or Skyroam Solis, are also available. While mobile hotspots are often used for short-term internet access, they may also be used as a home internet alternative for people who don’t connect frequently.

Why Aren’t There More Alternatives For Rural Internet?

The major obstacles limiting ISPs from extending their networks into rural or suburban areas with low population density are installation and operating expenses.

Because carriers can broadcast internet signals over a wide region without having to instal physical connections to each location, satellite and fixed wireless services are popular in rural areas. DSL service is also popular because it makes extensive use of existing phone lines, which are plentiful in many rural locations.

Unfortunately, in remote regions, coaxial (conventional “cable”) and fibre optic connections are less accessible since the cost of establishing lines is frequently considerably more than the provider would get in return. As a result, major cable internet providers such as Cox, Spectrum, and Xfinity, as well as fiber providers like AT&T, Google Fiber, and Verizon, are less likely to extend service into rural regions.

FAQ’s

  • Is satellite internet better than fixed wireless internet?

In remote regions, fixed wireless and satellite internet are both viable options for internet access. Because wireless signals travel a shorter distance, fixed wireless internet has lower latency than satellite internet. Satellite internet, on the other hand, is often preferable to fixed wireless since it may provide faster speeds and a more stable connection.

  • Is satellite internet suitable for rural areas?

Satellite internet can offer broadband rates (up to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload), making it an excellent choice for rural people looking for a fast internet connection for streaming, downloading music, and other activities. However, owing to its significant latency, satellite internet is not a good choice for online gaming.