The internet shapes a very crucial part of our lives today because more and more things are now going online. From work and school to quality entertainment options, shopping, banking, and more - we now need a fast and steady internet connection to accomplish every other day-to-day task. Quite logically when the demand rises as quickly, service providers are driven to respond by expanding their infrastructure, introducing new technologies, and increasing network capacity, so as to ensure ready access to high-speed internet for more and more people.
There are over 2800 ISPs in the U.S., that offer a variety of internet connection types wired and wireless. In urban America, as well as most suburban regions, wired internet via Cable and Fiber is pretty widely available. But in most parts of rural America the most readily accessible wired internet type is DSL. If you are lucky it can be a high-speed connection giving you 25/3 Mbps or higher. Otherwise it’s the traditional DSL with slower speeds, and when that is the case, fixed wireless and satellite internet become the only high-speed internet options. So, if you are looking for GIG speeds, your location will play a critical role in terms of accessibility.
In this article, we take a provider-based approach to discuss the availability of gigabit internet plans across the U.S. Most people now look for the highest speed tier available, because lower speeds just don’t cut it anymore. If you are also looking for a GIG plan in your local market, read on!
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for an internet service to qualify as high-speed it should deliver 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. But several cable and fiber internet providers are actually able to deliver speeds many times faster ? and it won’t be an overstatement to say Gig internet, whether delivered via Cable or Fiber, has seen an increase in both demand and provision during recent years.
The increased availability of 1 Gbps internet has introduced users to an experience that is a level ahead. Not only can multiple users connect to the network at any given time, but gigabit speeds ensure minimal lag if at all, even when you’re engaged in bandwidth-intensive activities. The rising popularity of 1 Gig internet is also owed to the increased adoption of smart home appliances and security devices that require the most seamless connectivity possible.
While a gigabit internet connection over a hybrid Cable network does not deliver symmetrical speeds, like a Fiber-to-the-Home connection, it is nonetheless a very sought-after option for power users. The higher cable internet speeds make slow downs at peak times quite unnoticeable. And, since most home usage requires more power for downloads than uploads, a 1 Gig cable internet service is able to fulfill the needs of its users satisfactorily.
As for a Fiber Gig connection, it’s ideal for pro gamers and content creators given its equal upload and download power plus ultra-low latency ? data travels over fiber lines up to your door step, and you reap the 100% benefit of cutting-edge technologies. The only downside of 1 Gbps fiber internet is its limited availability ? despite the growth witnessed in recent times. And, this is where Gig internet delivered over Cable saves the day for interested users.
So if you’ve been looking for the best gigabit internet plans, over Cable or Fiber, to help everyone in the family cover work, school and fun needs with greater confidence, scroll down and see which of the 1 Gbps offerings appeal to you the most.
When we talk about gig speeds in the U.S., we must consider both cable internet and fiber options ? because you can get up to 1000 Mbps for downloads from both types. Here are some of the most popular providers that offer gig internet in the U.S. market, and also a brief look at what to expect from each ? not to forget where you can find the service.
Xfinity is a household name across the U.S., and a popular choice. The Xfinity Internet service offers multiple speed-based plans ? top download speed is 1200 Mbps via a hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network. The little extra speed you get with the Gig offer from Xfinity is unique relative to competitor offers. Plus the perks of the Xfinity Internet service makes your subscription all the more worthwhile. For instance, you can enjoy ?
According to the FCC Broadband Map, gig speed from Xfinity is available in over 97.6% of its nationwide footprint. The availability of its multi-gig speed tier, which delivers up to 6 Gbps symmetrical speeds over a Fiber-to-the-Home connection, is however far more limited.
Xfinity Gigabit speeds are available in the following service states ? to confirm availability at your specific address call at 1-844-207-8721.
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The Xfinity Gig plan is priced a little differently in different service regions ? and may entail different terms and conditions too depending on where you are located.
Xfinity Service States |
Xfinity Gig Plan’s Monthly Price |
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, SC, TN |
$80.00/mo. |
CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, PA, VA, VT, WV |
$79.99/mo. |
AZ, CA, CO, KS, MN, MO, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA, WI |
$80.00/mo. |
Spectrum is the second largest cable internet provider in the U.S., and a popular choice in 41 states - one of the big reasons that makes Spectrum an appealing option for Americans is its no-contract policy. Spectrum allows customers the flexibility of opting out at any time without having to worry about an early cancellation fee. Plus all Spectrum Internet plans offer unlimited data, which is a big upside.
All speeds ranging from 500 Mbps to 1 Gig* are delivered over Spectrum’s advanced hybrid network which makes the best use of cutting-edge Fiber and pre-existing coaxial cable lines. You don’t get symmetrical speeds as with Fiber, but you certainly get up to 1 Gbps for downloads. And that does the trick for the vast majority of residential users ? even if yours is an ultra-connected home.
The Gig plan from Spectrum gets you a bunch of benefits along with super-fast speeds. For instance ?
Spectrum has a massive presence nationwide, with its service territory covering over 102 million people in 41 states. According to the company, a sizable percentage of the Spectrum network is Fiber and virtually all homes that it passes by are able to access gigabit speeds.
Top states ? where you can expect to see the most impressive Spectrum footprint include ? Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont.
To check for Spectrum Gig service availability in your area, call at 1-844-760-4220 anytime!
Unlike Xfinity, Spectrum prices are pretty standard and do not tend to vary from one location to another. The Spectrum 1 Gig plan is priced at $70/mo for 1 year (WiFi included) which means you pay the discounted rate for one full year!
*Price for Gig speed additional. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
Cox Communications is the 3rd largest cable internet provider in the U.S. with a footprint in 19 states, and around 21 million people able to access its services. The Cox Internet service offers a variety of speed-based plans. The starting speed is up to 100 Mbps downloads, while the Cox Gigablast gets you ultra-fast downloads up to 940 Mbps.
Cox Internet has been ranked as one of the best for streaming video ? the advanced hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network over which it is delivered ensures the user experience is seamless. All plans are capped in terms of data, but you get loads of it. Here is a quick look at what you can enjoy with the Cox high-speed Internet service:
According to the FCC Broadband Map, Cox delivers its Gigabit service in over 99% of its nationwide footprint. Cox is one of the fewer providers that offer the entire spectrum of speed tiers ubiquitously across their service territory ? this means pretty much wherever Cox provides coverage, you can enjoy its Gigabit internet.
The Cox Gigablast service is available widely across these states ? Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
To confirm availability of Cox Gigablast at your address, call at 1-855-349-9316 anytime.
Cox pricing is straightforward ? if you agree to a 1-year service agreement, you can enjoy a $10 discount on Cox Internet 250 Mbps and higher speed tiers. But if you prefer to keep your freedom to cancel the service at any time, there is the month-to-month payment option too.
Cox Gigablast is offered at the promo price of $99.99/mo. for 12 months with a 1-year service agreement. Relative to competition this does appear a little steep, but then largely speaking, Cox does price its services towards the higher end of the spectrum. With that said, the ready availability of its Gig service is a big plus, especially when you don’t have another such option available near you.
AT&T is one of the largest internet service providers in the U.S., with over 120 million people able to access its high-speed DSL and about 38 million in the fold of its Fiber network. The DSL-based hybrid network (IPBB) supports download speeds up to 100 Mbps, but its Fiber network delivers speeds up to 5 Gbps symmetrical speeds where available.
Here are key features of the AT&T Fiber service:
As per the FCC, AT&T Fiber is only available in about 31% of the provider’s nationwide footprint ? the 1 Gig plan is however offered in all areas where fiber internet is accessible. It is one of the best Gig plans in the market not only because it gets you gigabit internet, but symmetrical speeds and a lot more at a very competitive rate.
In spite of limited service availability AT&T boasts one of the largest Fiber networks in the U.S., and with continued expansion of infrastructure and network upgrades, chances are AT&T Fiber will be more widely accessible sooner than later. At this time top states AT&T Fiber states include ? Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin. To check the availability of AT&T Fiber 1 Gig in your area, call at 1-855-925-2541 anytime.
AT&T Fiber 1 Gig is priced at $80/mo. The price is exclusive of taxes, but that is usual with all ISPs as the tax amount varies with your location. It is a market-competitive rate, and with all that you get alongside ultra high speeds, brings great value for your money. The no price hike after 12 months, and month-to-month payment agreement, only make for added appeal.
CenturyLink has been primarily a DSL internet provider ? with an impressive presence in rural America where it is a pretty popular choice. In urban and suburban settings CenturyLink delivers high-speed Internet over a hybrid network ? by using a mix of technologies and Fiber to the Loop, download speeds are enhanced up to 100 Mbps. And the CenturyLink Fiber-to-the-Home connection gets you up to 940 Mbps symmetrical speeds.
CenturyLink Internet plans offer a few perks in addition to super-fast equal downloads and uploads ? take a look here ?
According to the company, CenturyLink Fiber is currently available to roughly 50% of the provider’s nationwide footprint. Of the 36 states where CenturyLink services are available, in parts of 25 you can access the CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit service plan, and enjoy incredible fast speeds to do everything you love online.
The Fiber-to-the-Home connection allows you the flavor of exciting equal speeds for uploads and downloads ? making your internet experience more enjoyable if you are a pro gamer or a content creator.
Here are the top cities where CenturyLink Fiber coverage is available ? Boulder(CO), Denver (CO), Columbia (MO), Springfield (MO), Jefferson City (MO) Ocala (FL), The Villages (FL), Fort Myers (FL), Cape Coral (FL), Orlando (FL), Phoenix (AZ), Tucson (AZ), Spokane (WA), Seattle-Tacoma (WA), La Crosse (WI), Platteville (WI), Idaho Falls (ID), Pocatello (ID), Las Vegas (NV), Minneapolis (MN), St. Paul (MN), Omaha (NE), Portland (OR), and Salt Lake City (UT).
To check the availability of CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit service in your area speak to professionals at 1-855-349-9310.
The CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit is priced at $65/mo., making it one of the best-priced fiber plans in the market. Not only do you get a high performing connection and excellent speeds, but at an affordable price that does not see a hike after 12 months. Plus, with unlimited data and no annual contracts, there is little to worry about.
Gig plans are much more easily available in the U.S. today, with many providers offering the speed tier ? whether via a hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network or Fiber lines running straight to your door step. So, if you are lucky to have more than one internet providers offering you gigabit internet, do take the time to go into the details before you make a decision.
If you are looking for gig speeds, but don’t mind a contract-based arrangement with promotional pricing, Xfinity or Cox would serve you quite well. Conversely, if you do not want limitations to plague your life, you may benefit from Spectrum or AT&T and CenturyLink ? all of which get you 1 Gig plans with unlimited data and no contracts.
There are no wrong answers. Just assess your needs and pick a provider with a set of features that best fits your needs! For pro advice speak to an expert at 1-855-349-9328.
*Price for Gig speed additional. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit spectrum.net/modem. ©2024 Charter Communications, all rights reserved.
Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T, and CenturyLink offer unlimited data with their gig plans which means you can game and stream all you like without the anxiety of running out.
The best 1 Gig plans in the U.S. market include:
Speak to professionals at 1-855-349-9328 and let them inform you about availability of the best 1 Gig plan in your area, and more.