Boston, founded in 1630, is amongst the oldest municipalities in the US, and the centerpiece of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. Not to forget, a world leader in higher education with its many colleges and universities. Among them was the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) until in 1916 it moved across the river to Cambridge. Rich and varied in its cultural life, Boston is recognized as a cultural center too, predominantly because of its love for museums.
So if you have chosen to move to Boston, because you can afford the somewhat higher cost of living in the city, and want to take advantage of the opportunities it offers for a vibrant lifestyle, as well as enjoy its 4 distinct seasons, it makes a lot of sense. With the city proper extending to just under 50 square miles, however, you may have to get used to the smaller average living space, unless you choose to be in the suburbs.
Moving to a new city and making a new home is sure exciting, but it comes with its fair share of hassles too. And, a big one is working to land a trusty internet service. After all, the present-day lifestyle simply does not allow a compromise at this front. You can last on a mobile hotspot temporarily, but not forever. But, where do you begin looking for the right internet provider in a new city?
Well, if you are heading to Boston, this is where you start!
One of the top 10 most connected cities in Massachusetts, 94% of residents get to choose from among multiple wired internet service providers in Boston. But, over 5% of the population is limited to one wired option or none at all.
The 13 residential ISPs operating in the city offer all types of internet, high-speed DSL, Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and Satellite. But, Fiber internet is available to only 13% of the city. The most dominant wireline services are thus DSL and Cable. High-speed DSL is available to nearly 99% of residents, while cable internet reaches over 96%. Interestingly, Fixed Wireless covers almost 90% of the city, albeit this type of internet is generally favored more by rural America. Satellite broadband services by default cover you everywhere in and around Boston.
The cluster of internet providers in Boston, Massachusetts, is a mix of industry giants and regional/local ISPs. Given the American preference for Cable, we have today picked the 2 top cable internet providers in Boston for your consideration. And, also an option to explore in case you choose to make your home away from the hubbub of the city.
Before we move on, it must be said the key to picking the right provider-plan from among Boston internet options is that you have a fairly accurate picture of your household need for speed and data, among other preferences. If you know what you want out of a service, it becomes easier to narrow it down to the most suitable one given what is available at your address.
With that said, here are our top picks for the internet in Boston.
RCN has been in the business of telecommunications for nearly 3 decades, and today it has significant network coverage in Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Albeit, in Maryland and Virginia its coverage is limited relative to other states.
RCN delivers its broadband service predominantly via a hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network. So, the Fiber-rich award-winning high-speed internet service is mostly available in urban and suburban areas which depict a concentration of coaxial networks. In Boston, RCN is available to 24% of the city residents and covers neighborhoods such as Allston, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Mattapan, Hyde Park, West Roxbury, North End, Mission Hill, and more.
RCN focuses on providing the best in customer care. The provider believes if the customer experience is taken care of, the business flourishes on its own. For this reason, since its rebranding in 2012, the company has worked to deliver “Service, Entertainment and Value” to its residential customers.
In addition to high-speed internet, RCN Cable in Boston provides digital Cable TV and home phone services. RCN Internet bundles are some of the cheapest in the market, and if your home needs a contemporary cable TV service, chances are you won’t find a better bargain with another provider.
RCN Internet pricing, while very affordable, varies quite drastically from one location to another. So we recommend you call at 1-844-343-1374 and speak to an RCN Customer Service representative both to confirm offer availability and pricing at a specific address.
Xfinity is a household name across more than 35 states it operates in. Widespread network coverage paired with carefully designed services, and innovative products which meet a range of consumer needs, make it a popular choice. If you are looking for fast speed, more choice, and great value Xfinity is for you.
In Boston, Xfinity has an impressive footprint. Its hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network covers an estimated 96.1% of the city, albeit its pure Fiber service is limited to under 1%. Alongside high-speed internet, Xfinity provides a cable TV service with innovative equipment and a home phone service with unlimited calling options. And when you bundle other services with the internet, you can earn significant savings. Xfinity Internet and TV bundles make for a perfect connectivity and entertainment solution for any home.
Explore Internet offerings from Xfinity in Boston.
HughesNet is America’s #1 satellite internet service, and its hallmark is that you can access its high-speed internet from coast to coast. This internet service type is however best for communities removed from the reach of wireline services. For instance, if you happen to locate yourself outside Boston city, and become part of the estimated 5.6% of consumers with limited access to wired internet, HughesNet Gen5 Internet is one of the viable choices to consider, despite being a pricey one.
Like anywhere else, the search for the right internet service provider in Boston will require you to compare and analyze provider offerings available in your area. Once you have determined which ISPs are serving your neighborhood, you can explore their offerings in more detail, and assess which makes the best fit for your needs, wants, and budget. We hope the key information we’ve shared about our top picks for the internet in Boston helps you choose the one right for you!
Xfinity from Comcast provides pure Fiber Internet in Boston however, availability is limited. Verizon also delivers a Fiber-to-the-home service, but it is not widely available. High-speed internet delivered over a hybrid Fiber-Coaxial network is provided by Xfinity and RCN. While it does not give you symmetrical speeds, it does offer download speeds up to 940 Mbps.
According to the FCC, a high-speed internet connection allows transmission of wide bandwidth data, i.e. broadband internet, and it must deliver 25 Mbps for download and 3 Mbps for upload.