Optimum is the best internet service provider for most Abilene households. The Federal Communications Commissionreports that Optimum serves over 86% of addresses in the area, meaning this provider’s low prices and reasonably fast speeds are available to most folks. That said, CNET also recommends checking out Vexus Fiber and Rise Broadband for residential internet if Optimum doesn’t serve your location, or if you’re searching for fiber or fixed wireless connectivity.
Optimum, Vexus Fiber and Taylor Telecom tie as Abilene’s cheapest ISP, all offering base plans starting at $40 per month. Speeds vary, but Optimum offers the most speed for that cost — 300 megabits per second. The fastest speed available in this west Texas town is 5 gigabits, which is offered by AT&T Fiber for $225 monthly.
Our methodology
Speed range
300 – 940Mbps
Price range
$40 – $80 per month
Our take – Though it isn’t the largest ISP in Abilene, Optimum does offer some of the lowest prices for home internet in the area. Customers can choose from three plans: 300Mbps for $40, 500Mbps for $60 and 940Mbps for $80. All plans include unlimited data and equipment, and you won’t have to worry about signing a contract to receive Optimum’s introductory pricing.
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Check with Optimum
Connection
Cable, fiber
Speed range
400 – 1,000Mbps
Price range
$40 – $70 per month
Our take – If you’re wanting the symmetrical speeds that only fiber connectivity can offer, Vexus Fiber will be your best bet. Prices start at $40 for 150Mbps of speed with no data caps or contracts. You’ll have to pay $10 monthly for equipment if you rent through Vexus, but you can choose to provide your own.
Speed range
400 – 1,000Mbps
Price range
$40 – $70 per month
Connection
Fixed wireless
Speed range
25 – 50Mbps
Price range
$45 – $65 per month
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Abilene internet providers compared
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
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What’s the cheapest internet plan in Abilene?
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Abilene
The best internet deals and top promotions in Abilene depend on what discounts are available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Abilene internet providers, such as Optimum, Vexus Fiber, Nextlink and Rise Broadband, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, such as AT&T, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Abilene
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike with the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information at FCC.gov.
But it doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
Though the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Abilene FAQ
What is the best internet service provider in Abilene?
Over 83% of households can access fiber internet in Abilene. The largest fiber providers in the area are Vexus Fiber and AT&T Fiber, but select addresses may also be serviceable for fiber under Taylor Telecom.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Abilene?
AT&T Fiber offers 5 gigabits of symmetrical speed for $225 monthly, which is the fastest service available in Abilene.
