If you’re seeking rich history, you can’t go wrong with Arizona. It has everything to look out for: beautiful mountains, show-stopping vistas, the saguaro cacti and most importantly, Route 66. Its cities aren’t anything to sniff at either, with Dateland known for its famous date shakes, as well as busy, but picturesque Phoenix, terrific Tucson and fabulous Flagstaff. If you live in Arizona or want to move there, you’ll no doubt want to know more about your home internet options.
What is the best internet provider in Arizona?
Our experts here at CNET recommend CenturyLink as the top internet provider in Arizona. However, Arizona is a big place, and you should keep in mind that where you live can make a massive difference in the availability of ISPs. Our experts recommend Sparklight and Frontier as good options if you live in the eastern regions. In Tucson, Xfinity has you covered, and Cox is the go-to in the south. With fiber connections being scarce, many people use DSL, cable or fixed wireless internet. Ultimately, the best ISPs are based on availability, as even the fastest speeds in Arizona usually cap at 940Mbps.
Because of Arizona’s limited fiber network, those looking to get their hands on fiber have their best bets with Cox Communications, Optimum, Xfinity and 5G home internet from Verizon or T-Mobile. In rural areas lacking wired connections, local fixed wireless providers or satellite internet are typically the primary options for internet access.
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data
Regarding wired internet for rural Arizona, your best bet will likely be an older network, like CenturyLink’s DSL service, our choice for the top rural ISP in the nation. It has a much broader reach than the company’s fiber offering but can still get you speeds up to 500 Mbps in some places. With plans running $55 a month, this is a good place to start in your search for rural internet. If that doesn’t work out, consider fixed wireless or satellite as an alternative.
Arizona is full of small fixed wireless ISPs, some of which we included in the chart above. Plug your address into the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) National Broadband Map to see which ones service your area. Fixed wireless can sometimes be slow and expensive, but it’s better than no connection at all, and it may work out to be a better deal than satellite. Fixed wireless speeds can vary with location and distance. You need a clear line of sight to a tower. Plans vary quite a bit from provider to provider, with some starting at 10 Mbps speeds, which doesn’t even qualify as broadband in the eyes of the FCC. Others offer speeds as high as 150 Mbps in some areas, but the monthly price can increase to well over $100.
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Based on Ookla Speedtest data, Arizona has middle-of-the-road internet compared to other states. Many rural areas have few options for getting online, and fiber isn’t widespread, even in Arizona’s biggest cities. Things are looking up. Federal funding should help underserved areas while major fiber providers AT&T and Google are making moves in the state. Perhaps Arizona will soon go from “OK” to “good.”
Yes, to a degree.Quantum Fiber is the major player in Arizona. It’s available in limited parts of Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson. Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber are working their way into central Arizona through Mesa. Keep an eye out for smaller providers like Wyyerd and AireBeam.
Begin by plugging your address into the FCC National Broadband Map to get an overview of ISPs that might service your home. If a fixed wired provider — like a DSL or cable service — has you covered, start there. Check to see what kind of speeds you’re eligible for. If it’s slower than a crawl, check in with fixed wireless providers, including T-Mobile and local companies. Look into satellite if you can’t find a decent connection through those options. Here’s a rundown of the best satellite internet providers.
