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Best High-Speed Internet Providers for Small Businesses of 2023

4.5 out of 5 stars

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. * 1-yr. price guarantee Fios 100 Mbps w/2-yr agmt., 2-yr. price guarantee Fios 300 Mbps, 3-yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps **With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. † w/ 2 year agmt. ‡ Maximum speeds as fast as 100 Mbps download/upload per month for 12 months with minimum one-year agreement. Installation, Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.), taxes and other fees apply. Subject to availability. § On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p. For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.

Nicolle Okoren

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The bottom line: The best high-speed internet provider for small businesses is Verizon .  Verizon does a great job ensuring affordable prices, fast speeds, and customer service. Verizon customer service outranks all other competitors. 

Every business is different, though, and there are excellent brands other than Verizon that also might meet your more specific needs or concerns. We recommend Frontier for best budget, AT&T for speed, and Comcast for tech support. Of course, your business is outside of the city and in more of a rural area, we recommend Viasat . 

business plan internet

  • Fios by Verizon : Best overall
  • Frontier Business Internet : Best budget-friendly ISP
  • AT&T Business Internet : Best for pure speed
  • Comcast Business Internet : Best free tech support
  • Viasat Business Internet : Best for rural businesses

Best high-speed internet providers for small businesses

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 100 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 300 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps ** 12-mo.agmt for Internet req'd. Early term fee may apply †With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Multi-Device Security Pro included at $4.99/mo. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. § On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p. For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.

Here's how we arrived at the list above. We included only plans with download speeds of 25 Mbps or more to match FCC guidelines for broadband internet. We also left out any plans that were extraordinarily expensive for the download speeds they provide—they're just not worth the money.

In the end, our list of best broadband service providers includes several major companies with cable, digital subscriber line (DSL), and fiber-optic plans.

Verizon: Overall best for high-speed business internet

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. **w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 200 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 500 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps 

Verizon serves up the best combination of business internet speeds, reliability, and support.

Although Verizon sells a few business DSL plans, none have speeds at 25Mbps or more. For truly fast speeds, fiber is hard to beat. Verizon's fiber plans, branded Fios, offer you a chance at near-gigabit connections.

What do we mean by “near gigabit”? Verizon’s fastest plan—Fios Gigabit Connection—gives you maximum download speeds of 940Mbps with upload speeds up to 880Mbps. That’s lightning fast by today’s standards, but it doesn’t quite reach 1,000Mbps, the true definition of gigabit speed. Yet with fiber plans that consistently meet the speeds Verizon advertises, and then some , we’ll let that bit of fudging slide.

Another feather in Verizon’s cap is its customer service. We understand that most internet providers have poor reputations. But the fact that industry-rating juggernaut J.D. Power gave Verizon second place for customer satisfaction among small to medium-sized businesses should give you warmer feelings.

Verizon high-speed internet plans

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *w/ 1yr. price guarantee Fios 200 Mbps, 2yr. price guarantee Fios 500 Mbps, 3 yr. price guarantee Fios 940/880 Mbps 

Verizon’s fastest plan is priced at about $249 per month. That may be a bit expensive for some very small businesses, but it’s far better than the nearly $500 that Comcast charges for gigabit speeds.

Many Verizon plans offer symmetric speeds, which means you get the same speed for downloads and uploads. Fast upload speeds can significantly improve activities that require sending data from your device, including videoconferencing in real time and uploading large files to cloud storage.

One gripe: contracts. While some ISPs—like Spectrum and AT&T—offer contract-free plans, Verizon uses a 12-month agreement that renews automatically. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s something you should know in advance.

The bottom line: Verizon Fios offers an impressive array of high-speed internet plans to fit businesses of just about any size.

Frontier: Best budget-friendly option

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

If you saw the plan prices for our picks above, you may be worried that an affordable high-speed internet connection is beyond reach. With plans priced at the hundreds of dollars per month, budget-conscious businesses need an alternative.

Plus, each plan comes with free access to Frontier Business Suite. This is regularly an $800/year plan that includes SmartVoice line and Wi-fi enabled phone, access and backup of 200GB of data in the cloud anywhere you are, a multi-device security pro and, finally, an optimized Wi-Fi router. 

You can also add Frontier Internet Backup to your high-speed plan for an additional fee. Using a cellular modem, Frontier Internet Backup keeps your business—and all of your devices—online when internet outages occur for seamless operations and uninterrupted productivity.

Frontier fiber internet plans

*With Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Multi-Device Security Pro included at $4.99/mo. One-time charges apply. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.

All of Frontier’s high-speed internet plans come in under or just above $150 per month.

Now for Frontier’s major shortcomings. Frontier’s customers lodge a lot of complaints against the internet service provider. One common grievance is high latency. Latency, which refers to data transfer delay time, can cause serious headaches for businesses that require fast and reliable connections. Activities like video streaming are at risk of disruption from high latency.

Despite customer service and reliability concerns, you should consider Frontier if getting a low price for high-speed plans is your No. 1 priority.

AT&T: Best customer service

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. 12-mo.agmt for Internet req'd. Early term fee may apply

If you’re focused on finding the fastest business internet plans possible, we recommend AT&T. Business plans from AT&T soar all the way up to 1,000Mbps download and upload speeds, offering you true gigabit connection potential.

Several of AT&T's fiber plans give you the option of symmetric speeds—but at a lofty price. If your business is a frequent user of upload-heavy applications and real-time communication software, you should consider one of these plans with symmetric speeds.

AT&T high-speed internet plans

AT&T partially makes up for its high pricing in great customer service rankings. AT&T is currently our top pick for great internet service, and J.D. Power agrees: In 2021, AT&T ranked first for customer satisfaction in the small to medium-sized business category—though only third for very small businesses. 3

Comcast: Best free tech support

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *with 2-year agreement

There’s a lot to like about Comcast, including fiber plans with symmetric speeds up to 1Gbps. And its pricing, while not the cheapest, is competitively matched against other providers like Verizon and AT&T.

Plus, Comcast plans come with zero-cost installation, a 30-day trial period, and access to tons of extra apps, software, and tools for Wi-Fi, security, and more. We especially like that Comcast offers free 24/7 tech support. Some providers charge extra for top-notch customer care, but Comcast, as far as we can tell, offers solid help any hour of the day or night.

Comcast high-speed internet plans

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *with 2-year agreement **For 12 months with 2-year agreement †with 2-year agreement

We couldn’t talk about Comcast without mentioning its dreadful reputation with residential customers. However, Comcast business customers don’t rate their ISP nearly as harshly as their home-based counterparts.

We breathed a bit easier when we realized that Comcast truly does offer a solid internet option that’s super reliable and super fast.

business plan internet

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Viasat: Best for rural businesses

Data as of 6/7/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. On the Business Unlimited 35, 60, and 100 service plans, after 75, 150, or 200 GB of data usage, respectively, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion. Video streaming quality on the Business Unlimited 35 and 60 plans is typically at 480p, the Business Unlimited 100 plan is typically at 720p. For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.

As the only satellite internet provider on this list, Viasat’s widespread availability makes it the best for rural businesses. Even if you operate out of locations that other ISPs don’t touch, you can almost certainly get Viasat’s satellite internet service .

Unlike the satellite internet providers of the past, Viasat offers both availability and speed. Its business internet plans, with download speeds ranging from 35Mbps to 100Mbps, can compete with most other broadband providers.

Plus, Viasat’s state-of-the-art satellite technology minimizes other rural internet issues, such as latency, so you can keep your business up and running—no matter where you operate.

Viasat high-speed internet plans

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *On these plans, Viasat may prioritize your data behind other customers only during network congestion.  For metered service plans, extra charges apply for data used in excess of the monthly data allotment. Minimum 24-month service term. One-time standard installation fee is $300.00. Priority connection means your data receives preference on Viasat's network. All fees are subject to taxes. Speeds and streaming video qualities are “up to,” will vary and are not guaranteed. Service is not available in all areas. All offers may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Viasat and the Viasat logo are trademarks of Viasat, Inc.

Even with its improved technology, Viasat does still have data limits. It doesn’t use hard data caps—that is, Viasat won’t simply switch off your internet after you use all your data—but it will throttle (slow) your internet if you use more than your allotted daily data. If this poses a problem, you can always upgrade to a plan with more data.

Now, we still don’t recommend satellite internet for everyone. If you have other ISPs in your area, you can probably get the same speeds for a lower cost from a different provider. But if you’ve got a business high in the mountains or out on the plains, then Viasat provides a solid option (even if it’s the only one).

Spectrum: Honorable mention for no-contract cable

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *for 12 mos.

Want high-speed internet for your office but feel squeamish about signing a long-term contract? Spectrum will connect you to cable internet speeds up to 1000Mbps (wireless speeds may vary) totally contract-free.

Spectrum, a Charter Communications brand, provides cable internet to U.S. businesses. The upside to cable internet is that you access it through the same cable modems used to deliver cable TV, which makes this internet widely available. Spectrum provides fiber connections in some areas, but the service is so limited that we haven’t included the plans here.

Spectrum offers three high-speed cable options to business customers: 100, 300/400, and 1000. Each plan denotes the download speed you can expect from your connection in megabits per second.

Spectrum business Internet pricing

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *for 12 mos. **for 24 mos. when bundled with Phone or TV † for 12 mos. when bundled with Phone or TV

Where Spectrum falters is its upload speeds. Cable technology limits how much upstream heft you can get, and Spectrum’s plans can get you up to only 20Mbps upstream.

Another trouble spot is customer service. Spectrum has been embroiled in legal troubles for the last few years, especially in the state of New York, where it failed to follow through on service promises made with its acquisition of Time Warner Cable. We’re keeping an eye on the situation— poor customer satisfaction could knock Spectrum down in our books.

But if you’re outside of New York or less bothered by poor customer service ratings, Spectrum cable Internet appears as a rosy alternative to expensive DSL and fiber providers that lock you into lengthy contracts.

The takeaway

The right combination of fast internet, reliable connections, and solid customer support makes Verizon Fios a worthy choice for nearly any small business.

Verizon is our pick for the best overall high-speed business internet provider. But just because the ISP is our number one choice doesn’t mean it’s the right one for your business. Consider the factors important to you—cost, contracts, customer service—and then choose the one that best fits your business’s demands.

Make sure you can get the ISP you want—find business internet providers near you .

Speed and bandwidth: How much do you need?

Speed and bandwidth are another two more ambiguously used terms in internet parlance. But we can define them a bit clearer than broadband internet and high-speed internet.

  • Speed is the rate at which an internet connection transmits data from one end to the other. Measured in bits per second, most modern high-speed internet speeds range between 25 megabits (about 1 million bits) and 1 gigabit (about 1,000 megabits) per second.
  • Bandwidth refers to the maximum capacity of a connection to carry internet data. Although ISPs often use speed to market their plans, they’re actually selling bandwidth. For example, a 100Mbps plan has the capacity to deliver data at 100 megabits per second. But beware—you may not actually experience the advertised speed all the time.

Now back to the question: How much speed or bandwidth do you actually need? The answer depends on the type and frequency of internet activity your business engages in on a day-to-day basis.

While guidelines on speed use vary, here’s our recommendation for the speed you’ll need to run your business smoothly.

Internet speed capabilities

What else should you consider when choosing business internet providers.

Price and speed. That’s what matters when it comes to choosing a business internet provider, right?

Well, not entirely. The truth is that unless you have an unlimited budget (who does?) or run a supremely data-heavy business (not likely), you’ll have other factors to consider. Here are the ones we focus on.

  • Connection type: Depending on your business’s location, connection type may be a key consideration. Some areas may have only a few internet connection choices—or even just one.
  • Customer and industry ratings: Customer reviews of internet providers tend toward the hellish. But remember that businesses often have different experiences than residential customers. Make sure you understand how a potential ISP handles business customer complaints and concerns.
  • Fees: Your customers hate hidden fees, and so should you. Check to see if you’ll be paying your provider extra for things like installation, static IPs, or early termination.
  • Bundles: Most internet providers offer special deals for packaging more than one service under the same roof. Whether phone or VoIP or TV, consider bundles as a way to shave off some extra cost when you need several services.
  • Data caps: You’ll run into limits on the amount of data you can use most often with satellite and wireless providers. It can be costly or disruptive to exceed these caps, so ensure you pick an internet plan that can accommodate your data needs.
  • Cloud, security, and software services: From backing up your precious business data to running email, accounting, and e-commerce applications, many ISPs include or offer special rates on software and cloud-based services.
  • Hardware: Each internet type requires a unique set of equipment to get up and running. Some setups are simple—just a modem connected to an office cable line. But others, like satellite internet, may require hefty hardware—and hefty costs too.

But others, like satellite internet, may require hefty hardware—and hefty costs too.

High-speed internet FAQs

"Broadband" and "high-speed internet" are somewhat murky terms that not everyone defines equally. But here's what we use: in 2015, the FCC defined broadband service as any connection that provides customers with download speeds of at least 25Mbps. 

There’s no indisputable definition of high-speed internet. In fact, internet service providers attach the term to just about any plan, regardless of speed.

What’s more, the terms broadband internet and high-speed internet are often used interchangeably, further confusing things.

But why the confusion? Well, consider how the technology has evolved. Even the slowest plans featured in this article would have been considered blazingly fast in 2008—and much more so in 1998. So even if everyone did sit down and agree to a singular definition of high-speed internet, that definition would have to change every few years.

With that in mind, look for internet that’s fast enough for your needs rather than just high-speed internet. We’ll look at speeds in-depth in a minute.

Broadband more appropriately refers to any internet type that isn’t a dial-up connection. Essentially, broadband’s debut marks the age at which most of us moved on from the days of modems that tied up our phone lines to dial into internet provider companies like AOL. And what an age that was (we still hear the screeching modem sounds in our dreams).

Today, broadband internet generally includes any “always on” cable, DSL, fiber-optic, and even high-speed satellite internet connection. But not every plan operates at truly high speeds. So to compare internet providers, we decided to use the FCC’s 2015 guidelines on broadband internet speeds , which set the minimum at a 25Mbps downstream.

Most small to midsize businesses can operate well at 25Mbps or more. Of course, as speeds get faster, even this current definition will start to seem slow. And the FCC may change its mind on minimum broadband standards. We’ll update you as necessary.

High-speed broadband internet connections encompass plans from a variety of service providers and connection types. Depending on your area, you may have access to several of these or just one.

  • Cable: This connection uses the same modems and coaxial cables that deliver cable TV, so cable internet is widely available in most well-populated areas.
  • Digital subscriber line (DSL):  These may be sent via phone lines, but DSL connections are faster and more reliable than the phone-based dial-up internet of yesteryear.
  • Fiber:  Fiber-optic networks beam light through glass or plastic bundles of wires—each wire the size of a human hair— and these connections offer some of the fastest internet speeds on the planet.
  • Satellite: For rural businesses without access to land-based broadband, satellite internet is like an internet angel sent to earth by planet-orbiting stations.
  • Wireless: Whether through hotspots, cellular signals, or fixed radio towers, wireless internet provides options for remote and traveling businesses.

Learn more about the difference between internet types with our detailed comparison.

Methodology

We analyzed each business internet service provider's affordability, overall value, suitability for growing businesses, ease-of-use, and customer service, among other factors.

Related content

  • Best Satellite Internet Providers for Rural Businesses: Viasat vs. HughesNet
  • Verizon vs. Comcast Business Internet: What’s the Best ISP for Small Business?
  • AT&T vs. Comcast: Which Internet Provider Is Best for Small Businesses?
  • How to Choose an Internet Service Provider for Your Business

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T services. Call to see if you qualify. Fiber optics may apply to all or part of the network, depending on your location. © 2020 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All rights reserved. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.

Available in select areas only, additional monthly fee applies. Frontier’s Gig Service is available in all Frontier fiber markets, but may not be available to every location depending on local network capacity or other technical details. While Frontier’s Gig Service is delivered on our 100% fiber-to-the-location network, actual speeds may vary due to limitations in the customer’s network at their location, devices in use, and/or Frontier’s network traffic conditions. Actual speeds will range up to 940 Mbps (download) and 880 Mbps (upload) and may vary depending on usage of the network and multiple other factors.

FiOS 100 Mbps offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 100 Mbps download/100 Mbps upload based on line requirements. Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.) applies.

FiOS 500 Mbps offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 500 Mbps download/500 Mbps upload based on line requirements. Business High-Speed Internet Fee ($5.99/mo.) applies.

FiOS Gig Service offer: Must subscribe to new FiOS Internet for Business with minimum one-year agreement. Internet will be provisioned with maximum speeds as fast as 940 Mbps download/880 Mbps upload based on line requirements.

All FiOS Internet for Business offers: For new business customers in select Frontier FiOS areas. Maximum service speed is not available to all locations and the maximum speed for service at your location may be lower than the maximum speed in this range. Service speed is not guaranteed and will depend on many factors. Service and promotion subject to availability. Internet installation ($20), taxes, governmental surcharges, fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change during and after the promotional period. A $9.99 broadband processing fee upon disconnection of service applies. Early termination fee of $33.33 per month, times the remaining number of months in the term agreement, will apply. Other restrictions may apply. Frontier reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. The FiOS marks are owned by Verizon Trademark Services LLC and used under license.

˚Speed based on wired connection. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum.net/modem.

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The 5 Best Business Internet Services for 2022

Caroline Goldstein

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While researching business internet providers may not be the most exciting part of starting a business, it might be one of the most crucial: Whether you run a tech startup or a brick-and-mortar shop, it’s likely that you rely pretty heavily on a reliable internet connection to get the job done.

And for business owners, an unreliable internet connection isn’t merely a nuisance—it can spell the difference between optimal productivity and distracted, frustrated employees; or even a sale and a missed opportunity. Essentially, the best small business internet service should embody the adage “out of sight, out of mind.” If you don’t notice your internet acting up, then it’s doing its job perfectly.

But there are so many telecommunications companies out there, offering so many internet services and packages (and, naturally, all of them claim to be the best). So, we’ve made the process a little easier for you by picking out the five small business internet service providers you should consider first.

business plan internet

What to look for in a business internet service provider

Comparison shopping on business internet providers can seem daunting (or at least tedious). Here are some guidelines to get you started.

First, begin by checking whether the provider in question is actually available in your area—naturally, this will be the easiest way to weed out internet service providers at the top of your search.

Next, consider the number of employees you have, the number of devices that require internet connection, and the bandwidth necessary for the kind of activities you need to perform, whether that’s video conferencing, extra-large downloads, or simply web browsing. And if your company needs more than one solution from your provider—like phone, fax, cable, or web hosting services—then it might be most efficient to choose a bundle.

If your office only uses the internet mostly for emails and other simple functions, you can certainly get away with a provider’s lowest bandwidth tier. But if you’re running a company with many employees, or if you absolutely rely on the internet to conduct your business, opt for the fastest speed available. And if you’re debating between packages, consider springing for the speed just above what you think you need. When it comes to your internet connection—which, for many businesses, is essentially their lifeline—it’s better to make room in your budget for foolproof speeds, rather than contending with constant disruptions in your daily operations (and, eventually, paying for that faster speed anyway).

But before you sign any contract, make sure you thoroughly understand its terms. Pick out where additional fees, such as early cancellation or installation fees, might be hiding. Flexibility in your contract is key, too. If you’re a quickly growing company, for instance, look out for your plan’s policy on upgrading your services fee-free.

It’s also worth checking out user reviews on your provider’s customer service. These days, there’s little more frustrating than spotty internet service—and an unavailable or subpar support system to help you fix it.

With those guidelines in mind, you can dig deeper into all five of the following business internet service providers, tailoring your research to suit your business’s unique needs.

5 best business internet service providers

The following internet service providers aren’t listed in any particular order. But based on a few key factors—including geographical availability, service speeds, customer reviews, pricing, and contract flexibility—we’ve deemed these five companies worth looking into first.

Verizon Fios Business

Verizon has been ranked the highest in customer satisfaction for small and medium businesses from J.D. Power for six years running—just one reason why Verizon Fios makes the list of the best business internet service providers.

Verizon Fios Business offers five internet plans, with download speeds ranging from 75 mbps up to 940 mbps. Prices range from $64.99 per month for the first year, then $69.99 per the month for the second; up to $214.99 per month for the first year, then $224.99 per month for the second. Fees and equipment charges aren’t included in those prices, however.

All Verizon’s contract lengths are two years, with an early cancellation fee of 35% of the base monthly charges for the remainder of the term.

On the downside, Verizon Fios Business is only available in certain metro areas in nine states on the East Coast. But they also offer several phone and internet bundles, some with the additional incentive of a Visa Prepaid Card of up to $200.

Pro: Great customer service and reliable connection.

Con: Service is limited to a handful of states on East Coast.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Spectrum Business

Spectrum Business offers three download speeds: 200 mbps, 400 mbps, and 940 mbps, with bundles starting at an incredibly affordable $44.99 per month. Pricing for other download speeds isn’t readily available on their website, however. You’ll have to enter your business’s address to find out which offers are available, and at which prices, in your area.

Perhaps the best feature of Spectrum Business’s internet services is that they’re all contract-free. Instead of the standard one- or two-year contracts, Spectrum Business charges customers on a month-to-month basis. So if you’re growing quickly and anticipate needing to upgrade, there’s no need to worry about locking yourself into a multiple-year deal, and potentially encountering early-cancellation fees. Plus, Spectrum services are available in 41 states, including Hawaii.

Do be aware, however, that Spectrum Business customer reviews are less than stellar.

Pro: Affordable pricing and widely available.

Con: Mixed reviews on customer service.

Comcast Business

Servicing 39 states across the country, Comcast Business Internet stands out from the pack for offering one of the highest-speed services you’ll find with their 1 gig (1,000 mbps) plan. Other than this “Blazing Speed” plan, Comcast Business offers four business internet tiers ranging from 25 mbps to 300 mbps. And signing up for their Comcast Business Connection Pro feature means that if your connection goes out, you’ll be automatically connected to a 4G LTE wireless backup.

Pricing-wise, you’ll need to provide your business’s address to receive a quote. We were also unable to find contract details, but reviewers have stated that Comcast has two-year-long contracts, and their early termination fees are hefty. Also be aware that their highest-speed plan might not be available everywhere.

Pro: Super-fast download speeds.

Con: Large early cancellation fee.

Although Frontier offers the slowest internet speeds on this list—ranging from just 7 to 40 mbps—their bundle prices are some of the lowest you’re likely to find. And if you’re a sole proprietor, have only a few employees, or simply don’t rely too heavily on your internet service (if you run a brick-and-mortar store, for instance), Frontier’s lower speeds may actually be just right for you.

On the lower range, Frontier’s Business Max + Voice Service bundle gets you 7 mbps internet speed, free installation, a free WiFi router, and a business phone for just $49.98 a month for a two-year contract. Their highest-tier bundle, the Business Extreme + Voice, gets you the same add-ons as the Business Max + Voice, but with a 30 mbps internet speed.

Pro: Reasonably priced bundles.

Con: Low internet speeds.

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AT&T Business

AT&T offers a few business internet packages at varying speeds and price points. Business owners who want the highest possible speeds with the most advanced features can opt for one of their three Dedicated Internet Service packages, which offers customers internet speeds of up to 400 mbps.

Of course, you will need to pay for those super-fast speeds. Prices for AT&T’s Dedicated Internet Service packages range from $993 per month to $1,770 per month, and contracts range from 24 to 36 months. Keep in mind, though, that offer availability and pricing will vary depending on where you’re located.

But if you don’t want to shell out $1,000+ for your internet, AT&T does offer lower-priced options, too. Look into their AT&T Wireless Internet product; for either $60 or $100 per month, users get either 50 or 100 GB of data with a 4G LTE wireless device.

Pro: Super-fast internet speeds are available.

Con: High-speed plans can be pricey.

Which small business internet service is right for you?

First and foremost, the business internet provider that works best for your business is the provider that services your area—so always start your search by plugging in your business’s address. Keep in mind that providers’ offers and rates will vary according to your location, too.

On that note, it could be worth looking into regional business internet service providers in addition to the five marquee providers we mentioned here. It’s possible that they’ll offer internet speeds just as fast as the larger companies can, but at even better price points.

And if you’re wary about locking yourself into a years-long contract, make it a priority to find either a provider that offers a month-to-month contract, or that doesn’t incur punishing early termination fees. That way, your business can expand as much and as quickly as it possibly can—because the last thing you need to worry about is whether your internet connection can support your growth.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

Home » Internet Service

Best Internet Providers for Business

AT&T Business Internet is our favorite, but there are a lot of great options

Brianne Sandorf

You know what’s even more frustrating than finding home internet? Finding business internet!

The internet you choose for your business affects its efficiency, expansion, and bottom line. So which service to choose?

We're here to help you figure that out with five excellent recommendations for various business internet needs.

Guide to business internet:

  • What to look for
  • AT&T Business: Best overall
  • Spectrum Business: Best extras
  • Comcast Business: Most options
  • Frontier Business: Best high-speed internet
  • CenturyLink Business: Lowest cost

Methodology

What to look for in business internet.

There's a marked difference between residential and business internet. With residential internet, you only need to cater to you and your family's needs. With business internet, you'll consider the business' and its employees' needs.

Here’s what to look for when picking an internet service for your business.

  • Reliability
  • Availability
  • Scalability

Price is always crucial, but it's even more important to a business. The right price balances on the edge of a knife. Spend too much, and you'll cut into your profits. Spend too little, and you may not get the speedy and reliable connection you need to make your business successful.

You also probably want faster speeds for business internet than at home. You know that gig internet service we always say you don't need in your house? Well, you may want it for your business, primarily if you work in a media-rich field. Remember that your service's actual speeds may not align with its promised speeds, so it's good to buy on the high end of your acceptable speed range.

When choosing a connection speed, you want to account for every work device on the premises, but you may also need to consider Wi-Fi needs for employees’ and visitors’ personal devices. In some cases, you may want to set up a separate, slower guest Wi-Fi for personal use.

You also want an internet connection you can rely on during business hours. In most cases, a fiber or cable internet connection is the most reliable option.

Your chosen internet service also needs to be available where you live. Not every service provider is present in every area—especially fiber providers . If you live in a densely populated area with many homes and businesses, like New York, you're more likely to have access to fiber internet. If you live in a rural area, you're unlikely to have access to fiber and may need to see if you can find some satellite or fixed wireless options for business.

Finally, think about scalability, otherwise known as “Can this internet connection grow with my company as it expands?” If the answer is no, you’ll be fine if you’re okay with switching providers in the future. But if you want a longstanding partnership, you need a service that can handle your business’s projected growth.

The difference between business and residential internet is in the plans. Residential internet is usually slower than business internet because fewer people and devices typically connect to it.

You can get business internet at home, which is great if you run an at-home business, but it's unlikely that you can get residential internet at an office. And why would you want to? Fast business internet, especially fast fiber business internet, may be the key to success.

Either way, if you’re self-employed or work from home, you may be able to claim your internet as a business expense.

AT&T Business Internet: Best overall

An AT&T Business Internet fiber plan is an all-around excellent option for your growing business. AT&T’s fiber internet is superfast (going up to 5Gbps) and even has symmetrical speeds and unlimited data with some plans. It also ranks first in the American Consumer Satisfaction Index for 2022 .

AT&T Business Internet runs more expensive than its competitors (at least initially). The cheapest plan starts at $75 for 300Mbps. But with the most expensive plan, you get roughly 16 times the speed at three times the price—an increased value for sure.

AT&T’s business plans use a reliable fiber connection, and the speed goes up to 5,000Mbps. That’s unheard of in a home internet connection and eye-popping even in the business sector. And what’s more, you’ll get unlimited data and symmetrical speed with those five gigs, meaning the upload speed will equal the download speed. You’ll both send and receive high-res media files with ease.

As the ACSI score suggests, AT&T fiber internet gets excellent customer satisfaction, so you'll likely be delighted with your service.

Spectrum Business Internet: Best extras

Spectrum is a solid internet provider we often recommend, and Spectrum Business Internet ups the ante by providing a free domain name, customer email addresses, and internet modem with your plan. That's practically everything you need to start a business! Plus, you can find Spectrum internet in 42 states, so you likely live in a service area.

We do want to point out that Spectrum's plans are substantially more expensive from the get-go than other providers' (and they only go up after 12 months). Instead of thinking of the domain name, emails, and modem as free, it may help to think of the extra cost as paying for those features.

But if that’s still too pricey for you, you may be able to get discounts by bundling the business internet with another Spectrum service—business phone lines, perhaps?

All of Spectrum's plans are high speed , reaching the princely pace of a whole gig. However, Spectrum projects that you can connect fewer employee devices than AT&T. These estimates seem low even with Spectrum's cable connection versus AT&T's fiber. The 300 and 600Mbps plans may go much further than Spectrum says. But if you want to avoid that gamble, select Spectrum internet service only if you have a small business.

Spectrum’s customer service needs a little work, according to the ACSI. The service scored just 64 out of 100. That's low, even for internet providers, which traditionally score beneath other industries.

Comcast Business Internet: Most options

Whether you have a small business or a medium-sized one, Comcast Business Internet has an option for you. Depending on your needs, you can get as few as 50Mbps or as many as 1.25Gbps.

Comcast’s biggest strength is its variety. The wide range of plan speeds gives you great scalability for your business to grow. It’s also available almost everywhere in the United States, making it a viable option for nearly everyone.

Unfortunately, Comcast changes its prices depending on its service area, so we can't guarantee exact costs. But for reference, we've included one of the service's price ranges. You can see that these prices get quite expensive (over $300!), so in some areas, Comcast definitely won't be the best value.

Also, Comcast Business Internet is a cable service, so you may not see as reliable of service as you would get with fiber plans. Still, your connection should be stable.

Surprisingly, Comcast, which is legendary for its terrible customer service, doesn’t rank that low with the ACSI. Its score of 68 ranks it above some of the other brands we recommend.

Frontier: Best high-speed internet

Ka-chow! No, it’s not Lightning McQueen that’s going so fast—it’s Frontier Business Internet. After AT&T, our overall pick, Frontier is your best bet for speedy connections.

Frontier's speeds start at 500Mbps, the fastest starting point of our recommended services, and go up to 2,000Mbps. The starting price is a little high ($65), but the value of the plans gets progressively better, especially considering that you get a fiber connection. Also, a router comes with each plan, so factor that into the cost.

Frontier doesn't predict how many devices can connect to each plan without overloading the Wi-Fi, but our speed guide will help you figure it out.

Sadly, Frontier is only available in some states, so your opportunities to sign up for the service are limited. This won't be a problem for, as an example, New Yorkers or Utahns—but Montanans will miss out.

The ACSI gives Frontier fiber a 74, which puts it on the higher end for internet customer service but the lower end for fiber satisfaction. So, though you'll get fast service through Frontier, your interactions with the company may need improvement.

CenturyLink Business Internet: Lowest cost

You'll spend less money with CenturyLink as your business internet service provider. CenturyLink offers 940Mbps and symmetrical speeds for $75 a month, which is quite a steal compared to other Wi-Fi providers. And with no contact, you can save money if needed by canceling (for free!) anytime.

Of course, you want more than just cheap internet; you also want reliable internet. For its cheaper plan, CenturyLink uses DSL, a less reliable option. But the provider also has a business fiber plan, which we recommend in most cases, depending on your business needs.

Also, good news: CenturyLink is fairly ubiquitous, so chances are it’s available in your area as a business internet provider.

Like Frontier, CenturyLink doesn’t offer guesstimates of how many devices can use each plan, but the Business Fiber plan should offer exponentially more connections than the other.

CenturyLink gets a 78 in customer satisfaction for its fiber service (coming second after AT&T), while its DSL gets 62 (between Frontier and Spectrum). Looks like you'll be pleased with Business Fiber, but maybe not so much with Simply Unlimited Business Internet.

Recap: Best internet providers for business

  • AT&T Business Internet: When it comes to overall value, AT&T Business Internet is our pick. The speediness, symmetrical speeds, data cap elimination, and customer service reputation make it our top choice—and costly.
  • Spectrum Business: The Spectrum Business Internet fiber service comes with a free domain, email addresses, and modem. However, Spectrum customer satisfaction could be higher.
  • Comcast Business: Comcast Business Internet offers six different plans, giving you plenty of options to address your business’s needs over the years. It’s also rather expensive, especially when you get to the higher speeds.
  • Frontier Business: Things get real speedy with Frontier Business Internet, which goes up to 2,000Mbps. But the service may not be available in your area.
  • CenturyLink Business: CenturyLink Business Internet offers 940Mbps fiber for $75, which is fantastic. The cheaper plan isn't as good a deal, though, so if you don't get the fiber, you should skip this one.

We make sure to consider a bunch of different factors when we recommend an internet service provider, such as:

  • Customer service score

Price and speed are the two things most customers weigh heavily when choosing a service. After all, you want something you can afford but that works well, right?

But that’s not all there is to consider. You also want to know if a service is available in your area. That’s why we either discuss a service’s availability or provide you with a zip check test like the one below.

And finally, we account for the ACSI customer service score, online reviews, current news, and our personal experiences to determine what kind of customer experience you’ll get with each service.

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Best Business Internet Providers of 2024

Table of Contents

  • Best Business Internet Providers
  • Things To Consider When Buying
  • How We Chose

Business internet services vary from residential internet providers in that many come with faster speeds, greater security features, often a dedicated bandwidth for reliable performance.

Choosing an internet provider for your business – whether it’s a large corporation or a small startup – requires careful consideration. Availability, speed , security, reliability, contract length, and budget are all priorities you need to examine when looking at potential business internet providers. Weighing one feature against another can be difficult, but we’ve compiled a list of the top business internet providers available across the country and for all business types to help start your search.

  • Best Overall: AT&T Business »
  • Best for Bundling: Verizon Business »
  • Best for Small Businesses: Comcast Business »
  • Best Budget: Frontier Business »
  • Best for Rural Businesses: Viasat Business »
  • Best for Mobile Businesses: Starlink Business »
  • Best for City Businesses: Google Fiber Business »
  • Best for Business Add-Ons: EarthLink Business »
  • Best for Secure Data Transmission: Cox Business »

business plan internet

Best Overall: AT&T Business

Good customer service reviews

Very fast, up to 5 Gbps for shared internet

Contract-free plans

Gig speeds only available in select areas

Top plans can get expensive

Customers report loving AT&T’s business internet. In fact, J.D. Power’s 2023 Business Wireline Satisfaction Study left AT&T in first place with large enterprise companies, with a score of 898 out of 1,000.

AT&T Business Fiber has six plans, ranging from Business Fiber 300 Mbps speed ($70 per month for 300 Mbps) to Business Fiber 5 GIG speed ($285 per month for 5 Gbps). If your company needs incredibly fast internet speeds, the 5 Gbps plan might be your only good option, as it’s five times faster than almost all of AT&T’s competitors’ plans. So, if you’re constantly uploading large files, holding video conferences, and performing other bandwidth-heavy tasks, you might be willing to pay $285 per month for this plan.

As an add-on starting at $10 per month, businesses can also sign up for AT&T’s Managed Internet Backup service, allowing them to stay online even during outages. This feature provides unlimited data via the provider’s 4G LTE wireless network for up to 24 hours.

For large companies with hundreds of employees, there’s technically an even faster option than the 5 Gbps plan, and it’s via AT&T Dedicated Internet. Dedicated internet is not a shared connection like almost all other types, so businesses don’t have to worry about loss of bandwidth during high-traffic times. However, it requires special installation. AT&T’s dedicated speeds start at 20 Mbps but go all the way up to a staggering 1 terabit per second (Tbps).

A key component of AT&T is its generally contract-free plans as well as its many bundling options. If you’re in need of a business phone plan, you can bundle business internet with an AT&T phone plan for an extra $15 per month.

Fastest speed: 5 Gbps with shared internet; 1 Tbps with dedicated internet

Contract: No contract

Availability: 27 states

Verizon Business Phone

Best for Bundling: Verizon Business

Four connection types

Many bundling options

Top-ranked in customer satisfaction

Relatively expensive compared to competitors’ offerings

Fios internet only available in 9 states and Washington, D.C.

Overall, Verizon has been the highest ranked for customer satisfaction for small businesses for five years straight by J.D. Power. The company offers many plans and bundles for small businesses and major companies.

Businesses have four fiber plan options when it comes to Verizon Fios Business Internet. On the lower end is Fios 200 Mbps, which is $69 per month and has 200 Mbps download and upload speeds (the fact that the download speeds and upload speeds are symmetrical are key if your company often uploads larger files to remote servers). Or step up to Fios 500 Mbps for $99 per month with a download/upload speed of 500 Mbps. The fastest plans, Fios 1 Gig and 2 Gig, cost $199 per month and $249 per month, respectively.

Also offered through Verizon for businesses who do not need the fastest speeds, are 5G and LTE connections, typically cheaper and more widely available. For businesses who need the top speeds possible and a secure, flexible network, Verizon also offers a dedicated connection that goes up to 100 Gbps.

With Verizon Fios business bundling you can pair any internet service with a Business Digital Voice Line for an extra $20 per month. Plus, Verizon offers Fios TV business plans for private viewing, public viewing, and bar and restaurant viewing, which is very convenient if you want to keep your business services together under one provider.

Verizon Business does not require a contract on its business internet services and includes a price guarantee – the length of the guarantee varies by plan tier.

While Verizon overall is known for having great coverage nationwide and internationally, Verizon Fios Business is only available in select major cities on the East Coast. If fiber isn’t available in your area, you can try Verizon 5G, LTE, or dedicated business internet services. The former two connection types offer slower speeds at much wider availability. The latter connection type, dedicated internet can get you higher speeds up to 100 Gbps but at a premium and requiring special installation.

Fastest speed: 2 Gbps with shared internet; 100 Gbps with dedicated internet

Contract: No contract required

Availability: 9 states, plus Washington, D.C.

business plan internet

Best for Small Businesses: Comcast Business

Very stable, with backup connections

Dedicated account representatives

No data caps

Very expensive for the speeds received

Doesn’t offer any speeds over 1.25 Gbps

Lack of scalability options for growing businesses

Depending on your address, its plans run from 50 Mbps starting at $49.99 per month to 1.25 Gbps starting at up to $199.99 per month (including discounts for autopay and paperless billing). Comcast Business doesn’t charge for installation, and companies are given a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out the service before being locked into a contract of one to three years.

If you’re frustrated by outages, Comcast can switch to a cellular 4G LTE backup connection for up to 16 hours if there’s a power outage or other unexpected event, so your business can continue moving smoothly despite any environmental factors at play. This feature comes at an additional cost, which can be derived via quote request.

With Comcast business internet, you have access to dedicated account representatives as well as 24/7 tech support. Comcast also offers a customer portal with chat-based help forums and other informational articles for the simple-fix issues that other business users have already addressed.

Fastest speed: 1.25 Gbps

Contract: One to three years

Availability: 39 states

business plan internet

Best Budget: Frontier Business

Fast speeds up to 2 Gbps

Free internet installation

Relatively affordable

Poor customer satisfaction ratings

Price hikes after 12 months

Like Verizon, Frontier offers fiber plans, but unlike Verizon, Frontier’s plans are relatively affordable for their high speeds. Plus, Frontier doesn’t charge for installation. Frontier is about half the price of its competitors for what it offers. The least expensive Frontier option is Business Fiber 500, which starts at $69.99 per month with autopay. Next comes Business Fiber 1 Gig starting at $94.99 per month, and the fastest is Business Fiber 2 Gig starting at $129.99 per month. Keep in mind that these prices are only good for the first year of service, after which they will revert to the higher standard rates.

Customer service, however, is not Frontier’s best asset. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), the customer satisfaction score for Frontier has remained pretty steady at 74 out of 100.

If you do decide on Frontier, you can add on other technologies for your small business, including RingCentral (all-in-one secure video, message, and phone app), SmartVoice (cloud-based access to calls and messages), and a static IP (offers safe sharing of larger files over a secure network and remote access).

Frontier, while growing, is not available across the entire country. At press time, it was available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Overall, Frontier is a great option if you’re looking for inexpensive yet quick internet and don’t think you’ll need much help in the customer service department.

Fastest speed: 2 Gbps

Availability: 25 states

business plan internet

Best for Rural Businesses: Viasat Business

Works well in rural areas

Decent speeds for satellite internet connections

Many coverage areas

Business needs to have a clear view of the sky facing south

Extremely high prices for minimal speeds

Potential for latency issues

If your company is located in a rural area that’s not typically served by one of the larger business internet companies, then you may want to look into Viasat. It offers satellite internet for small businesses and has professional installation.

Viasat does offer relatively fast satellite internet, with speeds up to 150 Mbps and varying data caps, depending on the plan tier selected. However, for the speeds offered, plans are much more expensive than other business options. For example, 50 Mbps with a 50 GB cap will cost you $49.99 per month. The higher tier of 150 Mbps with unlimited data costs $159.99 per month. However, latency also tends to be an issue with satellite internet by virtue of the connection type.

All plans have a minimum 24-month contract and a $500 installation fee, though the fee is waived with plan purchase. Though prices are higher, Viasat does have some of the best national coverage; it’s available everywhere in the United States, plus some areas of Hawaii and Alaska. Your business simply needs to have a clear view of the sky facing south, as the satellite dish points in that direction.

Fastest speed: 150 Mbps

Contract: 24 months

Availability: Nearly every area of the United States

business plan internet

Best for Mobile Businesses: Starlink Business

Works well in all available areas, including rural

Fastest satellite internet provider in the United States

High data caps

Hardware cost of $2,500

Expensive monthly fee compared to other top providers

Marketed toward businesses in remote locations, Starlink Business offers fast satellite internet without using fiber optic or cable wiring. As a result of its rural availability, fast speeds, and high data caps, Starlink is relatively expensive. The initial cost of hardware is $2,500, plus a monthly payment starting at $140. Download speeds top out at 220 Mbps, and any rain or snow may wipe out the connection temporarily, leaving your business without internet.

One major bonus of Starlink is that your business may set up a receiver anywhere with a clear view of the sky to connect to the internet via the company’s low Earth orbit satellites, which provide lower latency than traditional satellite connections.

Starlink has options for fixed, mobile, maritime, and aviation businesses, so depending on the plan you choose, you can move the satellite receiver to another location easily. It doesn’t need to be connected to anything other than a power source. However, you do need a clear view of the sky to achieve a connection. You or your business team will also need to set up the equipment personally or hire a local contractor to set up the system; there is no professional installation option.

This service offers nearly complete U.S. coverage, with continuously expanding global availability.

Fastest speed: 220 Mbps

Availability: Nearly full continental U.S. coverage

Google Fiber

Best for City Businesses: Google Fiber Business

No contracts

High speeds up to 2 Gbps

99.9% uptime Service Level Guarantee on top plan

Only available in select cities

Relatively new and still expanding reach

If you’re looking for fiber optic internet without a contract, Google Fiber may have what you need, as it offers minimal terms with no contracts. However, Google Fiber is still expanding, meaning its coverage may not be as widely available as that of other big-name providers.

Google Fiber is particularly notable for its transparent pricing and easy to understand features. The company also makes reaching customer support accessible via its chat box and their 24/7 phone support.

Google Fiber offers two business internet plans: Business 1 Gig ($100 per month) and Business 2 Gig ($250 per month). These come with download speeds of 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps, respectively, though both plans have upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps. The major perk is that both internet plans are stated to have 99.9% reliability, with the 2 Gig plan adding a Service Level Guarantee that refunds 25% of your monthly bill if your average uptime sinks below 99.9%. Both plans include a Wi-Fi 6 router, and Business 2 Gig adds two mesh Wi-Fi extenders, a single static IP assignment, and guest Wi-Fi network capability.

Google Fiber Business can be a good option for metropolitan companies that need fast speeds, customer support, and reliability – if the service is available in the area at all.

Availability: Limited; varies based on address

EarthLink logo

Best for Business Add-Ons: EarthLink Business

Very fast connections

No data caps or data throttling

Three business internet connection types

At minimum requires a one-year contract

While not as popular for business internet as it is for home internet, EarthLink shouldn’t be discounted. Its high-speed fiber plans have been slow to roll out across the country, although today it’s offered in nearly every state in a limited number of cities. Its standard fiber plans are also very fast, depending on the plan you choose, which go up to 5 Gbps.

If you don’t want or need full fiber speeds, EarthLink also offers the more widely available fixed wireless business internet, also offering speeds up to 5 Gbps. Finally, EarthLink’s dedicated fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds at up to 10 Gbps. Dedicated internet requires special installation and requires a custom quote.

In addition to purchasing internet, businesses can also add on marketing, branding, and website development and security features to their EarthLink Business plans, all offering through the EarthLink Business brand.

It is important to note, however, that there is not as much available about EarthLink’s business internet in terms of polling or customer reviews, so there is room for speculation on the company’s service and actual connections for businesses.

Fastest speed: 5 Gbps with shared internet; 10 Gbps with dedicated internet

Contract: Not specified

Availability: Select availability in all states

business plan internet

Best for Secure Data Transmission: Cox Business

Most plans include a static IP address

24/7 customer service

Offers add-on security packages

Auto-renewing contracts

Limited availability

Cox generally offers internet through copper coaxial cables, which is inexpensive and can be fast. Starting at $49.99 per month, Cox offers cable plans for small businesses that top out at 1 Gbps speeds, though the download and upload speeds are not symmetrical. A slightly faster option is Cox’s Business Fiber selection, which can offer speeds up to 2 Gbps. Finally, the provider’s Dedicated Internet service offers a private fiber-cable hybrid network with speeds up to 100 Gbps, depending on your enterprise’ needs.

Pricing is not transparent on Cox’s website, so you’ll need to request a consultation to get a quote for all service levels. There are also plenty of bundling options if you require more than just internet for your business. Plus, Cox offers the pairing of its business internet service with small business cybersecurity features, which can protect against data loss, restore lost files, and defend against data breaches. The price of this add-on depends on your level of protection, location, and internet package.

Cox has automatically renewing contracts – a convenient feature if you’re happy with the service, but a downside for companies that are not satisfied and may forget to cancel. You need to provide written notice of cancellation at least 30 days before the contract ends.

Cox offers 24/7 customer service, which is helpful if you have any technical issues. The provider offers business internet connections in 19 states.

Fastest speed: 1 Gbps for shared internet; 100 Gbps for dedicated internet

Contract: Length not specified

Availability: 19 states

The Bottom Line

There isn’t one ISP that’s good for every company. Consider what your business really needs in terms of its usage, its budget and its location. Then, you can prioritize and figure out which of the companies will work best for you. Still can’t decide? You may want to try a provider that doesn’t require a contract so that if it doesn’t work out, you can easily switch. Based on our research AT&T Business is a good place to start.

Things To Consider When Buying Business Internet

Reliability.

An internet connection’s dependability is measured by how consistent it is overall, explains Vikas Kaushik, the CEO of TechAhead. And the amount of time your connection is active is referred to as its uptime. “Inquire about the history of downtime experienced by the supplier as well as how they handle maintenance,” Kaushik says. “To reduce the likelihood of disruptions, you should inquire about redundancy measures they have in place.”

Company Size

If you have a small business of one to five employees that tend to use the internet to browse the web, check emails, and write basic documents, then you should look for 50-100 Mbps. For midsize companies with 10-20 employees who need video conferencing and remote collaboration tools, you’ll need 100-500 Mbps. For larger organizations with 30-50 employees using the internet for data transfers, data backup and e-commerce, aim for 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. If you have 50 or more employees who use the internet for web hosting or large-scale e-commerce, you will need at least 1 Gbps. In short, the more devices connected and the heavier-duty the activities, the more speed you’ll need.

Cost by Speed

The best way to do this is by determining the cost per Mbps. Divide the monthly fee by the maximum speeds. For example, AT&T’s lowest business internet plan is $70 per month for 300 Mbps, which comes out to $.23 per megabit. AT&T’s fastest shared business internet plan costs $285 for 5 Gbps, or 5,000 Mbps, which equates to just $.05 per megabit. Be aware, however, that you should factor in customer service, availability, other plan features, and whether you need a lot of speed or not. If you’re trying to decide between a few plans, the cost per Mbps is another factor to help narrow your selection.

Dedicated vs. Shared Bandwidth

Some business internet providers offer dedicated bandwidth, ensuring that your connection is not shared with other users, while others provide traditional shared bandwidth that can lead to fluctuations in speed during peak usage times. Trevor Eason, CEO and tech writer at SamsungTechwin.com, says, “Depending on your business's sensitivity to internet performance, you may want to opt for dedicated bandwidth.”

How We Chose the Best Business Internet Providers

At U.S. News 360 Reviews, our contributor consulted with numerous tech experts, examined studies, and looked at customer reviews to create this list of the Best Business Internet Providers. She then narrowed the selection with more thorough research, considering price, speed, availability, and customer service. Overall, she found that there isn’t a single best ISP that would work well for every company, but Verizon and AT&T are some pretty strong contenders.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

Our contributors and editors have years of experience researching and reviewing products. Danielle Braff, the author of this piece, has more than a decade of product reviewing experience with a concentration on tech products and business. Braff has studies published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Crain’s Chicago Business, and more. To Braff, a great business internet provider should be fast with a backup for outages and fantastic customer service.

Business Internet FAQ

This totally depends on the provider you select. Most, however, require a modem, a router, switches, and the proper cables. If you opt for fiber internet – a common choice for businesses due to its reliability and high speeds – you’ll need a special fiber connection installed to transmit the data; a clamshell (an exterior protective case for the connection); an optical network terminal (ONT) instead of a modem; a fiber router; and possibly a Wi-Fi extender or two. For satellite internet, you’ll need a satellite internet dish, a satellite modem/router, and a compatible internet device.

In any case, the ISP you select will provide all the necessary equipment and likely offer (or require) professional installation.

First, you should separate your business network from your guest network by using separate virtual LANs (VLANs), or physical networks. Routers, firewalls, and access points offering advanced security features and regular firmware updates will also be key pieces of network equipment. For Wi-Fi access points providing encryption for your network, you’ll need WPA3 encryption. Set up the guest network with internet access only, and use a captive portal with a password for the guests.

If there’s an internet outage or disruption, contact your ISP’s customer service department. Many companies have round-the-clock availability via phone or chat, which comes in handy in situations like this. Some companies in this list also offer backup data for a set amount of time to get your business through potential outages, though this feature comes at an extra cost.

Typically, an ISP will have a devoted spot on its website to report and to track service problems. You should be able to enter your information and receive an estimated time that your service will resume.

This depends on whether you already have a contract with a provider. If you do, you will most likely have to pay the remainder of the contract agreement and/or an early termination fee. Then, you are free to switch to a different provider. The new ISP will likely need to install its own equipment, especially if you’re upgrading to a new connection type like fiber, but the process should generally not take longer than a few business days. Most companies require advance notice if you’re requesting enterprise-level service installation, so the further you plan ahead and coordinate with the new ISP, the less downtime your company will experience.

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What is wifi 6.

Wi-Fi 6 is a new Wi-Fi standard, with many Wi-Fi 6-ready devices already available in the market. Wi-Fi 6 allows for 30% faster speeds on Wi-Fi 6-enabled devices (such as phones, laptops, and tablets), and for more devices on a single network without slowing down Wi-Fi speeds. Wi-Fi 6 also improves battery life and provides greater security with WPA3.

What is a static IP Address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique number assigned to each computer on a network. Just as a street address determines where a letter should be delivered, an IP address identifies computers on the Internet. If your computer is hosting a web server, its IP address is what identifies it to the rest of the internet.

A computer on the internet can have a static IP address, which means it stays the same over time, or a dynamic IP address, which means the address can change over time.

If you sign up for multiple static IPs with your Google Fiber service, you must use your own router .

When might I need a static IP address?

The vast majority of internet features work without static IPs, including web browsing, email sending and receiving, video streaming, and voice over IP (VoIP). However, you might need static IPs if one or more of these scenarios applies to you: - You maintain your own web server or other internet server, such as an email server, that requires users to connect from the internet. - You have external devices or services that must connect to your network via IP address (for example, 74.125.224.72) rather than by name (for example, google.com). - You use a VPN or other service to remotely connect to computers in your business.

In many cases, you can host a server on an internet connection without static IPs by using Dynamic DNS. With Dynamic DNS, when your IP address changes, your DNS entry is automatically updated with your new IP address. The Google Fiber Network Box includes support for Dynamic DNS, which you can configure for your network.

If you aren't sure whether you need static IPs, consult with your IT expert. You can add or remove static IPs from your account, even after your service starts.

What speed is right for my business?

We believe today’s businesses deserve gigabit speeds. While our Business 1 Gig plan will likely meet the needs of most businesses, businesses who do substantial downloading, uploading, or have a high number of users (50+) may find our Business 2 Gig plan to be a better option. Business 2 Gig also includes a single static IP assignment and up two Wi-Fi mesh extenders, which can add Wi-Fi coverage for larger offices.

Can I use my own router? (existing)

Yes. If you’re using your own router, please make sure that it fits these recommended specifications . Please note that the Google Fiber support team will not be able to support routers manufactured by third parties.

If you choose to add multiple static IPs to your service, you must use your own router. If you choose to add 1 or no static IPs, you can choose to use your own router, but it is not necessary. Your plan already includes a Google Fiber Network Box that can serve as your router. For more information, please visit our Help Center .

Why should my business use fiber optic cable?

Our fiber optic internet gives you a strong, steady, 99.9% reliable connection with fewer points of failure than cable internet. Fiber optic is more reliable than cable since it is more resistant to electromagnetic, corrosive, and lightning-related damage, and it is less likely to go down during a power outage.

Do all Google Fiber Business customers get Wi-Fi?

By default, all Google Fiber Business plans include a Wi-Fi 6 router. This router can provide Wi-Fi coverage for up to 2,000 square feet, though exact coverage can be impacted by many variables. Customers with specific Wi-Fi or networking needs are also able to use their own Wi-Fi router.

Will my current VoIP be supported with Google Fiber?

Fiber optic networks typically offer lower latency than copper networks. Lower latency generally means smoother VoIP and video calls. Add on our high upload and download speeds and Google Fiber Business is a good match for most VoIP services. We recommend consulting your VoIP provider to ensure any internet service requirements are being met.

I’m a property manager, how do I offer my tenants Google Fiber Business?

To have Google Fiber installed for your business location, we need an access agreement. This agreement allows us to perform a site survey of your property, and, if the site survey meets our criteria, to install Google Fiber. If you are a property manager, fill out this form to start the process.

After we receive the form, a Google Fiber team member will contact you to answer any questions you have about bringing Google Fiber to your property. Then, we'll send you an access agreement and work with you to schedule a site survey.

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Best business internet providers 2024

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Published 1:42 pm ET Feb 7

Editorial note: This post may contain links to offers and services from which Allconnect receives a commission. The partners and associated compensation do not affect our editorial integrity. Read more about our advertising policy .

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Why trust our broadband experts

Allconnect’s team of broadband experts regularly reviews the top internet service providers in the U.S., scrutinizing each company under a rigorous scoring system to help our readers make informed internet purchases. We keep our data points accurate and up to date based on thorough research and partnership communications. Our content is not directed by partners. Visit our full methodology page and advertising disclosure to learn more.

Business internet service is available starting at $30/mo. from top providers like Spectrum, Xfinity and T-Mobile. Choosing the best business internet provider for you is important for monthly budgeting and keeping your business organized. Whether you run a business out of your home or need small business internet for your company, find a provider that works for you. 

Best business internet providers

  • AT&T business internet: Fastest business plan
  • Comcast business internet: Cheap business plans
  • Cox business internet: Good plan variety
  • Spectrum business internet: Free domain name
  • Verizon Fios business internet: New customer perks

Compare the top business internet providers

Internet providers like AT&T, Comcast, Verizon and others offer high-speed business internet plans with a range of prices and speeds to fit your needs. These providers also offer business internet and phone bundles. Cable and fiber are the most common types of business internet, but 5G internet and satellite providers like T-Mobile and Hughesnet also offer business plans. Frontier business internet on a fiber connection is also available to about 3% of the country.  

Methodology

We rated the largest internet providers in the U.S. for 2024. Each provider was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 based on over a dozen factors, including speed, cost, availability, fees, customer satisfaction, connection type and more. We also used data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compare the average speed offered by internet companies in the U.S. to set a baseline for what is considered a good internet speed. Additionally, we analyzed data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to understand how each internet service provider (ISP) fares in customer service and perceived value.  

How to choose a business internet provider

The business internet provider for you will depend on the size and type of business you have. Small businesses have different internet connectivity needs than large companies. If you need additional services like a business phone plan, search for the best business phone and internet deals near you.

Large businesses

Large companies with over 500 employees have significantly different business internet needs than smaller firms. At this level, internet services will have a Service Level Agreement (SLA), a contract that details guaranteed speeds, uptime assurances, equipment and more. Uptime assurances guarantee that the internet will be functional a certain percentage of the time and typically offer monetary compensation if that goal is not met. Large businesses typically get higher priority during outages as well. 

Large businesses can benefit from enhanced security through a virtual private network (VPN) and a static IP address for increased reliability, especially for remote work. Large businesses should also consider whether the internet provider can continue to work for their needs as the company grows and expands.

Small businesses

Small businesses, including home-based companies, may have similar needs to residential service. Therefore, like home internet, small businesses can choose a good speed from a  high-speed internet provider by considering the number of devices and typical online activities. Small businesses may need internet access to use credit card machines or computers for organization and data capture. Many small retail stores or restaurants use tablets to enter orders and check out customers. 

Like residential services, if 10 to 20 connected devices and medium to light use are standard, plans between 500 Mbps and 1 GB should suffice. However, additional security features provided by business internet plans, like VPNs, can keep customers’ personally identifiable information protected.

Business internet provider breakdowns

Business internet from AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum and other top providers offer differing prices, plans and perks.

AT&T business internet – Fastest business plan

AT&T business internet has five plans, plus an option for multi-location business internet. All plans are unlimited, include free internet installation when you order online and have no contract. Plans also come with a free gateway and internet security via AT&T ActiveArmorSM.

Elective add-ons include voice service and AT&T Managed Internet Backup to keep important devices (such as credit card machines) running during an outage . AT&T also periodically runs promotions for new business internet customers, such as gift cards up to $500. 

Read the full AT&T review . 

Comcast business internet – Cheap business plans

Comcast offers cheap internet for businesses. However, make sure to carefully read the fine print to understand pricing changes and additional fees. The available Comcast business internet speeds and plans vary by location and contract length, and the prices may not be guaranteed for the entire length of the contract. For example, Comcast’s two- and three-year agreements have a lower price for the first 12 months, with the price increasing by $10–$15/mo. in month 13. 

Additional fees include professional installation for $99.95–$149.95 and an equipment leasing fee of $22.95–$32.95/mo., with prices varying by location. Business phone and TV bundles are also available, starting at $64.99/mo. for 50 Mbps and one phone line.

Read the full Xfinity review . 

Cox business internet – Good bundle options

Cox business plans are unlimited and come with a 60-day trial of Cox Business Complete Care, 24/7 IT support for all employees. Post-trial price starts at $49.99/mo. Unlike most fiber services, Cox does not provide symmetrical upload speeds. Installation and equipment are not included in the monthly price.

Cox business internet also has 12- or 24-month contracts with an early termination fee equal to the monthly recurring charges for the remaining months on the contract. The following table shows internet-only plans for 50 and 100 Mbps and bundles that include internet and Net Assurance Internet Backup, which provides backup power for up to four hours.

Read the full Cox review . 

Spectrum business internet – Free domain name

Spectrum offers cable internet business packages at 300, 600 and 1,000 Mbps (1 GB). Like Spectrum’s residential plans, there are no contracts , a free modem and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can provide your own router for Wi-Fi service or rent an advanced router for $7.99/mo. to connect up to 200 devices at once. 

Spectrum has additional perks for business customers, including a free domain name for your company, 24/7 technical support with priority access to technician visits and desktop security for 25 devices. Drawbacks to Spectrum business internet plans are the extra fees for installation and the monthly price increases to your rate after 12 months.

Read the full Spectrum review . 

Verizon business internet – New customer perks

Verizon business internet has three plans with unlimited data and symmetrical speeds on a fiber connection. Verizon offers up to $1,500 to cover switching from another provider.

The cheapest plan is $69/mo. but comes with fees for equipment and activation. The mid- and top-tier plans offer additional perks, including lower fees, a $400 or $800 Prepaid Card for new customers and a discount incentive to bundle with a Business smartphone plan. Standard pricing for all plans increases by $10/mo. after the price guarantee expires.

Read the full Verizon Fios review . 

Business internet vs. home internet

The same providers usually provide business and home internet, but plans differ by price, speeds and features. The following chart explains the characteristics of each type of service.

Business internet FAQs

Why is business internet more expensive.

Business internet can be more expensive because of additional features that are included. Business internet typically has a higher priority on security, reliability and speed. Customer support for business internet is also more comprehensive and readily available since outages or slow speeds can negatively impact business operations and profits.

How much is Spectrum business internet?

Spectrum business internet is $64.99/mo. for 300 Mbps, $114.99/mo. for 600 Mbps and $164.99/mo. for 1 GB.

What is considered good internet for a small business?

Small business internet needs can vary based on the number of devices and the office space size. Generally, for less than 20 devices in a small office or retail location, less than 1 GB is sufficient.

How do I change my password for business Wi-Fi?

You can change your business internet Wi-Fi password in your provider’s app. Usually, this feature is found under network settings. You can also change your password by logging into your business account on a laptop or computer. The process for changing your business Wi-Fi password may differ based on your ISP. 

Can I use residential internet plans for a business?

A home-based small business can use a residential internet plan. Locations zoned as business or retail space can often only get business internet. Your local ISP policies may vary. The type of internet you choose may also impact your year-end tax filings, so check with your tax advisor. 

This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct . The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.

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Lisa Iscrupe is a senior writer helping readers understand the complexities of broadband, internet and other home services, including energy and renewable products. Her work appears on SaveOnEnergy.com and CNET.com, with national sources such as CNN, The Daily MBA and The Media Bulletin referencing her articles.

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Hannah Whatley is an editor who enjoys collaborating with writers to offer readers the most relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information for their home purchases. She has previously edited for The Motley Fool, The Modest Wallet, Grammarly, JoinCake.com and SaveOnEnergy.com, gaining expertise in several industries. Hannah has a B.A. in English from Thomas Edison State University. When she isn’t editing, she enjoys studying linguistics and languages.

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Competitor comparison based on publicly available data as of April 22, 2024. † Wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. Speeds vary, not guaranteed.

Business fiber internet service benefits

Why at&t business fiber​.

Simple and straightforward​

No data caps, equipment fees, or annual contract​

Built for ​ business​

Consistently fast speed, even at peak times 1 , with upload speeds as fast as download speeds​

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99% reliability 2 , with wireless backup options and 24/7 security and threat detection 3 ​

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What is fiber internet?

Why choose AT&T for your business fiber internet connection?

Frequently asked questions

Fiber internet uses cutting edge, 100% fiber technology. Fiber technology uses light waves instead of electrical signals to transmit data, and fiber optic cable can send higher volumes of information over longer distances than copper cable. This means customers on a fiber network have higher speeds available to them, regardless of their distance from a network node.

Does my business need fiber internet?

AT&T Business Fiber is an excellent choice for businesses. As your business grows, you need the connectivity and speed that fiber offers in order to scale to support for increasing amounts of data traffic. With fiber you can:

How fast is business fiber internet service from AT&T?

Our business fiber internet offers the following speeds: Business Fiber 300, Business Fiber 500, Business Fiber 1000, Business Fiber 1 GIG, Business Fiber 2 GIG, and Business Fiber 5 GIG.  

Business Fiber 300 is great for businesses that might need to provide internet service to customers or regularly stream video and audio files. Business Fiber 500 could be an excellent choice for businesses that need to support e-commerce activities or transfer large amounts of data to and from the internet. Business Fiber 1 GIG is ideal for businesses that want to leave room for future growth and want ultra-fast speed for activities like running cloud-based software applications, downloading and uploading large files, or streaming HD videos. Business Fiber 2 GIG offers businesses speed and dependability for connected devices and security systems. Business Fiber 5 GIG gives businesses our maximum speed to support the most cutting-edge technologies of today and tomorrow.

How can fiber internet improve my upload and download speeds?

Our business fiber internet uses symmetric internet connections, which means you get equally fast upload and download speeds. With symmetric internet speed capability, you get quick access to the cloud, video conference, virtual private network (VPN) connection, the ability to transfer large files, and more.

How can AT&T Busines Fiber help my business with outage protection?

You can add AT&T Internet Backup for extra safety, starting at $10/month,* so that you don’t lose connectivity during a power outage or an accidental cable cut. 4

What is AT&T Managed Internet Backup?

AT&T Managed Internet Backup is a business fiber internet add-on service that protects your business in the unlikely event of a power or service outage. This keeps mission-critical devices up and running, such as credit card and point-of-sale machines, and uses a backup router that includes 24 hours of battery backup. Once the AT&T Business Fiber connection is restored, your service reverts to normal operation.

Are you expanding AT&T Business Fiber to new locations?

Yes. We’re bringing fiber-fast business internet to more locations every day. Check for availability at your location first, then sign up to be notified when it’s available for your business.

What if AT&T Business Fiber is not available in my area?

If your address does not qualify for our business fiber internet, then we recommend considering AT&T Wireless Broadband for your business needs. AT&T Wireless Broadband can work as a primary or failover connection, connect remote sites, and provide a cost-effective solution for your business.

Does AT&T Business Fiber provide security features?

Yes, our business fiber internet plans include AT&T ActiveArmor℠: 24/7 proactive internet security included, which helps block malicious threats from ever reaching your devices.

Available to AT&T Business Fiber customers. Guards against known threats only. Compatible Gateway and Smart Home Manager app required; security features must be enabled.

Does AT&T Business Fiber Internet require a term commitment?

No, AT&T Business Fiber does not require a term commitment and there are no early termination fees. Get super-fast speeds for a great price, with no term commitment.

What is the difference between fiber internet and dedicated internet?

Fiber internet uses a shared connection that allows multiple users to share internet bandwidth on the network. It’s designed to provide high-speed internet, even during high usage times. Fiber uses light, not electricity, to transmit information. Because it uses dedicated fiber cables, fiber internet is highly secure and scales easily to meet your business needs.

Dedicated internet is a direct internet connection that’s only used by your business. With dedicated internet , you get a highly-reliable service and dedicated speeds – no matter how many other users are on the network. Whether you have shared or dedicated internet, you get symmetrical upload and download speeds to help you stay connected to your partners, customers, and employees.

Keep your team connected with AT&T Business Fiber

How a plan from at&t business fiber can help you succeed.

Maybe you own a café where customers expect to be able to get on the Wi-Fi, or maybe you lead a marketing agency where employees rely on the internet to do their jobs. Whatever your business, there’s a good chance that quality internet is an important factor in your success.  

Service with AT&T Business Fiber provides the type of fast internet speeds that can help businesses excel, now including speeds of up to 5 GIG †  in select areas, plus AT&T ActiveArmor SM  internet security 5 , and more.   

AT&T Fiber plans for businesses

AT&T Business Fiber offers six separate plans for businesses. These plans offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 1000 Mbps, 2 Gbps, and 5 Gbps † . They all also come with 24/7 customer support and internet security features. 2  Depending on your needs, budget, and location, any of these plans might be an excellent choice for your business.  

Get hyper-gig internet speeds for business from AT&T

AT&T Business Fiber is now offering plans with hyper-gig speeds, including Business Fiber 2 GIG and Business Fiber 5 GIG speeds.  

† Speeds based on wired connection. Actual speeds may vary.  For 5GIG, single device wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101 .

4 Optional add on service providing backup router and 12 or 24 hours of battery backup in case of power outage. Terms, conditions, & restrictions apply.

5 Guards against known threats only; compatible Gateway and Smart Home Manager app required; security features must be enabled.

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Business Internet Buyers Guide

Mark Fairlie

Table of Contents

Whether it’s a design agency sending large files to a client or a coffee shop taking a credit card payment from a customer, every business needs to be connected to the internet. With hundreds of internet service providers (ISPs) offering thousands of deals, though, how do you choose the right one for your business?

In this article, we’ll cover the following aspects of selecting the best business internet option for you:

  • Whether cheaper residential broadband is a better option
  • The different types of internet connection 
  • How much an internet business connection costs
  • Five steps for choosing the right provider

Business internet vs. residential internet

You could choose a residential broadband connection instead of a business one. Here’s a side-by-side look at how business and residential internet compare:

You’ll pay less with a residential broadband connection. If a handful of you are in the office streaming music, editing documents and running a few other low-bandwidth apps, you’ll probably get by just fine.

However, there might be times when your connection seems a bit slow. That’s because residential broadband providers often choke connections to normalize speed across their user base. Although business broadband providers also do this, they do it much less. Therefore, your download speed will be much more reliable, and your upload speed may be much faster, with business broadband than with residential broadband.

These are not the only benefits of business broadband. Business ISPs offer extra features and add-ons, such as domain name registration, website creation tools , multiple email addresses with the domain name for your growing staff, security services and more. 

One of the main differences between most residential ISP service plans and business ISP service plans is that business providers often offer a static IP address. Static addresses are preferable if you want to run a server, host a website or have remote access.

What to look for in a business internet plan

Although it costs more, business broadband is a better choice for most companies. One reason is that customer support levels are often superior. So if you run into a problem with your website, your email or the connection itself, the company can help you faster.

Let’s look at some of the features and considerations to help you select the right plan.

How fast you can perform a given task online sometimes makes a huge difference, so it’s important to ensure your business has the right internet speed . 

Residential lines tend to offer plans with around 210 Mbps download speeds, but their upload speeds are throttled at only 23 Mbps. This kind of asymmetrical performance ratio is fairly consistent across most residential internet plans, so you make some sacrifices in service along the line.

Business internet connections can be up to 10 times faster than residential ones in both directions. That still means a big gap between upload and download speeds, but some providers now offer plans with matching (or near-matching) speeds in both directions.

Internet speed and bandwidth are not the same. Speed is how fast data can travel down an internet pipe, and bandwidth is how much data can fit into the same pipe.

The different types of internet connection

To choose the right internet plan for your business, it’s important to understand the various types of internet connections .

Digital subscriber line (DSL)

A DSL internet connection can provide internet service over an average copper telephone line, giving you an easy entry point for your business internet service. Perfect for light usage, like file sharing and cloud backups, DSL allows you to create a local area network (LAN) that can be tailored to your business’s needs. Because of DSL’s limited bandwidth and modest speeds, it’s best for smaller businesses with only a few simultaneous connections.

Cable internet

Cable broadband internet service uses a coaxial cable to connect you to the web at speeds tailored to moderate to heavy activities. Online backups are faster, and file management is seamless, even with multiple simultaneous users. If your organization has upgraded to HD audio streaming or uses VoIP services for teleconferencing, cable internet is a great option.

Fiber internet

With a fiber-optic internet line , you get the best bandwidth and the fastest solution for a business internet connection. However, because fiber-optic lines still require a lot of infrastructure to be built, there’s only 43 percent fiber coverage nationwide. If a fiber-optic business internet line is available in your area, most providers offer reliable, always-on service with blazing-fast speeds of up to 100 Gbps, although the average connection actually clocks in at around 1 Gbps. At 10 Gbps, you could transfer 1TB of data in 15 minutes or less.

Satellite internet

If you’re in a remote area that doesn’t have access to a landline for an internet connection, you may need to use satellite internet service . Just like with satellite TV, your ISP will install a receiver dish at your work site to establish an internet connection. Because the connection quality of a satellite line depends on many factors — such as trees, the weather or even sunspots — it offers unstable service and slower transfer speeds than land-based options.

Speed gets all the attention in comparisons of internet connection types. However, you should also consider latency (delays in data transmission) and jitter (how much latency varies). These are important considerations if you have frequent video conferences, as high latency and jitter rates will lead to delayed and choppy audio.

Contracts and bundles

A business ISP will usually provide a service level agreement (SLA) stating exactly which services will be provided. These contracts can cover everything from low latency and always-on connections to transfer speeds and technical support, all to help ensure your business gets exactly what it needs.

An SLA can also include how you’ll be compensated if the baseline service level isn’t met, so it’s important to choose a bundle that meets all of your needs. And while you can get a business internet plan that doesn’t require a contract, you can often get cheaper monthly rates with a multiyear package offered by most major ISPs.

Downtime and customer service

A reliable connection is arguably the most important part of any business internet plan. After all, what good is fast internet if you can’t actually connect to it? Most major ISPs offer “near-perfect” uptime.

On the other hand, an unreliable internet connection can affect your transfer speeds, the number of lines it can support and more. More importantly, an unreliable line could bring your business to a complete stop, halting productivity, preventing sales and potentially damaging your customer relationships. 

How much does business internet cost?

You might be surprised by the cost of a business internet plan, as it can range from just $45 to many hundreds of dollars a month, depending on your needs. If your business has fewer than 20 employees who need to run low-bandwidth applications, like checking email and running a point-of-sale (POS) system, you could probably find a plan with speeds up to 200 Mbps for $55 to $135 per month. [See our picks for the best POS systems .]

Businesses that engage in e-commerce or that use cloud-based software as a service should expect to pay at least $95 per month for 600 Mbps speeds. If your business handles large amounts of data via activities such as video file transfer, voice over IP (VoIP) meetings or teleconferencing, you’ll want faster plans closer to the 1,000 Mbps range, which start at around $149 per month but may be much higher.

Complex organizations with specific needs or companies with 20 or more people should contact a sales representative at any major ISP to create a customized bundle tailored to their needs.

If speed, reliability and control of your internet connection are paramount, consider a leased line. You might see it called a “dedicated line” or “private internet access.” A leased line costs a lot more but minimizes the risk of outages, major faults and associated costs.

How to choose a business internet plan

Take these steps when you’re choosing an internet service plan for your business:

1. Decide how fast your internet needs to be.

While it’s unfortunate to overpay for a service with too much speed and bandwidth, it’s arguably much worse to pick one that’s too slow and lacks the bandwidth you need.

Make sure to consider two factors when you’re determining how fast your internet connection needs to be. First, count the maximum number of devices likely to access it at any given time. 

Second, determine what the people using those devices will be doing. If you and your team use cloud storage a lot, transfer large files to clients or engage in lots of video calls, you’ll need higher speed and more bandwidth.

2. Figure out how stable your connection needs to be.

Determine how important it is for your business to have reliable internet. If you and your staff use the internet to take customer payments, run email marketing campaigns , sell to prospects, help customers, order stock and more, a few hours of downtime will be very disruptive.

Choose an ISP with the highest guaranteed uptime and the most watertight service level agreements if you need the most dependable internet connection. This will likely cost you more, but it will be much less than the business losses resulting from prolonged downtime.

3. Find out which ISPs serve your area. 

You will likely have a wide choice of ISPs in urban areas, but the selection in rural areas will be much more restricted. Many ISPs include ZIP code-based search tools on their websites so you can see whether they serve your area.

4. Compare available plans and pricing.

When you find the ISPs that serve your area, compare their plans. Short-list the best providers, and evaluate their internet speed, data caps, prices and contract terms. Some charge fees for equipment and setup, so try to factor those costs into your budget.

5. Check out online reviews and ratings.

Before you register with an ISP, read reviews and testimonials from customers to find out how they rate their experience with the company, and see our picks for the best providers below. You can also check several speed-test sites to see if a potential provider matches the promises on its website. 

Best internet service providers for small businesses

Here are some of the best internet service providers that offer business internet packages:

As we cover in our review of Verizon Business Internet , you can choose from three broadband products:

  • Fios Business Internet: This fiber-optic internet service offers plans ranging from $69 per month for speeds up to 200 Mbps to $249 per month for 960 Mbps. You get a one- to three-year price guarantee, depending on your plan.
  • 5G Business Internet: This ultrawide-wave-spectrum, high-band 5G network is slower than Fios but great for businesses with employees on the move. It offers plans ranging from $69 per month (100 Mbps) to $199 per month (400 Mbps). 
  • LTE Business Internet: This is another mobile plan for companies, but it’s for firms that are outside 5G coverage areas. You can choose from 10 Mbps for $69 per month, 25 Mbps for $99 per month and 50 Mbps for $199 per month.

Verizon’s Fios Business Internet topped J.D. Power’s ranking five years in a row based on customer satisfaction levels.

AT&T Internet for Business

AT&T’s broadband internet is very fast; you can read more about the company’s services in our AT&T Business internet review .

Like Verizon, AT&T offers three main broadband services:

  • Dedicated Internet: With speeds of up to 1 Gbps and wireless backup of 30 to 50 Mbps, AT&T Dedicated Internet is the fastest business ISP service in the U.S.
  • Business Fiber: The company’s fiber service ranges from $160 per month for 1 Gbps to $250 per month for 5 Gbps.
  • Wireless Broadband: AT&T’s mobile service offers 25 Mbps for $100 per month and up to 100 Mbps for $225 per month.

The company is also a J.D. Power winner in the Medium Business and Large Enterprise category.

Comcast Business Internet

Comcast provides a wide range of options targeted at a variety of business sizes. The company offers download speeds of 50 Mbps to 1.25 Gbps, but as you can see in our review of Comcast Business Internet , the upload speed is limited to 35 Mbps.

Comcast offers helpful add-ons, like Wi-Fi tools to create a guest network (great for hospitality establishments), 4G LTE backup and cybersecurity protection.

Offering speeds of up to 1 Gbps, Cox is a great ISP for businesses of all sizes. Our review of Cox Communications covers the company’s many included and add-on services, such as hotspots, reliable equipment, guest networks, and automatic LTE backup in case of a power outage. However, Cox provides DSL access to just 645 areas in 19 states.

Viasat Business

As one of the country’s leading suppliers of satellite broadband, Viasat can provide coverage in 96 percent of the U.S., as we explain in our Viasat Business Internet review .

Viasat offers unlimited broadband starting at 35 Mbps for $175 per month and a series of metered plans ranging from $50 per month for 1GB of high-speed data to $400 a month for 200GB. All plans provide a 4 Mbps upload speed.

Due to the high cost and speed limitations, satellite business internet is usually a last resort.

Spectrum Business

Spectrum keeps it simple. As you can see in our review of Spectrum Business Internet , this ISP doesn’t bombard you with choices. You can have 300 Mbps for $64.99 per month, 600 Mbps for $114.99 per month or 1 Gbps for $164.99 per month.

Eduardo Vasconcellos contributed to this article. 

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Best business internet providers

By Robin Layton Last updated: October 12, 2023

Fiber internet business plans provide symmetrical upload and download speeds, which can allow businesses of any size to work faster and more efficiently. Call us to learn more about business internet options.

Compare top business internet providers

Business internet is a great option for those who need fast upload and download speeds, a guaranteed reliable connection and multiple devices to be able to be online at a time. Although business internet takes the stress out of connecting to the internet, it does come with higher starting prices.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 05/04/23. **Wireless speeds may vary. ***Prices without Autopay and Paperless Billing. Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speed capable range for 500 Mbps (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Gig Service (846-940 Mbps download, 792-880 Mbps upload), 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring. Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Beginning April 2022, a printed bill fee of $2.99/mo. will apply, NY, PA and select customers excluded. A $10 fee applies when Internet is disconnected. Equipment return required at disconnection, up to $150 per device if not returned. Multi-Device Security covers up to 10 devices. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra.  Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated 10/10/23.

Find business internet in your area

Unlike your home internet , some internet service providers don’t offer business internet in all of their coverage areas. Allconnect can help you navigate the choices available to you. 

You’ll want to have a good idea of how many employees you have accessing the internet at the same time in order to know what speed your business internet plan should have.

When providers advertise their speed plans, they tend to only talk about the download speeds. However, both upload and download speeds are essential for running a business. Download speed is how quickly information will be received by your router, like in a search engine inquiry or email program. Upload speeds refer to how quickly your system can load an image or file onto a web server, like emailing a photo to a client or loading new info onto your company’s website. 

Search internet providers in your area

Our picks for the best business internet providers .

Jump to section:  

  • AT&T – Best for reliability
  • CenturyLink – Best cheap business internet 
  • Frontier – Best for fast starting speeds  
  • Verizon – Best for symmetrical upload speeds 
  • Xfinity – Best for availability

The listed providers are some of the most widely available and well-rated providers throughout the U.S. You can expect at least one of these providers to be available in your area unless you live in a particularly remote area. If none of these providers are available, consider a DSL or satellite provider, knowing these are not ideal for large businesses that require a lot of bandwidth.

AT&T logo

Best for reliability: AT&T 300 Mbps

The 300 or 500 Mbps plan is probably your best bet to ensure fast enough upload and download speeds without breaking the bank each month. AT&T fiber service is available to about 11% of the U.S., mostly in the Midwest and South.

Fast speeds: AT&T’s 500 Mbps is great for smallt to medium businesses with up to 50 individuals

Extra security: ActiveArmor is included with all AT&T Business Fiber plans at no extra cost

High starting price: $75 is a bit higher than other providers

Availability issues: AT&T’s fiber connections are only available in certain areas

AT&T business internet plans and pricing

Best cheap business internet: centurylink.

Although both of CenturyLink’s plans are some of the cheapest business internet plans available, the fiber internet 940 Mbps plan is a particularly good value. For nearly 10x the speed, you only have to pay an additional $20/mo. However, Xfinity has a $39/mo. plan, but it’s only for up to 50 Mbps, which will not do much for a small business. CenturyLink fiber is available in about 2% of the country, centered in the northern Midwest and Western parts.

Low starting price: $55/mo.

Affordable Gig plan: $75/mo.

Slower speeds: Uses DSL instead of fiber for the Business Internet plan, so not as many people can be connected at once as with fiber service

Limited plan options: There are just plans available

CenturyLink business internet plans and pricing

Best for fast starting speeds: frontier.

Frontier’s Business Fiber 500 plan offers symmetrical upload/download speeds and costs below $65/mo. If you want the best value available, Frontier’s Business Fiber 500 is an excellent choice.

Good plan options: From 500 Mbps to 2 Gigs, which can run an enterprise business up to 100 people

Latest tech: Wi-Fi 6E router included with plans

Expensive Gig plan: $85/mo. is steeper than some other providers

Frontier Fiber business internet plans and pricing

*Prices without Autopay and Paperless Billing. Exclusive offer for qualified addresses. For new residential Internet customers only. Max speed capable range for 500 Mbps (450-500 Mbps download/upload), Gig Service (846-940 Mbps download, 792-880 Mbps upload), 2 Gig (1800-2000 Mbps download/upload) and requires 2 Gbps capable devices and wiring. Performance details: frontier.com/internetdisclosures. Requires Auto Pay or $5/mo. fee applies. Beginning April 2022, a printed bill fee of $2.99/mo. will apply, NY, PA and select customers excluded. A $10 fee applies when Internet is disconnected. Equipment return required at disconnection, up to $150 per device if not returned. Multi-Device Security covers up to 10 devices. Other applicable charges and additional services are extra.  Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers. Other restrictions, Frontier policies and service terms apply. Last updated 10/10/23.

Verizon logo

Best symmetrical upload speeds: Verizon

Although Verizon’s price points are a little higher than some of the other providers that offer business internet, it is worth it if you know you will be uploading large files regularly. Verizon is one of the few providers that offer symmetrical or close-to-symmetrical upload speeds for all of its plans. Verizon fiber is available throughout much of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, covering 9% of the U.S.

Fiber connections: Verizon’s symmetrical 100 Mbps can power a small business of up to 10

No risk trial: 30-day money back guarantee on 2-year term

Expensive: The top-end plan is $249/mo.

Verizon business internet plans and pricing

Best for availability: xfinity.

The 50 Mbps plan is not fast enough for most businesses, so if you choose Xfinity, go with the 250 Mbps or 500 Mbps plans. Xfinity is the largest U.S. cable internet service provider, available in parts of 40 states .

Several plan options: Plans get cheaper with 2-3 contracts

Wide availability: Xfinity serves the Western, Central/Southern and Northeast regions of the country.

Expensive: The 1.25 Gbps plan is $199.99/mo

Xfinity business internet plans and pricing

Call us to learn more about business internet options.

What internet speeds do you need to run a business?

Fiber is your best bet for your connection because the upload speeds are symmetrical with your download speeds. That makes it possible for you to upload documents, share presentations to multiple devices, etc., much faster than other types of internet.

The best speeds for business internet by size are:

  • 50 Mbps: Up to 10 users, with email and a point-of-sale system
  • 100 Mbps: Up to 10 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security and HD, 4K video streaming
  • 500 Mbps: Up to 50 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming and large file transfer capability
  • 1 Gbps: Up to 100 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming and large file transfer capability
  • 2 Gbps and up: Over 100 users, with email, point-of-sale systems, security, HD, 4K video streaming, large file transfer capability and cloud hosting

What internet speed do you need for small businesses?

Small businesses will likely want at least 100 Mbps. The more devices you will have online at a time, the faster the speeds you will need. Additionally, if you need to upload large files frequently, you should either pick a plan faster than 100 Mbps or a fiber plan that has symmetrical upload and download speeds, such as Frontier or Verizon.

What internet speed do you need for large businesses?

Large businesses, with users from 50 to 100, should consider fiber plans around 500 Mbps and higher. Two key aspects of large business internet to look for are scalability – can the service grow with your business – and tech support. No business can afford downtime, so access to 24/7 quality tech support is critical.

Business internet vs. home internet

The best thing about using business internet over a regular residential connection is that you will receive a dedicated line, which means you will not need to share your internet connection with anyone outside of your company. You will also get a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that guarantees certain speeds as opposed to a best-effort service agreement that you tend to get with a home internet plan.

What we like

Faster starting speeds – With business internet plans, you can expect to see most plans starting at 100 Mbps as opposed to 10, 15 or 25 Mbps.

Better upload speeds – Upload speeds on a business internet plan will be faster than a home plan, especially with symmetrical upload/download speeds.

Things to consider

Can be pricey – Fiber small business plans start around $60/mo., but if you have a medium to large business, prices can skyrocket into the hundreds per month.

Fewer options  – In most areas, there are not as many providers to choose from for business internet compared to home internet.

Business internet FAQs

Yes, starting speeds tend to be faster with business internet. The biggest difference between business internet speed and home internet speeds, however, has to do more with upload speeds than with download speeds.

Yes, you can get business internet for your home since many small businesses are run at home. Since starting prices tend to be more expensive with business internet than with home internet, make sure you truly need the added benefits of business internet, such as faster upload speeds and Service Level Agreements.

Yes, any internet service provider can set up a Wi-Fi network for your business after you purchase an internet plan from them. Keep in mind, though, that a hardwired system with Ethernet cables will provide your working environment with the best possible speeds.

A fiber connection will provide the fastest speeds available in your area for any business operation.

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Written by:

Editor, Broadband Content

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The limits a provider sets on the amount of data you’re able to use while online

Download speeds

Transfers data to your home for activities like streaming, shopping and browsing social media

Mbps (Megabits per second)

A unit of measurement used to indicate download and upload speeds

Upload speeds

Transfer data from your home for activities like video calls, uploading large files, working on online documents and live gaming

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5G Business Internet

Do business on your terms with wireless 5G internet that’s fast, simple and secure. Plans start at $69/mo.

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Get up to $1,500 to help cover switching costs.

Offer for new 5G Business Internet customers who terminated their prior internet service and incurred an early termination fee (ETF). To redeem offer, you must email documentation of the ETF from your prior service provider within 30 days after receipt of final bill. Offer fulfilled via a bill credit to your Verizon account in the amount of the billed ETF up to $1,500. Offer is non-transferable and has no cash or refund value. Credit will be issued after 60 days of service, and will appear on your Verizon bill within 1-2 billing cycles thereafter. You remain solely responsible for paying the ETF to your prior service provider. May not be combined with all offers. Other terms apply.

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  • Why Verizon

Best for small to medium offices, VoIP, construction sites, digital kiosks and guest Wi-Fi Plans reflect maximum available download speeds; these vary and may be lower in the event of network congestion. Upload speeds also vary and will be lower than download speeds. Compatible equipment required and varies depending on setup.

  • Self-setup Professional installation may be available, depending on location.
  • 10-year price guarantee 10-year price guarantee offer for new 5G Business Internet customers in select areas only. Guarantee applies to the base internet monthly access fee, excluding applicable taxes, fees and equipment charges. Customers must be in good standing and retain 5G Business Internet at the current service address; any customer-initiated change to the service or service plan cancels the price guarantee. Changes or disruptions to 5G Business Internet service to your location outside of Verizon’s control will cancel the price guarantee. Terms apply.
  • Select router included with monthly payment plan Available for 100 and 200 Mbps self-setup plans only. Select router is included with 36-month device payment plan. Offer fulfilled as a monthly bill credit for 36 months; credits end when eligibility requirements are no longer met. 0% APR. Get details during checkout.
  • 30-day satisfaction guarantee If for any reason you are unhappy with the service, cancel within 30 days and receive a refund of the internet service charge. The 30-day satisfaction guarantee is available to new and existing 5G Business Internet customers with a new service line and applies to the monthly internet service charge only. Customers will be charged for monthly service on the activation date of the applicable line. If customer disconnects service within 30 days of activation date, Verizon will issue a refund for service usage for up to 30 days, excluding late fees, equipment charges, taxes, Economic Adjustment Charge, activation and any other fees. The 30-day satisfaction guarantee is not applicable on service or plan changes, such as speed upgrades or downgrades within a plan or moving from one plan to another. Refund will be issued within 1–2 billing cycles after service cancellation. Guarantee is subject to change and may not be combinable with all offers available for the service. Equipment returns: Routers purchased from Verizon can be returned within a 30-day return and exchange period subject to our Return Policy. A restocking fee may apply. Routers not returned within the 30-day return period and subject to the Return Policy will not be refunded.
  • Get up to a $1,500 credit to help cover costs to switch. Offer for new 5G Business Internet customers who terminated their prior internet service and incurred an early termination fee (ETF). To redeem offer, you must email documentation of the ETF from your prior service provider within 30 days after receipt of final bill. Offer fulfilled via a bill credit to your Verizon account in the amount of the billed ETF up to $1,500. Offer is non-transferable and has no cash or refund value. Credit will be issued after 60 days of service, and will appear on your Verizon bill within 1-2 billing cycles thereafter. You remain solely responsible for paying the ETF to your prior service provider. May not be combined with all offers. Other terms apply.
  • Save $30/mo when paired with a Business Unlimited smartphone plan. Offer available to select, eligible new business customers who activate a new, qualifying wireless business internet service line (LTE Business Internet and/or 5G Business Internet) and who have or activate a qualifying Business Unlimited smartphone plan (at least 1 line). For each qualifying internet line, up to 6 lines per account, customer will receive a $30/mo credit which will continue as long as Verizon provides and customer maintains both services as qualifying levels. Six lines per account limit may include both qualifying LTE and 5G Business Internet lines. Credit is applied once both services are activated and will appear on your bill in 1-2 cycles. Offer not available to customers with existing account level fixed wireless internet and smartphone plan discount; not available for LTE Backup Internet plans and non-standard plans. May not be combined with all offers.
  • View offer details

Switch and save $20/mo Available to new and existing 5G Business Internet customers only who activate a new, qualifying service line on the 200 Mbps plan (self set-up only). A $20/mo credit will be applied to account after 1-2 bills. $20/mo credit will apply as long as Verizon provides & business maintains service at the qualifying level. $240/yr savings calculated by $20/mo bill credit for 12 mos, compared to standard price. May not be combined with all offers. Offer ends 5.30.24.

Best for video conferencing, webinar hosting, cloud-based apps and robust guest Wi-Fi Plans reflect maximum available download speeds; these vary and may be lower in the event of network congestion. Upload speeds also vary and will be lower than download speeds. Compatible equipment required and varies depending on setup.

Handles heavy cloud app usage, streaming media, and advanced devices and robotics Plans reflect maximum available download speeds; these vary and may be lower in the event of network congestion. Upload speeds also vary and will be lower than download speeds. Compatible equipment required and varies depending on setup.

  • Professional install
  • Select router included Available for 400 Mbps professional installation plan only. Select router included via an instant discount at checkout.

Get wireless business internet starting at  $39/mo.

Save $30/mo when you bundle a qualifying LTE Business Internet or 5G Business Internet plan with a Business Unlimited smartphone plan. $39/mo internet price per line calculated by applying $30/mo credit to $69/mo service price for 5G Business Internet 100 Mbps plan or LTE Business Internet 10 Mbps plan (1st year price for LTE Biz Internet); plus taxes, fees, and Economic Adjustment Charge; compatible router req’d. Offer available to select, eligible new business customers who activate a new, qualifying wireless business internet service line (LTE Business Internet and/or 5G Business Internet) and who have or activate a qualifying Business Unlimited smartphone plan (at least 1 line). For each qualifying internet line, up to 6 lines per account, customer will receive a $30/mo credit which will continue as long as Verizon provides and customer maintains both services as qualifying levels. Six lines per account limit may include both qualifying LTE and 5G Business Internet lines. Credit is applied once both services are activated and will appear on your bill in 1-2 cycles. Offer not available to customers with existing account level fixed wireless internet + smartphone plan discount; not available for LTE Backup Internet plans and non-standard plans. May not be combined with all offers.

Reliable and fast

Connect your computer, point of sale devices, tablets, smartphones and more, on the ultra-fast, reliable Verizon 5G network.

Simple, hassle-free setup.

Either set it up yourself or have our experts handle it for you, so you can get our fastest speeds in no time.

Built-in network security

Get a secure connection with built-in network security controls to help defend against cyber threats.

5G Business
 Internet video

Learn more about Verizon 5G Business Internet and how it can keep up with your business and its growing demands

Fixed wireless access webinars

Check out our webinar series on fixed wireless access and learn how this modern technology can be an efficient and viable alternative to cable.

Why choose us

Our reliable network earns accolades, year after year.

Best Practices Product Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan¹ for business internet

America’s most reliable 5G network, according to RootMetrics®²

What is 5G Business Internet?

A fast and scalable wireless connectivity solution. It’s also known as fixed wireless internet access.

What are the speeds of 5G Business Internet?

Based on the plan selected, 5G Business Internet download speeds include the following:

  • Up to 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps or 400 Mbps

Plans reflect maximum available download speeds; these vary and may be lower in the event of network congestion. Upload speeds also vary and will be lower than download speeds. See your Verizon Sales Representative for details.

What are the benefits of Verizon 5G Business Internet?

Easy and dependable

  • Professional or self-setup options are available in select markets and may vary depending on location and speed tier selected.
  • Use Verizon-provided equipment or use your own compatible 5G-enabled device (you can check to see whether your router is compatible during purchase).
  • Connection is suitable as either Primary or a Business continuity (backup) internet solution.
  • Strong network security, built from the ground up.

Speed and performance

  • Outstanding speed
  • Massive capacity
  • Unlimited data

Innovation ready

  • Platform for advanced features and new organizational outcomes
  • Become an early adopter of next-gen network technology

5G built right

  • From a business partner you can rely on, with award-winning network performance

If you want to learn more about 5G and how it can benefit your business, read here:

Is 5G fixed wireless internet the future of business agility?

What is 5G Business Internet and how can it help my business?

Additional resources

What can you do with Verizon 5G Business Internet?

Quickly and powerfully connect locations as needed

New branches, campus expansions, temporary locations—businesses often need high-powered connectivity quickly for new locations. New locations with qualifying coverage can use Verizon 5G Business Internet to simplify and speed internet setup.

Beyond internet connection to digital transformation

With Verizon 5G Business Internet, you’ll begin your digital transformation journey. As 5G technology evolves, businesses plan to leverage transformative technologies such as edge computing, utilize Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices in new ways, achieve scale and efficiency beyond what’s currently possible and even realize new business models. 5G Business Internet can help make sure that your offices have the connectivity they need to monitor these larger ecosystems driving intelligence from the cloud down to your executive’s desktop.

Does 5G Business Internet require equipment?

Yes, there is equipment needed for the 5G Business Internet service. We offer professional installation, a plug-and-play (self-setup) option or customers may bring their own 5G compatible device. All 3 scenarios are dependent on availability in select markets and speed tiers. All installation options through Verizon will be simple, and we will keep you informed throughout the process. Self-setup requires a Verizon-provided indoor router/receiver device, professional installation requires an outdoor 5G receiver and compatible 5G-enabled router, bring your own device scenarios depend on the unique specifications of the hardware.

How should I prepare for 5G Business Internet installation?

Whether you choose professional installation or self-setup, it’s simple and hassle-free for your business.

If you choose professional installation, here are a few tips to help you prepare:

  • Check service availability for the address
  • Obtain permission to install the receiver—installation requires mounting equipment on the building exterior, Verizon requires written permission from the building owner to install this service
  • Have our experts handle the installation

If you choose self-setup, here are a few tips to help you prepare:

  • Once you receive your Verizon Internet Gateway for Business receiver, place your device in an open area on an elevated surface and plug in the power cord
  • Do not unplug
  • When you see a solid white light, you’re on the Verizon network and can connect using the WiFi information on the bottom of the device. For detailed setup instructions, or if you need assistance, please visit: setup.verizon.com/businessinternetgateway

If you choose to bring your own compatible 5G device, here are a few tips to help you prepare:

  • Check the service qualification for the address and work with your sales rep to identify a compatible device
  • Obtain a device/SIM compatible with the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network (note IMEI and ICCID for ordering process)
  • Install compatible 5G device
  • Place order for appropriate 5G Business Internet plan (based on device specifications and qualification)
  • Activate compatible 5G device and connect

Get up to a $1,500 credit.

Offer for new 5G Business Internet customers who terminated their prior internet service and incurred an early termination fee (ETF). To redeem offer, you must email documentation of the ETF from your prior service provider within 30 days after receipt of final bill. Offer fulfilled via a bill credit to your Verizon account in the amount of the billed ETF up to $1,500. Offer is non-transferable and has no cash or refund value. Credit will be issued after 60 days of service, and will appear on your Verizon bill within 1-2 billing cycles thereafter. You remain solely responsible for paying the ETF to your prior service provider. May not be combined with all offers. Other terms apply.



Save $30/mo.



Offer available to select, eligible new business customers who activate a new, qualifying wireless business internet service line (LTE Business Internet and/or 5G Business Internet) and who have or activate a qualifying Business Unlimited smartphone plan (at least 1 line). For each qualifying internet line, up to 6 lines per account, customer will receive a $30/mo credit which will continue as long as Verizon provides and customer maintains both services as qualifying levels. Six lines per account limit may include both qualifying LTE and 5G Business Internet lines. Credit is applied once both services are activated and will appear on your bill in 1-2 cycles. Offer not available to customers with existing account level fixed wireless internet and smartphone plan discount; not available for LTE Backup Internet plans and non-standard plans. May not be combined with all offers.

Let’s connect.

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¹Read the  report .

²Most reliable 5G network based on more first place rankings in RootMetrics® 5G data reliability assessments of 125 metro markets conducted in 2H 2023. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three national mobile networks across all available network types.

business plan internet

Best Business Internet Providers – 2022

Internet providers compete through TV ads to promote their best offers. However, those advertisements relate to the internet services available for residential users. The league table of internet services for business is quite different.

Assessing the right internet service for a business greatly depends on the nature of the business. Not all companies require high internet accessibility, while others would not exist without constant, high-volume access to the internet. So, there are many different packages available to businesses.

This review focuses on the best value deals for businesses. In a few cases, your business might not be well served by these deals. If you find that the services offered to the average company don’t provide the large bandwidth that you need, you will see that the companies we recommend will have other plans that suit your needs.

Here is our list of the seven best business internet providers in the USA:

  • Verizon Business
  • AT&T for Business
  • Comcast Business
  • Google Fiber
  • Spectrum Business
  • Frontier Fios

As with any business service, you are more likely to encounter better deals and a better quality of service in the larger cities of the United States than in smaller towns and rural areas. However, enterprise thrives in all parts of the country and so we have included some broadband providers that use innovative technology that reaches the remotest locations.

Quality Internet Considerations                             

When deciding on the best internet deals for business, there are three factors that need to be considered: speed, reliability, and price.

On the whole, reliability is constant . Established internet services don’t go offline and service outages are almost unheard of. Smaller, startup internet service providers (ISPs) might not have their equipment fine-tuned and could be keeping costs low by compromising on backup systems. It is better to stick with large, well-known internet services in order to guarantee a reliable internet service.

There are more than 2,600 internet providers in the United States. Many only serve small areas of the country and don’t have long service histories that prove reliability. Ruling out the new and small ISPs in the interest of ensuring reliability brings the list of candidate suppliers down below 100.

Speed Issues

The remaining two factors: speed and price really depend on the demands of the individual business. For example, a farming enterprise would need the internet to look at commodity prices when deciding on which crops to plant, will need to send and receive emails, order supplies online, check on statutory guidelines, usage guides for vaccines and pesticides, and look at weather patterns.

None of these activities require lightning-fast speeds or great volumes of data. It just so happens that broadband internet services to rural areas are not very fast and, being expensive to run, impose data caps. By compromising on speed and accepting data caps, a business can bring the price of a monthly subscription down to very reasonable levels.

A busy city center office might seem to need a great deal of speed from its internet service. However, it is better to get a precise estimate of external traffic before selecting an internet plan. Business managers who don’t have a technical background might assume that their offices require constant access to the high-speed internet. In reality, the bulk of most businesses’ data activity takes place on an internal network . So, each enterprise might not need the high speeds offered by the top internet packages available in the United States.

Assuming a high volume or just picking the top plan available will result in your business paying more than it needs to for internet services . Fortunately, an established business that has an existing internet contract can easily get a report on the service utilization records that show what data volumes the business generated on its internet connections. It is very common that those business managers who enquire discover that the company never uses all of the data capacity that its internet connection plan provides.

Cost control is an important contributor to business profitability. So, when your business selects an internet package, it is important not to over-pay. Start by assessing the internet needs of your business in general. A general estimate of internet traffic volumes should give you an idea of which service level to go for because most internet service providers offer several plans, each with different speeds and higher or lower prices.

Price Competition

The third element in assessing the best internet service for a business is price. We have already discussed that a business can spend less on internet access if it properly assesses its speed requirements and downshifts to an appropriate plan.

There are other price factors to take into consideration when comparing internet services. The marketing divisions of all commercial operations know that most buyers are price sensitive . They know that they need to bring their prices down in order to beat rivals who provide comparable services.

Like any sales operation, internet providers use hidden charges and misleading language in order to bring down their headline prices. Unfortunately, these tricky marketing ploys make assessing the price of internet services a whole lot harder.

The impact of those unexpected charges varies depending on whether they are startup costs or recurring fees . In many cases, the full cost of an internet plan is not shown on the sales pages of the service’s website. They don’t appear until the later pages of the screens the buyer cycles through in order to get the service.

One more pricing factor is that internet providers offer special deals from month to month and that means one service can be cheaper than another on one date and that comparison can change a few days later. Offers sometimes include free installation or a free router.

Most services offer a discounted rate in order to encourage customers to sign up for a long-term contract. The price shown on the website is usually the discounted rate and it is very difficult to discover the true monthly price of the service. The discounting offered for a contract is deeper for some plans offered by the same company. In many cases, the price of a service will greatly increase once the discount period ends.

It is important to assess the full price of a service as well as the introductory offer. Look also at the contract period. It might be longer than the discount period. For example, the contract could run for two years but the discount rate only lasts for one year. In the case of minimum service periods, the price a customer has to pay for canceling the contract before the lock-in period ends is another cost that should be taken into account. That cancellation charge is called the “ early termination fee ” (ETF) in the industry.

The US Business Internet Market

The seven internet providers in our list of recommendations are all equally reliable. The sequence of the best provider down to the seventh-best provider is notional and possibly would work out in a different order for your business. That is why we have gone to the lengths of listing seven providers. Verizon Fios and AT&T are the fastest and most reliable providers in large parts of the country, but not everywhere.

The types of service that each company provides are not uniform across the nation. The United States is so vast that it is impossible for one single company to dominate the market everywhere. The diversity of business strategies deployed by each internet service provider creates variability in service around the country.

One certainty is that these suppliers only deliver internet plans in places where they can guarantee a reliable, high-quality service . The excellence of the delivery of internet service for all of the companies on our list is unquestionable. However, on a case by case basis, not every customer is offered the same list of plans by each provider.

Take AT&T, for example. The company offers internet services in every state, but not in every location in each state. The company has an excellent high-speed fiber-optic network. However, that isn’t available in every location and most of AT&T’s customers get a DSL internet service that is delivered over telephone wires. Even within one of its delivery methods – DSL – AT&T doesn’t offer the same plans everywhere in the country.

So, overall, it would be easy to tell every business in America that AT&T offers the best internet service. However, in some towns, the AT&T service is not that great and a rival provider grabs the top spot. In many places, the best internet provider on one side of town wouldn’t get the number one slot on the other side of town.

Business Internet Service Providers

Let’s take a look at each of the companies in our list of the seven best business internet providers in the USA.

In each case, we looked at the top plan available, a regular and affordable plan for typical low-traffic businesses and looked at where these plans are available. Remember that companies that offer national coverage don’t provide the same service in every location. Another factor to keep in mind is that prices are not uniform across the country even for the same plan offered by the same company.

1. Verizon Business

business plan internet

Verizon Business  is the largest fiber internet provider in the United States. However, its super-high-speed service is only available in ten states. The company is a division of Verizon, which is a telephone company. Verizon also provides entertainment packages to households.

Verizon Business would be your top choice if you need 1 Gigabit per second internet speed and your business is within reach of the network. The 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) speed should be 1000 Megabits per second (Mbps). However, the industry standard for a 1 Gbps connection is really 940 Mbps. The Internet (940/880) plan has a download speed of 940 Mbps and an upload speed of 880 Mbps. It costs $224.99 per month.

The company’s network has a presence in the densely-populated New England region. States covered by Verizon network are:

  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania
  • The District of Columbia

Verizon Business offers lower speeds to customers who don’t need 1 Gbps. These plans are:

  • Fios Internet (75/75) – $89.99 per month
  • Fios Internet (150/150) – $119.99 per month
  • Fios Internet (300/300) – $194.99 per month
  • Fios Internet (500/500) – $224.99 per month

The numbers in the brackets in the name of each plan refer to the download and upload speeds offered by the service. Those speeds represent maximum speeds delivered by the plan and aren’t guaranteed. However, Verizon Business has a reputation for actually exceeding its promised speeds.

All of the above plans and the 940/880 service are available without a contract , which means that you don’t have to pay an early termination fee if you cancel the contract. If you are sure that you will keep subscribing to the service for at least two years, you can get discounts on the subscription rates. However, those discounts aren’t worth bothering with because it brings the subscription rate down by $5 per month for the first year but it is $5 per month more than the no-contract price in the second year. So, overall, the price per month averages out at the same price with a contract as that offered on the contractless service.

Watch out for a “ setup fee ” of $99.99 with a contract or $149.99 without a contract. Periodic incentive deals remove that cost. If you don’t have your own modem, you can rent one from Verizon Business for $12 per month. A rent-free modem is another incentive that the company bundles into special promotional packages. Other periodic offers could reduce prices further. For example, at the time of writing, Verizon Business offered an additional $10 discount per month to businesses that sign up for a 2-year contract.

2. AT&T for Business

business plan internet

AT&T is the largest telecommunications company in the USA. In fact, it is the largest in the world. The company’s main business is its telephone service and it is the second-largest DSL internet provider in the USA. The company also has a Fixed Wireless division that provides internet services in remote locations and it operates a specialist fiber-optic network. AT&T is the second-largest fiber internet provider in the USA.

The company’s telephone network, which also carries internet connections, covers 21 states . It has particularly strong coverage in the South East and the South West of the United States. As the company offers three different connection plans, it has a lot of different plans. However, not every type of service is available in every state where the company operates.

AT&T business DSL plans

  • Internet 50 (50/3) – $85 per month
  • Internet 100 (100/6) – $115 per month
  • Internet 500 (500/8) – $250 per month

AT&T fiber internet plans

  • Business Fiber 50 (50/10) – $85 per month
  • Business Fiber 100 (100/20) – $140 per month
  • Business Fiber 500 (500/100) – $300 per month
  • Business Fiber 500s (500/500) – $300 per month
  • Business Fiber 1000 (1000/200) – $500 per month
  • Business Fiber 1000s (1000/1000) – $500 per month

Those numbers in brackets are the download and upload speeds. Keep in mind that when the industry says a 1 Gbps download speed it is really 940 Mbps and a 1 Gbps upload speed is really 880 Mbps. The prices in these plans relate to services agreed to on a one-year contract. It is possible to take the service without a contract, but the monthly subscription charge is 420 higher per month for each plan.

DSL customers can get a modem from AT&T for $75 or a Wi-Fi Gateway with an integrated modem for $100. That is a one-time charge . After two months of service, the customer can mail in a voucher and get that money returned as a pre-paid credit on a debit card. Only the wi-Fi gateway is available for fiber internet customers and that is free of charge.

A technician installation for DSL customers costs $200 and it costs $99 for fiber internet customers. DSL customers can opt to self-install the modem and avoid the $200 charge. However, there is also a $75 activation fee that needs to be paid no matter how the modem gets installed and for those who get the modem installed by a technician, that $75 is on top of the $200 installation charge.

AT&T also offers a Fixed Wireless service. This is a system that replaces the last stretch of cable or wire between the local exchange and the customer’s premises. This is a worthy option for businesses that aren’t connected to the telephone network . The Fixed Wireless service is not so fast. It gives a download speed of 10 Mbps and an upload speed of 1 Mbps. The service has a data cap of 215 GB per month.

The AT&T Fixed Wireless service requires a one-year contract . It costs $60 per month for the first year and then the price goes up to $70 per month. The modem for the service is supplied free of charge. Installation can only be performed by an AT&T technician and that costs $99.

See the full review of AT&T here .

3. Comcast Business

business plan internet

In the general population, Comcast is better known as Xfinity . The company provides cable TV, phone, and internet services to residential users under the Xfinity brand and calls itself Comcast Business when selling telecommunication services to businesses. Comcast is the largest provider of internet via cable in the United States and its network has a presence in 40 states.

The Comcast tariff list for business is very extensive. The company uses two networks to provide internet to commercial users. The main network owned by Comcast is what is called a “hybrid fiber-coaxial” (HFC) system. This has a fiber optic backbone between the internet access point in the Comcast regional office and the local exchange. From the exchange, each customer’s connection is fulfilled with coaxial cable. This is a very cost-effective strategy because it brings high speeds for low costs.

Comcast realized that many business customers really want to get the internet down a fast all-fiber network and so in some areas, they have laid fiber optic cable for that last stretch between the local exchange and the customer’s door. So, Comcast offers cable internet and fiber internet services.

Here are their plans.

Comcast Business HFC plan:

  • Starter Internet (25/5) – $84.95 per month
  • Business Internet 50 (50 /10) – $124.90 per month
  • Business Internet 75 (75/15) – $164.90 per month
  • Business Internet 100 (100/20) – $214.90 per month
  • Business Internet 150 (150/20) – $264.90 per month
  • Business Internet 250 (250/25) – $364.90 per month
  • Business Internet 500 (500/35) – $414.90 per month
  • Business Internet 1 Gig (1,000/35) – $514.90 per month

Comcast Business Fiber plans:

  • Deluxe 25 Internet (25/25) – $69.95 per month
  • Deluxe 50 Internet (50/50) – $109.95 per month
  • Deluxe 75 Internet (75/75) – $149.95 per month
  • Deluxe 100 Internet (100/100) – $199.95 per month
  • Deluxe 150 Internet (150/150) – $249.95 per month

These prices are the company’s rack rate and it makes considerable adjustments locally, usually downwards in areas where there is stiff competition. Agreeing to a contract also gets a discount and bundling with the company’s telephone service gets the price down further.

As an example of how much regional and periodic offers, bundling and committing to a contract; at the time of writing Comcast Business offered its Business Internet 75 plan for $49.95 per month. However, that price is only available to those businesses that also take out two telephone plans and sign up for a two-year contract with paperless billing.

The modem rental price on all plans is $13 per month. Businesses who already have a modem can avoid that rental charge. There is also an installation fee of $59.99, but that can be avoided by those who have their own modem and plug the new line in themselves.

See the full review of Xfinity here .

4. Google Fiber

business plan internet

Google Fiber doesn’t fully qualify to be on our list of the best internet providers for business because the company only has a very small service area, which means very few people reading this review will actually be able to opt for it. However, there is a great deal of industry buzz about Google Fiber.

The service is available in 18 cities across the USA:

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Chicago, IL
  • Huntsville, AL
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Nashville, TN
  • Oakland, CA
  • Orange County, CA
  • San Antonio, TX
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • Seattle, WA
  • The Triangle, NC

Google Fiber has experienced problems in some of its service locations in recent years and decided to withdraw from that market. Boston, Massachusetts is a notable example of that phenomenon.

Google Fiber plans:

  • Fiber Business 100 – $70 per month
  • Fiber Business 250 – $100 per month
  • Fiber Business 1000 – $250 per month

 In each of these services, the number in the name of the plan represents both the download and upload speed it delivers.

See the full review of Google Fiber here .

5. Spectrum Business

business plan internet

Charter Spectrum is the second-largest cable TV system in the USA with a network presence in 44 states. It carries internet over its cable network and it also serves businesses. As is typical with cable TV networks, Charter uses a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable configuration . That means that distances are covered over fiber-optic cable, allowing very fast speeds.

The Spectrum service doesn’t require contracts , so you don’t need to worry about the cost of an early termination fee if you decide to change your internet provider.

The company charges the same price for its three lower plans and the same price for its two highest plans. This is to compensate for the fact that the best speeds are not available everywhere.

  • Business Internet 60 (60/10) – $59.99 per month  
  • Business Internet 100 (100/10) – $59.99 per month  
  • Business Internet 200 (200/10) – $59.99 per month   
  • Business Internet Ultra 300 (300/20) – $109.99 per month  
  • Business Internet 400 (400/20) – $109.99 per month  

The numbers in brackets in the list show the download and upload speeds of each plan. These prices are very low compared to competitors and they can get lower. The company periodically offers special deals. For example, at the time of writing, an offer was current that put the price of the Business Internet 200 plan down to $44.99.

The company boasts that it does not impose hidden charges and as there is no lock-in period on its service, it would find it very difficult to try to trick its customers into higher prices.

See the full review of Spectrum here .

6. Frontier Fios

business plan internet

Frontier bought its fiber-optic network from Verizon. It is the fourth-largest fiber internet provider in the USA. The company also offers DSL internet services over its telephone network. The DSL service is well-known for reaching rural areas that other internet providers overlook. Its fiber-optic network does not extend very far beyond major urban centers, however.

The Frontier Fios plans offer the same upload speed as download.

The company’s plans for business are:

  • FiOS 75 Mbps (75/75) – $79.99 per month  
  • FiOS 100 Mbps (100/100) – $94.99 per month  
  • FiOS 200 Mbps (200/200) – $114.99 per month  

The service’s prices do not include taxes. In addition to the monthly subscription fee, users will have to pay a setup fee for $75, although the company often runs special promotions that waive that fee. Another way to dodge the setup charge is to install the modem yourself. In that case, you will be charged a $9.99 shipping and handling fee to receive the equipment. The company rents the modem to customers for $10 per month. Alternatively, new users can choose to buy the authorized modem from the company for $200. It is not possible to buy a modem elsewhere and use it with the Frontier Fios network.

There is no minimum service period required for the Frontier Fios service, so there is no early termination fee. However, all users wishing to leave the service have to pay an administration fee of $9.99.

See the full review of Frontier here .

business plan internet

Viasat offers a satellite internet service. Very remote businesses might not have any other internet delivery options. In theory, satellite internet should be available wherever the sky is visible. However, the customer’s transceiver dish needs to have an unrestricted line of sight to the satellite. So, in some places, tall trees or nearby mountains can block reception.

Viasat business internet plans:

  • Metered Broadband 1GB (35/4) – $50 per month  
  • Metered Broadband 10GB (35/4) – $80 per month
  • Metered Broadband 20GB (35/4) – $100 per month
  • Metered Broadband 50GB (35/4) – $150 per month
  • Metered Broadband 200GB (35/4) – $400 per month
  • Unlimited 35 (35/4) – $175 per month 
  • Unlimited 60 (60/4) – $300 per month 
  • Unlimited 100 (100/4) – $500 per month 

The number in the name of each plan (eg 1GB) represents the data cap on the plan in the case of the metered plans. The number in the name of the unlimited data plans represents the download speed offered by the plan. The number shown within brackets are the typical down and upload speed of the plan in Mbps.

When a plan’s data limit gets reached, the customer can continue to use the internet service but will be charged an additional fee per extra GB used. In the case of the 1GB and 10GB metered plans, each additional GB costs $10. The price per additional GB with the 20GB plan is $6 and the rate for each extra GB with the 50GB and 250 GB plans is $3 and $3 respectively.

Unlimited plans are not available everywhere.

See the full review of Viasat here .

Assessing Internet Speed Requirements

To work out whether the business needs high speeds and a lot of data capacity, you need to start by listing the following factors:

  • Number of staff
  • Number and type of data endpoints (computers, smart devices)
  • Configuration of the office network
  • Number of branches
  • Number of field service agents
  • Number of telecommuters
  • Methods of communication
  • Applications deployed
  • Software and storage provision

Staff factors

It is easy to understand that a business that has a lot of staff will need more internet speed and capacity than a small business that has relatively few employees. So, as a general rule of thumb, you need to multiply the internet data requirements by the number of staff that the business has.

As stated above, although you are likely to have more digital activity if you have a lot of staff, most of that activity is going to take place on your office network and not over the internet. The internet connection becomes more important if your staff aren’t all located in one place. This occurs when a business has several branches and when a large number of staff work out in the field or at home.

The distribution of your staff will increase or decrease the business’s dependence on the internet. However, the type of work that the remote staff performs might not create much internet traffic.

Mobile devices

The number and type of equipment that your staff uses is a big influence on the amount of internet traffic that your enterprise generates. If you have constantly connected mobile devices to communicate with delivery drivers and sales agents, then you are likely to have a much higher requirement for internet data volumes than a business that keeps all of its staff in one place.

However, check on how your business deploys these devices . If your dispatch manager sends a route to each driver each morning and then sends out an adjustment possibly once or twice a day, then you aren’t generating much internet traffic. That morning download probably takes place over the depot’s Wi-Fi network and small route updates don’t involve much data.

The mobile devices used by sales agents can chew up a lot of data. The amount of internet traffic those systems generate greatly depends on where all of the big media files your agents require are stored. If they are resident on the device, they won’t be using the internet very much. If the device doesn’t have the capacity for all of the media that the agents want to present, then they could be streaming video from your office server and that will transfer a lot of data . However, modify your estimates by assessing the length of those video streaming sessions, counting how often each agent actually streams them and multiplying by the number of agents that are active.

Again, the results of this assessment may surprise you. One agent who possibly streams one three-minute video once a day is going to use a lot less data than a typical residential user.

Another, aspect of sales that might increase your internet requirements is the sales catalog and the sales order placement process . However, most mobile devices have enough storage space to carry a typical catalog. Order placement systems store the form as an app on the device, only transferring the small amounts of data entered into the form’s fields. So, your sales agent might not require much internet connectivity.

Server location

Thanks to the Cloud , more businesses are becoming completely dependent on the internet to do business. The Software-as-Service model makes business applications, the servers that host them, and storage space for the data that they generate available as a package and all of that computing activity takes place at a remote location.

Accessing all business software in the cloud removes the need to operate an office network. Traditionally, businesses connect each endpoint to the local area network and then connect a gateway on the network to the internet. All internet traffic for the business gets channeled through one piece of equipment and all internal traffic stays on the LAN. Switching over to the cloud model removes the need for a local network. Each endpoint connects directly to the internet.

Examples of this switch illustrate the recent changes in typical business software. For example, the Microsoft Office productivity suite is now delivered from the Cloud . In the past, the business would need an IT department to visit each computer in the office and install a copy of Microsoft Office on it. Now, each user accesses the software over the internet and stores documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on a remote server.

By accessing Microsoft Office in the Cloud, the business no longer requires an IT department . As all interactions with the productivity software have to travel over the internet, routing that traffic first through a local network creates an unnecessary expense. All business software needs can now be delivered from the Cloud, saving a lot of money on office equipment , but increasing the business’s internet requirements. If your business is run like this, you will need a fast internet connection.

Speed Requirements Roundup

By examining just a few factors on how your business operates you will quickly see whether your company needs high internet speeds. You might discover that you don’t need much internet access at all. At the other end of the scale, some businesses are completely dependent on the internet.

Choosing an Internet Service

The Internet industry in the USA is very peculiar and has a very distinctive pattern of business that does not exist in other countries in the world. Companies are allowed to charge different prices in different locations for the same service. This is a market anomaly that also exists with phone services and cable TV systems.

Internet services are very closely tied to cable TV and telephone services and are usually carried by the same networks. Even though fiber internet requires entirely new networks to be laid, the companies that own this new medium are the same companies that run America’s telephone and cable TV networks. The closed shop of internet services is very difficult to break and in some areas of the country, you will have little choice in provider, which limits your internet options.

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Internet Service Provider Business Plan

business plan internet

The internet service market in this internet world is tremendous. With a recurring revenue model and extensive target market, it truly offers a rewarding business opportunity.

Starting an Internet Service Provider (ISP) business requires substantial initial investments. However, with an actionable business plan, you can easily secure funds for the business and grow it to its full potential.

Need help writing a business plan for your ISP business? You’re at the right place. Our internet service provider business plan template will help you get started.

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Free Business Plan Template

Download our Free Business Plan Template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

  • Fill in the blanks – Outline
  • Financial Tables

How to Write An Internet Service Provider Business Plan?

Writing an internet service provider business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Products & services:.

Highlight the internet service provider services you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of internet service company you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following Internet service businesses:

  • Broadband ISP
  • Wireless ISP
  • Fiber optic ISP
  • Satellite ISP
  • Describe the legal structure of your ISP company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
  • Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

If you’re an established internet service provider, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.

Future Goals

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Market size and growth potential:

Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.

Competitive Analysis:

Market trends:.

Analyze emerging trends in the industry, such as technology disruptions, changes in customer behavior or preferences, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your internet service provider business plan:

  • Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
  • Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
  • Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
  • Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

ISP services:

Mention the internet service provider services your business will offer. This list may include services like,

  • Broadband service
  • DSL service
  • Cable service
  • Fiber optic service
  • Satellite service

Technical support:

Service level agreements (slas), value-added services.

In short, this section of your internet service provider plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your internet service provider business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your ISP business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

Include the list of equipment and machinery required for an internet services business, such as routers, switches, firewalls, modems, DNS and web servers, cable testers, power meters, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your internet service business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

Introduce your management and key members of your team, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.

This section should describe the key personnel for your internet provider services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

  • Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
  • In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
  • Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the internet service industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
  • Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
  • Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your internet service provider business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

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This sample internet company business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful internet service provider plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our internet service provider business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need an internet service provider business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful Internet service business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your ISP company.

How to get funding for your internet service provider business?

There are several ways to get funding for your internet service business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

  • Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
  • Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
  • Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your internet service provider business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your internet service provider business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your internet service provider business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any internet service provider business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

How detailed should the financial projections be in my internet service provider business plan?

The level of detail of the financial projections of your internet service business may vary considering various business aspects like direct and indirect competition, pricing, and operational efficiency. However, your financial projections must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate a complete view of your financial performance.

Generally, the statements included in a business plan offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.

Can a good internet service provider business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted internet service provider business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

About the Author

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Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Spectrum Business Internet Plans, Pricing, and Review

An affordable alternative to enterprise-grade fiber internet with a few built-in perks..

Price: $64.99–$164.99/mo.*

Speeds: 300–1,000Mbps

Data cap: No cap

Contract: No contract

◊ Provider star ratings are based on user reviews and our independent customer satisfaction survey .

* Data effective 3/18/24. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Our Spectrum Business Internet review

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Spectrum offers its business customers the same internet plans as residential ones. The big difference is business customers have access to unique features and add-ons homeowners don’t, like static IP addresses, custom email addresses, internet backup, and more. Plus, business customers get priority support if the internet ever goes out. However, Spectrum Business raises your rates after 12 months, so keep that extra expense on your radar.

business plan internet

  • No data caps
  • No contracts
  • No modem fee

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  • Limited fiber availability
  • Wi-Fi access fee

Are you a current Spectrum Business customer?

We value your feedback! Click on the button below to leave a review.

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Jump to: Plans and pricing | Speed and data caps | Fees |  Installation, equipment, and contracts |  Customer ratings | Spectrum Business vs. the competition | Bottom line | FAQ

  • Plans and pricing
  • Speed and data caps
  • Installation, equipment, and contracts
  • Customer ratings

Spectrum Business vs. the competition

  • Bottom line

Compare Spectrum Business internet plans and pricing

Spectrum business speeds and data caps: the details.

What’s the best Spectrum Business Internet plan you can get? Does Spectrum provide enough speed for your business? What’s included with a Spectrum Business Internet plan? We go over the finer details.

Our favorite plan: Spectrum Business

Spectrum Business Internet Ultra is our favorite plan of the three. It gives you lots of speed for a decent price, and it’s perfect for a business with ten or more people. The price includes loads of perks, like malware protection and custom email addresses.

Spectrum Business Internet speeds: What’s best for you?

The best plan for your business depends squarely on your upload and download needs, the applications you use, and the services you offer. In a residential setting, we would suggest 100Mbps download speed for each user, but that may be more than what you need for each employee. However, here’s what Spectrum indicates on its website:

Spectrum Business Internet data caps: Policy, fees, and penalties

Spectrum Business doesn’t enforce data caps, so there are no worries about overage fees and throttled speeds due to monthly data limits. Your business can download and upload as much as it needs without penalty.

Is Spectrum Business Internet available where you live?

Enter your zip code below to see if you can get Spectrum’s internet services for business in your area.

Spectrum Business Internet: Other notable callouts

Spectrum Business Internet includes the following services at no extra cost to you.

Free domain name

Spectrum Business Internet customers can select and register their domain name for free. Plus, there’s no annual fee, so don’t worry about working a re-registration price into your budget every year.

Custom email addresses

This feature ties into your free domain name. Branded emails advertise your website, help give each employee credibility, and are less likely to end up in a customer’s spam folder.

Spectrum Business Security Suite

Powered by F-Secure, Spectrum’s security suite includes 25 licenses at no extra cost. It protects your company PCs from malware, spyware, hacker intrusions, and more. However, it’s only for desktops.

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Spectrum Business deals and promotions

Get Spectrum Business Internet for $39.99 per month when bundled with Business Voice or Business TV service.

Spectrum Business Internet extra features

* when bundled with internet for 2 yrs, includes business phone, video meetings, and team messaging

† per line for 12 mos. when bundled with Spectrum Business Internet

‡ For 12 mos. when bundled with Spectrum Business Internet

In addition to your Spectrum Business Internet package, you can add additional features to give your business a competitive advantage.

Wireless Internet Backup

Wireless Internet Backup provides your business with a cellular connection to the internet that automatically kicks in when your cable or fiber service isn’t available. Pricing includes an LTE modem, which supports up to four devices and download speeds up to 10Mbps. You also get a battery backup for eight or more hours of uptime.

A static IP is required if you’re hosting a website or using a VPN for employee remote access or site-to-site communication. Unlike the typical dynamic IP address used in home internet service, this address never changes, so you can link it to your free domain name provided through Spectrum Business.

Spectrum Business Connect with RingCentral

Spectrum Business Connect with RingCentral combines voice, video, and messaging into one app (desktop and mobile). It also includes administration and analytics features for viewing performance reports, getting email alerts when issues arise, managing services, and more. Spectrum Business provides a downloadable list of features in a PDF .

Spectrum Business Internet fees

There’s nothing to report here. As with Spectrum’s residential internet, the equipment is free to use, but Spectrum charges a monthly fee for Wi-Fi access whether you have Spectrum’s standalone router or a gateway.

Spectrum Business Internet installation, equipment, and contracts

Here’s the skinny on what’s involved with your Spectrum Business cable or fiber internet plan.

Spectrum Business installation

Spectrum provides professional and self-install options. The former is required for new setups, while the latter is ideal if your building is wired for cable or fiber. Spectrum provides instructions on self-installing and registering its supplied modem and Advanced WiFi router for a quick and easy setup.

Spectrum Business equipment

Spectrum Business provides a modem or SONU rent-free, depending on the connection entering the premises. Technically, the Advanced WiFi router is also rent-free, but Wi-Fi access is a service Spectrum charges you each month—you’ll also see this charge if you use Spectrum’s all-in-one gateway.

Spectrum Business contracts

Spectrum Business does not require customers to sign a contract.

Spectrum Business internet customer ratings

*Based on our annual customer satisfaction survey

While we don’t have feedback on how Spectrum Business customers feel about their service, we can look at the residential side to see how Spectrum fares with its home internet customers.

According to our data, Spectrum ranks higher than the national average in speed satisfaction but is average in terms of overall satisfaction and reliability. Its lowest mark is in price satisfaction—a sore spot Spectrum will continue to endure until it drops the promotional pricing scheme and makes the standard rates more competitive.

‡ Plus taxes and fees. Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not guaranteed.

§ For first 12 months w/Auto Pay. Max speeds are wired. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary.

When we compare plans, we can see how providers like Spectrum and AT&T weave “free” features into their pricing. For example, Frontier has no extra perks, so its 500Mbps plan is a flat $70 for the first year. In contrast, Spectrum throws in things like branded email addresses, domain name registration, and more for $115 in the first year. Sure, Spectrum’s plan has 100Mbps more bandwidth than Frontier’s, but it’s also not symmetrical (at least, not yet)—even if you have its business fiber service.

Spectrum Business is the only one without multi-gig internet of the three listed above. Currently, the only way to get speeds above 1,000Mbps from Spectrum Business is to wait for the high-split upgrade or option for Spectrum Enterprise with symmetrical fiber speeds up to 100Gbps. AT&T has the most business-grade bandwidth, but does your company really need it?

Our verdict: Is Spectrum Business Internet right for you?

Spectrum Business is a good pick if you don’t need enterprise-grade fiber internet. For the money, you get good, reliable download speeds, plus a few extras, like rent-free equipment, branded emails, domain registration, and around-the-clock technical support.

But Spectrum lacks the symmetrical speeds of rivals AT&T Business and Frontier Business—at least, for now—plus your rates go up after 12 months. Be sure to weigh all your long-term expenses when shopping for the best internet for your business, especially if you need static IP addresses and internet backup service.

FAQ about Spectrum Business internet

Does spectrum business offer fiber internet.

Spectrum Business offers fiber-to-the-premises internet, but it’s not as heavily advertised as it once was. Spectrum now primarily advertises its enterprise-grade fiber internet service through Spectrum Enterprise, which offers symmetrical speeds up to 100,000Mbps (100Gbps).

Spectrum’s business-grade fiber has the same download speeds as its cable internet, ranging from 300Mbps to 1,000Mbps. The upload speeds are also identical to the residential ones, limited to 35Mbps max with the Gig plan. However, some areas now offer symmetrical (equal) download/upload speeds with cable or fiber.

Spectrum Business vs Residential: What's the difference?

Spectrum provides identical speeds and connection types to its business and residential customers. However, business customers get priority support (24/7/365) and access to free features homeowners don’t need, like branded emails and domain name registration. Plus, business customers can tack on extra features such as static IP addresses and Wireless Internet Backup.

Spectrum Business vs Enterprise: What's the difference?

Spectrum Business targets small and medium-sized companies, so you’ll see some basic similarities with Spectrum’s residential internet. Currently, the fastest plan is 1,000Mbps.

Spectrum Enterprise provides customized fiber internet for organizations with multiple locations and hundreds of employees. Spectrum Enterprise offers plans with symmetrical speeds up to 100Gbps.

Methodology

Our HighSpeedInternet.com editorial team bases our analyses on customer input from our annual customer satisfaction survey , results from our speed test tool , and proprietary internet provider data on speeds and pricing. To strengthen our research, we look closely at provider contracts to obtain hard-to-find information on price hikes, data caps, and extra fees. We also monitor the latest news reports and online reviews. When applicable, we also rely on our personal experiences testing these services.

Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal

Antonio Olivo photo

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A helicopter hovers over the Gee family farm, the noisy rattle echoing inside their home in this rural part of West Virginia. It’s holding surveyors who are eyeing space for yet another power line next to the property — a line that will take electricity generated from coal plants in the state to address a drain on power driven by the world’s internet hub in Northern Virginia 35 miles away.

There, massive data centers with computers processing nearly 70 percent of global digital traffic are gobbling up electricity at a rate officials overseeing the power grid say is unsustainable unless two things happen: Several hundred miles of new transmission lines must be built, slicing through neighborhoods and farms in Virginia and three neighboring states. And antiquated coal-powered electricity plants that had been scheduled to go offline will need to keep running to fuel the increasing need for more power, undermining clean energy goals.

“It’s not right,” said Mary Gee, whose property already abuts two power lines that serve as conduits for electricity flowing toward the biggest concentration of data centers — in Loudoun County, home to what’s known as Data Center Alley. “These power lines? They’re not for me and my family. I didn’t vote on this. And the data centers? That’s not in West Virginia. That’s a whole different state.”

business plan internet

The $5.2 billion effort has fueled a backlash against data centers through the region, prompting officials in Virginia to begin studying the deeper impacts of an industry they’ve long cultivated for the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue it brings to their communities.

Critics say it will force residents near the coal plants to continue living with toxic pollution, ironically to help a state — Virginia — that has fully embraced clean energy. And utility ratepayers in the affected areas will be forced to pay for the plan in the form of higher bills, those critics say.

But PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, says the plan is necessary to maintain grid reliability amid a wave of fossil fuel plant closures in recent years, prompted by the nation’s transition to cleaner power.

business plan internet

Transmission

line proposal

Expand lines along existing right of way

Rebuild lines along existing right of way

business plan internet

Expand lines along

existing right of way

Rebuild lines along

business plan internet

Transmission line proposal

New transmission line

business plan internet

First Energy

502 Junction Substation

PENNSYLVANIA

Fort Martin power station

power plant

Brandon Shores

Harrisonburg

Fredericksburg

Charlottesville

business plan internet

Longview power plant

Fort Martin

business plan internet

Expand along existing right of way

Rebuild along existing right of way

Build new line

Detail below

Harrison power plant

business plan internet

502 Junction

Power lines will be built across four states in a $5.2 billion effort that, relying on coal plants that were meant to be shuttered, is designed to keep the electric grid from failing amid spiking energy demands.

business plan internet

Harpers Ferry

transmission

Poolesville

Purcellville

High density of

data center

Int’l

Centreville

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Cutting through farms and neighborhoods, the plan converges on Northern Virginia, where a growing data center industry will need enough extra energy to power 6 million homes by 2030.

With not enough of those green energy facilities connected to the grid yet, enough coal and natural gas energy to power 32 million homes is expected to be lost by 2030 at a time when the demand from the growing data center industry, electric vehicles and other new technology is on the rise, PJM says.

“The system is in a major transition right now, and it’s going to continue to evolve,” Ken Seiler, PJM’s senior vice president in charge of planning, said in a December stakeholders’ meeting about the effort to buy time for green energy to catch up. “And we’ll look for opportunities to do everything we can to keep the lights on as it goes through this transition.”

A need for power

Data centers that house thousands of computer servers and the cooling equipment needed for them to run have been multiplying in Northern Virginia since the late 1990s, spreading from the industry’s historic base in Loudoun County to neighboring Prince William County and, recently, across the Potomac River into Maryland. There are nearly 300 data centers now in Virginia.

With Amazon Web Services pursuing a $35 billion data center expansion in Virginia, rural portions of the state are the industry’s newest target for development.

The growth means big revenue for the localities that host the football-field-size buildings. Loudoun collects $600 million in annual taxes on the computer equipment inside the buildings, making it easier to fund schools and other services. Prince William, the second-largest market, collects $100 million per year.

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But data centers also consume massive amounts of energy.

One data center can require 50 times the electricity of a typical office building, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Multiple-building data center complexes, which have become the norm, require as much as 14 to 20 times that amount.

The demand has strained utility companies, to the point where Dominion Energy in Virginia briefly warned in 2022 that it may not be able to keep up with the pace of the industry’s growth.

The utility — which has since accelerated plans for new power lines and substations to boost its electrical output — predicts that by 2035 the industry in Virginia will require 11,000 megawatts, nearly quadruple what it needed in 2022, or enough to power 8.8 million homes.

The smaller Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative recently told PJM that the more than 50 data centers it serves account for 59 percent of its energy demand. It expects to need to serve about 110 more data centers by July 2028.

Meanwhile, the amount of energy available is not growing quickly enough to meet that future demand. Coal plants have scaled down production or shut down altogether as the market transitions to green energy, hastened by laws in Maryland and Virginia mandating net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and, for several other states in the region, by 2050.

Dominion is developing a 2,600-megawatt wind farm off Virginia Beach — the largest such project in U.S. waters — and the company recently gained state approval to build four solar projects.

But those projects won’t be ready in time to absorb the projected gap in available energy. Opponents of PJM’s plan say it wouldn’t be necessary if more green energy had been connected to the grid faster, pointing to projects that were caught up in bureaucratic delays for five years or longer before they were connected.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization has recently sped up its approval process and is encouraging utility companies and federal and state officials to better incorporate renewable energy.

About 40,000 megawatts of green energy projects have been cleared for construction but are not being built because of issues related to financing or siting, the PJM spokesperson said.

Once more renewable energy is available, some of the power lines being built to address the energy gap may no longer be needed as the coal plants ultimately shut down, clean energy advocates say — though utility companies contend the extra capacity brought by the lines will always be useful.

“Their planning is just about maintaining the status quo,” Tom Rutigliano, a senior advocate for clean energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said about PJM. “They do nothing proactive about really trying to get a handle on the future and get ready for it.”

‘Holding on tight’ to coal

The smoke from two coal plants near West Virginia’s border with Pennsylvania billows over the city of Morgantown, adding a brownish tint to the air.

Nearby sits the 502 Junction substation, connected to those plants and a third one about 43 miles away via existing power lines, which will serve as a terminus for a western prong of the PJM plan for new lines that will extend to another substation in Frederick, Md., then south into Northern Virginia.

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The owner of one of the Morgantown-area plants, Longview LLC, recently emerged from bankruptcy. After a restructuring, the facility is fully functioning, utilizing a solar farm to supplement its coal energy output.

The other two plants belong to the Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. utility, which had plans to significantly scale down operations there to meet a company goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third over the next six years.

The FirstEnergy plants are among the state’s worst polluters, said Jim Kotcon, a West Virginia University plant pathology professor who oversees conservation efforts at the Sierra Club’s West Virginia chapter.

The Harrison plant pumped out a combined 12 million tons of coal pollutants like sulfur and nitrous oxides in 2023, more than any other fossil fuel plant in the state, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. The Fort Martin plant, which has been operating since the late 1960s, emitted the state’s highest levels of nitrous oxides in 2023, at 5,240 tons.

After PJM tapped the company to build a 36-mile-long portion of the planned power lines for $392 million, FirstEnergy announced in February that the company is abandoning a 2030 goal to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions because the two plants are crucial to maintaining grid reliability.

The news has sent FirstEnergy’s stock price up by 4 percent, to about $37 a share this week, and was greeted with jubilation by West Virginia’s coal industry.

“We welcome this, without question, because it will increase the life of these plants and hundreds of thousands of mining jobs,” said Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We’re holding on tight to our coal plants.”

Since 2008, annual coal production in West Virginia has dipped by nearly half, to about 82 million tons, though the industry — which contributes about $5.5 billion to the state’s economy — has rebounded some due to an export market to Europe and Asia, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said his association will lobby hard for FirstEnergy’s portion of the PJM plan to gain state approval. The company said it will submit its application for its power line routes in mid-2025.

More than 200 miles to the east in Maryland, environmental groups and ratepayer advocates are fighting an effort by PJM to extend the life of two more coal plants — Brandon Shores and Herbert A. Wagner — just outside of Baltimore, which were slated to close by June 2025.

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PJM asked the plants’ owner, Texas-based Talen Energy Corp., to keep them running through 2028 — with the yet-to-be determined cost of doing so passed on to ratepayers.

That would mean amending a 2018 federal court consent decree, in which Talen agreed to stop burning coal to settle a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club over Clean Water Act violations. The Sierra Club has rejected PJM’s calls to do so.

“We need a proactive plan that is consistent with the state’s clean energy goals,” said Josh Tulkin, director of the Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter, which has proposed an alternative plan to build a battery storage facility at the Brandon Shores site that would cut the time needed for the plants to operate.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization believes that such a facility wouldn’t provide enough reliable power and is not ruling out seeking a federal emergency order to keep the coal plants running.

With the matter still unresolved, nearby residents say they are anxious to see them closed.

“It’s been really challenging,” said John Garofolo, who lives in the Stoney Beach neighborhood community of townhouses and condominiums, where coal dust drifts into the neighborhood pool when the facilities are running. “We’re concerned about the air we’re breathing here.”

Sounding alarms

Keryn Newman, a Charles Town activist, has been sounding alarms in the small neighborhoods and farm communities along the path of the proposed power lines in West Virginia.

Newman, who in the late 2000s waged a successful campaign to stop a plan for a 765-kilovolt line extending through the area into Maryland before the data center boom, sees the battle in terms of the more affordable, quieter lifestyle she and her neighbors cherish.

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Because FirstEnergy prohibits any structure from interfering with a power line, building a new line along the right of way — which would be expanded to make room for the third line — would mean altering the character of residents’ properties, Newman said.

“It gobbles up space for play equipment for your kid, a pool or a barn,” she said. “And a well or septic system can’t be in the right of way.”

A FirstEnergy spokesperson said the company would compensate property owners for any land needed, with eminent domain proceedings a last resort if those property owners are unwilling to sell.

Some have accepted that more power lines will come through and seem open to selling to FirstEnergy and moving away.

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Pam and Gary Gearhart fought alongside Newman against the defeated 765-kilovolt line, which would have forced them to move a septic system near FirstEnergy’s easement. But when Newman showed up recently to their Harpers Ferry-area neighborhood to discuss the new PJM plan, the couple appeared unwilling to fight again.

Next door, another family had already decided to leave, the couple said, and was in the midst of loading furniture into a truck when Newman showed up.

“They’re just going to keep okaying data centers; there’s money in those things,” Pam Gearhart said about local governments in Virginia benefiting from the tax revenue. “Until they run out of land down there.”

In Loudoun County, where the data center industry’s encroachment into neighborhoods has fostered resentment, community groups are fighting a portion of the PJM plan that would build power lines through the mostly rural communities of western Loudoun.

The lines would damage the views offered by surrounding wineries and farms that contribute to Loudoun’s $4 billion tourism industry, those groups say.

Bill Hatch owns a winery that sits near the path of where PJM suggested one high-voltage line could go, though that route is still under review.

“This is going to be a scar for a long time,” Hatch said.

Reconsidering the benefits

Amid the backlash, local and state officials are reconsidering the data center industry’s benefits.

The Virginia General Assembly has launched a study that, among other things, will look at how the industry’s growth may affect energy resources and utility rates for state residents.

But that study has held up efforts to regulate the industry sooner, frustrating activists.

“We should not be subsidizing this industry for another minute, let alone another year,” Julie Bolthouse, director of land use at the Piedmont Environmental Council, chided a Senate committee that voted in February to table a bill that would force data center companies to pay more for new transmission lines.

Loudoun is moving to restrict where in the county data centers can be built. Up until recently, data centers have been allowed to be built without special approvals wherever office buildings are allowed.

“They’re great neighbors, great taxes, all that sort of thing,” Phyllis Randall (D), chair of the county board, said about the industry before a February vote to set that plan in motion. “But somehow, someway, it started to get away from us.”

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But such action will do little to stem the worries of people like Mary and Richard Gee.

As it is, the two lines near their property produce an electromagnetic field strong enough to charge a garden fence with a light current of electricity, the couple said. When helicopters show up to survey the land for a third line, the family’s dog, Peaches, who is prone to seizures, goes into a barking frenzy.

An artist who focuses on natural landscapes, Mary Gee planned to convert the barn that sits in the shadow of a power line tower to a studio. That now seems unlikely, she said.

Lately, her paintings have reflected her frustration. One picture shows birds with beaks wrapped shut by transmission line. Another has a colorful scene of the rural Charles Town area severed by a smoky black and gray landscape of steel towers and a coal plant.

“It feels like harassment,” Gee said. “But there’s no one we can call for help.”

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A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that Prince William County receives $400 million annually in taxes on the computer equipment inside data centers. It receives $100 million annually. In addition, the article incorrectly stated that two FirstEnergy plants in West Virginia have been equipped with carbon-capturing technology. They do not have such technology in place, The article has been corrected.

About this story

Map sources: Proposed transmission line data provided by Piedmont Environmental Council based on information made available by PJM . The transmission line plan depicts general paths selected by PJM; the final routes will be determined by the utility companies. Existing transmission lines via the EIA U.S. Energy Atlas . Data center locations in Virginia provided by the Data Center Map . Other cartographic data via U.S. Geological Survey and OpenStreetMap.

Story editing by Jennifer Barrios . Copy editing by Thomas Heleba and Shay Quillen. Design and development by Carson TerBush . Design editing by Christian Font and Betty Chavarria . Photo editing by Mark Miller . Visual editing by Tara McCarty . Maps by Laris Karklis . Graphics editing by Kate Rabinowitz .

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