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Internet Providers in
Columbia, SC

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Home Internet in Columbia, SC
  • Provider
    • Spectrum
    • AT&T
    • Viasat
    • T-Mobile
    • Verizon
    • Kinetic
    • Hughesnet
    • XNET WiFi
    • NTInet
    • TruVista
    • CarolinaConnect
    • Starlink
    • EIN
    • Select All
  • Fastest Internet
  • Availability
  • 2. AT&T
    Speeds Up To
    5 Gbps
    Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps.
    Connection: IPBB, Fiber, 5G Internet
    Availability: 91.2%
    Columbia speed tests confirm high speeds for AT&T Internet
  • 3. Viasat
    Speeds Up To
    150 Mbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Satellite
    Availability: 100%
  • 4. T-Mobile
    Download Speeds:
    87 - 415 Mbps
    Rely, All-In, and Amplified Internet plans can experience fast speeds with T-Mobile’s latest 5G gateway, delivering typical download speeds between 133 Mbps – 415 Mbps. 25% of our customers see speeds below and 25% see speeds above these ranges. T-Mobile Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network and speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. See https://t-mobile.com/OpenInternet for additional details.
    Connection: 5G Internet
    Availability: 77.2%
    Columbia speed tests confirm high speeds for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
  • 5. Verizon
    Speeds Up To
    1 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: 5G Internet
    Availability: 30.9%
  • 6. Kinetic
    Speeds Up To
    200 Mbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: DSL
    Availability: 2.8%
  • 7. Hughesnet
    Speeds Up To
    100 Mbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Satellite
    Availability: 100%
  • 8. XNET WiFi
    Speeds Up To
    2 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Fixed Wireless
    Availability: 77.2%
  • 9. NTInet
    Speeds Up To
    1 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Fixed Wireless, Fiber
    Availability: 70%
  • 10. TruVista
    Speeds Up To
    1 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Fiber
    Availability: 25%
  • CarolinaConnect
    Speeds Up To
    1 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Fiber
    Availability: 6.5%
  • Starlink
    Download Speeds:
    25 - 220 Mbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Satellite
    Availability: 100%
  • EIN
    Speeds Up To
    5 Gbps
    Not all internet speeds available in all areas.
    Connection: Fiber
    Availability: 50%

Fastest Internet Providers in Columbia, SC

AT&T is the fastest provider in Columbia, with speeds up to 5 Gbps.

Columbia’s fastest internet provider is AT&T Fiber. Offering maximum speeds up to 5 Gbps, AT&T Fiber surpasses all other competitors in Columbia by a long shot. In fact, AT&T Fiber offers three different gigabit and mult-gig plans to accommodate even the hungriest of internet households. Pair those offerings with the fact that the multi-gig plans come with AT&T All-Fi for extended Wi-Fi coverage, and you have the ultimate fiber internet combination.

For most users, gigabit internet (meaning a speed of 1 Gbps) will be plenty of bandwidth, even if you have a large household and plan to use multiple internet-connected devices at once to do intense things like stream live TV. Multi-gig speeds are likely to be overkill for most families, though that could change as technology continues to advance and higher-quality (and therefore more bandwidth-intensive) streaming formats are popularized.

You can get that gigabit speed from a cable provider, too. Spectrum’s speeds reaching up to 2 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary) are still a suitable fit for intense internet activities. Just realize that cable internet connections come with a major downside: upload speeds. Spectrum’s upload speeds only reach up to 35 Mbps, meaning you may face buffering and lag when you run out of upload speed to go around. While it’s not that common, it could still be a concern if you have a large household.

That said, fiber speeds mean more because fiber internet offers upload speeds that are just as fast as its download speeds. Take AT&T Fiber, for instance. AT&T Fiber’s download and upload speeds are 5 Gbps, so you get the most out of your connection. With cable, DSL and other connection types, upload speeds are always significantly slower than download speeds.

What’s a Good Internet Speed?

Internet Speed Appropriate For Providers in your Area offering this Speed Availability in your Area
100 Mbps
  • Streaming
  • Video chat
  • Online gaming
  • Larger households
  • Viasat
  • T-Mobile
  • Kinetic
  • Hughesnet
  • Starlink
100%
1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)
  • Heavy streaming (4K video
  • multiple devices
  • etc.)
  • Video chat
  • Lag-free gaming
  • Large households
  • Spectrum
  • AT&T
  • Verizon
  • XNET WiFi
  • NTInet
  • TruVista
  • CarolinaConnect
  • EIN
93.52000000000001%

Learn more about internet speeds:

Internet Availability in Columbia, SC

Deciding which internet provider to choose in Columbia basically comes down to one question: Can you get AT&T Fiber or not? If AT&T Fiber is available to you, we recommend you choose it.  AT&T Fiber has the best speeds, it’s super reliable, and customers love it. If AT&T Fiber isn’t available in your area, you’ll have to choose between Columbia’s cable provider, Spectrum, and AT&T’s DSL-like IPBB product, AT&T Internet.

So where is AT&T Fiber available? In short, it’s available mostly in the residential neighborhoods outside of Columbia’s downtown area. You shouldn’t expect to find AT&T Fiber in Arsenal Hill or in the districts nearest to the University of South Carolina. As we move into areas like Wales Garden (to the south of the University) and Elmwood Park (to the north of Arsenal Hill), you’ll start to see blocks where AT&T offers its fiber internet service. Availability improves as you continue further out, into neighborhoods like Rosewood on the southern side of town and neighborhoods like Eau Claire on the northern side.

Neighborhoods east of the city center don’t do quite as well. Unfortunately, if you live near the Main Street District or in Waverly or Five Points, you aren’t as likely to be able to sign up for AT&T Fiber. In areas like this, consider Spectrum’s high-speed plans and bundles.

Internet Coverage Map and Store Locations for Columbia, South Carolina

Looking for internet providers near you? This map can help. Use the drop-down menu to select an internet provider in your area, then enter your address into the address bar. The map will show your neighborhood and overlay the internet provider's availability by address, so that you can see which providers are available exactly where you live. You can also use the map to find internet store locations near you — just toggle the switch to "stores" and choose a provider in your area from the drop down menu to see exactly where that ISP's local stores are.

Provider Connection Types in Columbia, SC

Connection Type About this Connection Type Availability in Columbia, SC
Satellite
  • Available even in very rural areas
  • Typically has high latency (lag)
100%
Cable
  • Typically 250 Mbps - 1 Gbps
  • Widely available
  • A good choice for most users
94.17%
Fiber
  • Typically 1 Gbps or faster
  • Upload speeds match download speeds
40.46%

Internet Providers in Columbia, SC

Provider Plans Starting At Speeds Up To Connections
Spectrum $30/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 2 Gbps Speeds up to 2G in Select Markets Cable, Fiber
AT&T Internet $34/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 5 Gbps Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7 Gbps. IPBB, Fiber, 5G Internet
Viasat Internet $69.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 150 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Satellite
Verizon $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. 5G Internet
Kinetic $44.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 200 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. DSL
Hughesnet $39.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 100 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Satellite
XNET WiFi $65/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 2 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Fixed Wireless
NTInet $39.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Fixed Wireless, Fiber
TruVista $85/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Fiber
CarolinaConnect $49.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 1 Gbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Fiber
Starlink $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan 220 Mbps Not all internet speeds available in all areas. Satellite

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Columbia, SC

  • What is the best internet provider in Columbia?

  • What is the fastest internet provider in Columbia?

  • What is the cheapest internet provider in Columbia?

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