Internet Providers in Columbia, South Carolina
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Home Internet in Columbia, SC
-
1. AT&T 
Speeds Up To5 Gbps
Connection: IPBB, Fiber, 5G InternetAvailability: 91.2%Columbia speed tests confirm high speeds for AT&T Internet -
2. Spectrum
Speeds Up To1 Gbps*
Connection: Cable, FiberAvailability: 93.5%Columbia speed tests confirm high speeds for Spectrum -
3. Kinetic by Windstream
Speeds Up To200 Mbps*
Connection: DSLAvailability: 2.8% -
4. Viasat
Speeds Up To150 Mbps*
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
5. EarthLink
Speeds Up To100 Mbps*
Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 72% -
6. HughesNet
Speeds Up To100 Mbps*
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
7. Lumos
Speeds Up To5 Gbps*
Connection: FiberAvailability: 10% -
8. NTInet
Speeds Up To1 Gbps*
Connection: Fixed Wireless, FiberAvailability: 70% -
9. TruVista
Speeds Up To1 Gbps*
Connection: FiberAvailability: 25% -
CarolinaConnect
Speeds Up To1 Gbps*
Connection: FiberAvailability: 6.5% -
Starlink
Download Speeds:50 - 220 Mbps*
Connection: SatelliteAvailability: 100% -
Verizon
Speeds Up To1 Gbps*
Connection: 5G InternetAvailability: 30.9% -
EIN
Speeds Up To5 Gbps*
Connection: FiberAvailability: 50%
Compare Top Providers in Your Area
- AT&T Internet vs. Spectrum
- AT&T Internet vs. Kinetic by Windstream
- AT&T Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Viasat Internet
- Hughesnet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Spectrum vs. Kinetic by Windstream
- Spectrum vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
- Starlink vs. Viasat Internet
- Viasat Internet vs. Verizon 5G Home Internet
Best Internet Providers in Columbia, SC
If you’re shopping for internet in Columbia, South Carolina, your clear-cut best choice for internet is AT&T Fiber. Not to be confused with AT&T Internet (which is AT&T’s brand name for IPBB internet — it’s basically DSL), AT&T Fiber is AT&T’s top-flight internet offering. It uses a fiber-optic network to offer lightning-fast speeds up to 5 Gbps. We like AT&T Fiber because it has exceptional feedback from customers who leave reviews with us, and you can pair it with AT&T’s wireless service, which is one of the best in the nation.
If AT&T Fiber isn’t available in your area of Columbia, your second choice should be Spectrum, the dominant cable internet provider in the region. Spectrum gets mixed but overall decent marks from its customers based on our review data and its score of 68 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Spectrum’s top available speed up to 1 Gbps (wireless speeds may vary) is fast enough to easily handle a typical household’s internet traffic. Spectrum offers internet-only plans starting at $50 per month for 12 months. It also offers sizable savings with its package offerings, which start at $90 per month for 12 months and include other services, like home phone, mobile phone or cable TV.
We recommend sticking with fiber or cable internet, but there are other connection types available in Columbia. AT&T Internet uses a DSL connection type, among others, to create its “IPBB” network. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and its 5G home competitors use cell towers to reach customers wirelessly. Satellite internet services like Starlink are wireless, too.
If you want to get the most out of your internet service, you’re in luck as a new customer. Most ISPs offer limited-time deals and promotions if you’re new to their service. AT&T is a popular choice among new subscribers because of its exclusive deals for its fiber internet plans. For example, you have the chance to earn up to a $150 Visa Reward Card depending on the fiber plan. ISPs switch out their deals and promotions often, so your best bet is to check frequently to get the latest discounts added to your internet savings.
Fastest Internet Providers in Columbia, SC
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 1 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 1 Gbps, 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 |
|
|
100% |
| 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) |
|
|
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 Provider Store Locations in Columbia, SC
Provider Connection Types in Columbia, SC
| Connection Type | About this Connection Type | Availability in Columbia, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite |
|
100% |
| DSL |
|
67.04% |
| Cable |
|
94.17% |
| Fiber |
|
40.46% |
List of Internet Providers in Columbia, SC
| Provider | Type | Top Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | IPBB, Fiber, 5G Internet | 5 Gbps | |
| Spectrum | Cable, Fiber | 1 Gbps | |
| Kinetic by Windstream | DSL | 200 Mbps | |
| Viasat | Satellite | 150 Mbps | |
| EarthLink | 5G Internet | 100 Mbps | |
| HughesNet | Satellite | 100 Mbps | |
| Lumos | Fiber | 5 Gbps | |
| NTInet | Fixed Wireless, Fiber | 1 Gbps | |
| TruVista | Fiber | 1 Gbps | |
| CarolinaConnect | Fiber | 1 Gbps | |
| Starlink | Satellite | 220 Mbps | |
| Verizon | 5G Internet | 1 Gbps | |
| EIN | Fiber | 5 Gbps |
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Internet Providers in Columbia, SC
| Provider | Plans Starting At | Speeds Up To | Connections | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet | $55/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 5 Gbps Ltd. avail/areas. Speeds vary, not g’td. Single devices wired speed maximum 4.7Gbps. | IPBB, Fiber, 5G Internet | |
| Spectrum | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 1 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Cable, Fiber | |
| Kinetic by Windstream | $40/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 200 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | DSL | |
| Viasat Internet | $149.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 150 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| EarthLink 5G Home Internet | $39.95/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 100 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | 5G Internet | |
| Hughesnet | $49.99/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 100 Mbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Satellite | |
| Lumos | $50/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 5 Gbps *Not all internet speeds available in all areas. | Fiber | |
| 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 | $120/mo Prices may vary depending on the plan | 220 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Columbia, SC
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