What are the fiber internet providers in Chicago?
The main fiber internet provider in Chicago is AT&T, with fiber speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. Earthlink also provides fiber internet in Chicago, with symmetrical speeds up to 5,000 Mbps and the top spot in our annual customer satisfaction survey.
The smaller fiber ISPs, Upstream and Everywhere Wireless also gigabit fiber internet plans in the Chicago area.
Fiber internet providers in Chicago
- AT&T—Fiber speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
- EarthLink—Fiber speeds up to 5,000 Mbps
- Everywhere Wireless—Fiber speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
- Upstream—Fiber speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Chicago residential internet coverage
Most of the greater Chicago area has only two major options for broadband internet, but people living near the shoreline—either in the Hyde Park area or around Wrigley Field—will have a few more.
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) defines broadband as internet service with at least 25 Mbps download speed and at least 3 Mbps upload speed. Those speeds are enough for most internet activities, including streaming video or playing games online.
“My At&t internet service is fast and reliable and they have been more than generous in giving me good deals in pricing my service.”
Willie Listenbee | Chicago, IL
AT&T Customer
2014-10-17
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Based on the latest available census data, 100% of Chicagoans have access to broadband internet. AT&T and Xfinity offer broadband to most communities around Chicago. RCN and Atlantic Broadband also offer broadband internet service to some neighborhoods close to Lake Michigan.
The provider WOW! also offers internet service in a few blocks around UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) and in areas north of O’Hare or south of Midway, as well as some of the western suburbs. If these options don’t work for you, Viasat offers satellite internet service to nearly the entire Chicagoland area.
Most of these providers also offer TV service, which means you can save when you bundle the two services together. Even AT&T, the major internet provider for much of Chicago, offers discounts when you bundle with DIRECTV.
Highest-rated internet service providers in Chicago
EarthLink earned the top overall rating in our annual internet customer satisfaction survey, and it also received the top rating in price and customer service. EarthLink’s customer-centered approach is clearly working — the provider offers fast speeds, no data caps, and no teaser rates, which means no surprise price hikes down the line. EarthLink customers rated their satisfaction with Earthlink a 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Xfinity also scored well in our customer satisfaction survey, having earned the top rating for speed and an overall satisfaction rating of 3.7 out of 5.