An Internet Service Provider or ISP is an enterprise that provides internet access to organizations and individuals. Internet Service Providers usually have the equipment necessary for providing internet. A proper ISP will have telecommunication line access that enables the service to own an internet presence for the marked geographical area.
The reason why individuals can access the internet is majorly because of ISPs. In addition to providing internet services, they also provide extra services such as domain registration and email reregistration. They allow the usage of different service providers such as fiber and cable.
High-speed broadband or non-broadband enables smooth connection. According to the requirement of Federal Communications, the network speed of a connection must be 25 megabytes per second. This must be the least download speed, and it must have a minimum of 3 megabytes per second.
Sometimes, ISP is regarded to be Internet access providers. The abbreviation ISP is used as Independent Service Provider to differentiate a telephone company from a service provider.
It can be a tough challenge to find the right ISP especially if you stay in a rural area. This article has compiled a list of top Internet Service Providers in 2023. It will aim to point users in the right direction while choosing an ISP keeping certain conditions in mind.
How ISPs Work
Large ISPs have high-speed lines, so they are capable of providing more efficient services to their customers and they do not rely on telecommunication services. In essence, Internet Service Providers are linked to one high-speed line or linked to more.
Data centers are where Internet Service Providers store servers in thousands. The internet service area determines how many servers will be used for that area. Customer traffic is managed in bigger data centers. That is why routing centers that serve as a backbone have many ISPs connected to them.
ISP Categories
ISPs are categorized into three:
Tier 1:
This set of ISPs has a global reach. They are capable of withstanding traffic on internet service lines because they have sufficient physical lines to sustain this. They also link with similar tier 1 service providers for free traffic to freely pass through to reach similar tier 1 service providers.
Because of their design, they are not reliant on any other network or service lines. They provide network access to tier 2 internet service providers.
Tier 2:
Unlike tier 1 Internet Service Providers, these do not have a global reach. They are limited to covering a smaller area or region, and they mostly serve as a connector for tier 1 and tier 3 Internet Service Providers. These sets of ISPs are dependent on tier 1 networks and are connected to another tier 2 networks.
They focus mostly on commercial customers.
Tier 3:
These sets of ISPs serve as the connectors between customers and the internet while utilizing another service provider network. They depend on access to higher-grade ISPs, and they pay these ISPs because of the access.
They are focused on connecting and providing internet services to consumers; individuals and organizations.
ISP Services
The different types of services ISPs provide include –
Cable Service:
Coaxial cables is the method of transmission utilized here. That is the same type that transmits for TV. This is good for users who require very little lag time or delay when using the internet because this method of connection has organization. Cable has an upload speed that ranges from 5 to 500 Mbps and its download speed ranges from 10 to 500 Mbps.
Fiber:
Fiber optic cables are utilized for the transmission of data to provide a speed that is faster than the cable internet or DSL( Digital Subscriber Line). Users who process a large amount of data when using the internet, and online gamers and the like, will enjoy using this method of transmission due to its speed.
It has an upload speed that ranges from 250 to 1000Mbps, and a download speed that ranges from 250 to 1000Mbps.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL):
A telephone line is the method of connection that is used to link users to the internet. Because other modern broadband connections have become reliable due to their consistency and speed, the number of DSL users has reduced significantly. Fiber and cable network services have replaced it.
DSL is much slower than cable. It has an upload speed that ranges from 1 to 10Mbps, and a download speed that ranges from 5 to 35 Mbps. It is a considerable option for those living in rural areas or those using the internet on a device that doesn’t require much internet.
Satellite:
This type of internet is provided using communication satellites. Satellites launched into the earth’s orbit relay internet data in the form of radio waves from ground stations on the earth.
It is not as fast as cable or fiber service but it provides better speed in contrast to DSL. It has an upload speed of 3Mbps, and download speeds ranging from 12 to 100Mbps. This a good recommendation for users staying in or around remote areas.
One thing to note is that most Internet Service Providers provide more than one of these services or a combination of them.
Factors to Consider when Choosing an ISP
There are some factors to be considered before selecting which Internet Service Provider to use. These include:
Coverage:
Keep in mind these questions before selecting an ISP. Which Internet provider offers service to the desired region? Is the provided network strong enough? There aren’t many ISPs that provide a network to rural areas.
Offered Service:
It is necessary to know if the ISP offer and the user’s requirement align. Online security should be a requirement when choosing the type of service, be it fiber, cable, DSL, or satellite. Other things to consider are email access, website hosting, and mesh Wi-Fi. It’s vital to know if these services will be provided by an ISP.
Internet Speed:
Every user has different requirements. An online gamer and an individual who works from home will require different levels of service. It is good to evaluate oneself and pick the ISP that’ll be suitable for you.
Cost:
The ISP bundles shouldn’t be excessively pricy. They should be cost-efficient and suit your needs.
Customer Reviews:
No doubt, what previous customers say about the ISP would give you insight into whether or not it is worth your while.
Top Internet Service Providers 2023
AT&T
AT&T can easily be said to be the best fiber internet service provider. One metric used in comparing value between internet service providers is the cost of a megabyte in a second of download speed. A low cost is a good value indicator. AT&T charges just 10 cents per megabyte in a second of download speed and this cost covers equipment rental.
A fiber internet service plan from ISPs like Verizon will cost 12cents per megabyte of download speed, while a fiber plan from CenturyLink costs 16cents per Mbps. Meanwhile, ISPs that offer cable internet services like Spectrum will charge 25cents or more per megabyte of download speed. This is all in comparison to AT&T whose fiber plans are a no-brainer when it comes to choice.
Another thing to note is that none of AT&T’s plans have any data caps. As of 2022, they started offering multi-gig bundles with download speeds of up to 2-5 gigs per second. To reassure users about AT&T’s reliability, users can look at the reviews from customers. In 2021, they were top-ranked for customer satisfaction.
AT&T DSL and wireless plans are also good but not as impressive as the fiber plans, but if you are privileged to get access to AT&T fiber, there’s no need to consider any other thing.
Charter Spectrum
Charter Spectrum is the topmost cable internet provider when considering cable internet service. AT&T will give you better services for your money because they offer fiber internet services. But what happens when a fiber network is not available in your location? The next thing to look at is a cable internet service and Spectrum offers the best cable internet services amongst all others.
Comcast Xfinity is the biggest name when it comes to cable internet providers. Despite that, Spectrum services reach over 100 million people. Spectrum doesn’t place a data cap on its plans like Comcast, and it doesn’t enforce a long-term contract on you too either.
Spectrum’s prices are cheap and reasonable. In contrast to Comcast, its plans charge a low cost for a megabyte per second of download speed. There are better offers from other service providers but spectrum remains a top choice for cable internet service.
Verizon
Verizon once topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index ranking. They remained atop for years and were top finishers with J.D. Power for many years. This indicates that their service satisfied their customers very much for years. It is very possible to ask what kind of service they provide to their customers.
Verizon’s DSL service is not so great. Nevertheless, a large percentage of its customers across the region it covers can connect to Verizon’s fiber service. Now, when talking about its fiber service, it’s on another level. It can reach gigabyte speeds, and the upload speed is equivalent to that of the download.
Verizon’s data plans do not have caps and they do not increase after a year as other providers do. Also, In 2022, Verizon expanded its reach of 5G network service to almost 900 cities. This is a great development for consumers because there’s a demand for better internet services.
Comcast Xfinity
As long as you’re willing to ignore the data cap, their internet service is reliable.
Comcast is the biggest name when it comes to providing cable-transmitted internet service. It has over one hundred (100) million people subscribed to its service and offers a variety of packages and bundles to select from. Among these plans include plans that go as fast as 1200Mbps which are available nationwide, and plans as fast as 3Gbps which are available in just a select region in the country. In addition, Comcast Xfinity can be trusted for its service from the amount of positive reviews given by customers.
Despite being the biggest, Comcast is not the best. Spectrum, Optimum, and WOW offer better value plans than Comcast and there is no data cap enforced. In contrast, however, Comcast enforces a data cap placing it at 1.2TB in a month and fines when you exceed it. If you can ignore the data cap then you’ll like Comcast Xfinity network services.
CenturyLink
CenturyLink offers DSL plans to almost half the country. But it’s important to note that half of that coverage subscribes to CenturyLink’s fiber plans.
They charge $50 monthly for upload speeds of 200Mbps. The download speeds are the same as the upload speed. Also, they charge $65 monthly for a speed of 940Mbps. This is relatively cheaper than what At&T will offer. These plans do not have a data cap and they stay the same after a year. The DSL speeds CenturyLink provides are slow and they vary with different addresses. Although it still is cheap by DSL standards.
More interesting is the fact that the DSL plans come with a guarantee for a price for life. This locks the rate you pay monthly for as long as you remain a customer. Hence, subscribing to CenturyLink’s fiber internet service is the best option when it becomes available for your region.
Other noteworthy Internet Service Providers to keep in mind include:
WOW (WideOpenWest)
Google Fiber
Viasat
Rise broadband
Ziply fiber
Other mentions are:
Armstrong Internet
Cox
Starlink
Sparklight
Earthlink
T-mobile
Conclusion
Fortunately today, it is no longer difficult or rare to find great internet plans that provide hundreds of megabyte per second or gigabyte speed. All major Internet Service Providers have such plans. Nevertheless, the fastest internet plan for you greatly depends on your address and location. Everything else becomes pointless if those two factors are ignored when choosing an ISP.