Usually, when looking for Internet plans available for rural areas, they are not of high speed. The problem is that slow-speed Internet plans are not suitable for streaming, gaming, and video conferencing. However, there are a few plans that you can easily opt for in the rural area and get excellent Internet speeds.
Therefore, if you are thinking of how to get high-speed internet in a rural area? Our list below will certainly solve your problem. Let us now look at these plans to help you understand what exactly you can choose from.
The 10 Best High-speed Internet Plans For Rural Areas
| Providers | Type | Speed | Bandwidth | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viasat Satellite Internet | Satellite Internet | 100 Mbps | 300 GB/month | $150/month |
| CenturyLink DSL | DSL | 100 Mbps | 1 TB/month | $49/month |
| Verizon Wireless Hotspots | LTE | 50 Mbps | Unlimited | $60/month |
| Nomad LTE Home Internet | LTE | 25 Mbps | Unlimited | $149/month |
| HughesNet Satellite Internet | Satellite Internet | 25 Mbps | 50 GB | $150/month |
| Starlink Satellite Internet | Satellite Internet | 150 Mbps | Unlimited | $99/month |
| At&t DSL | DSL Internet | 100 Mbps | 1 TB | $45/month |
| Rise Broadband | Fixed wireless | 50 Mbps | Unlimited | $64.95/month |
| Xfinity Cable Internet | Cable Internet | 400 Mbps | 1200 GB | $64.99/month |
| T-Mobile Mobile home Internet | 5G Home Internet | 25 Mbps | Unlimited | $50/month |
Let’s figure out which internet is the best option for rural areas:
1. Viasat Satellite Internet
Viasat Satellite Internet is well known for its coverage across the entire country. It provides pan country coverage because it offers internet through satellite. Sure enough, you might have to shell out a fee of $9.99 per month for the equipment, but you can easily get Internet connectivity in any part of the country.
If you want to get high-speed internet, you can go with the plan, which will cost you $150 per month. That will offer you 100 Mbps of speed. Along with that, it offers 300 GB of data on a monthly basis as well. Since it is Satellite Internet, you might face some issues in cloudy or inclement weather. Other than that, it provides pan-country coverage, making it one of the best options for rural areas.
2. CenturyLink DSL
Is the above option out of your budget? If so, this one will certainly meet your requirements. Even though it is a DSL connection, the speeds you get are pretty decent. For $49 per month, you can get speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Not only that, you get the bandwidth of 1 TB as well.
The availability across 36 states ensures that you will not have to worry about rural connectivity as well. You need to keep in mind that you might have to shell out an extra amount depending on how far in the countryside you live. That is because the company might have to install a separate line to your home as well. Nevertheless, the overall affordable cost certainly makes it a reliable choice.
- Speeds up to 100 Mbps
- Affordable
- The bandwidth of 1TB
- Decent coverage
- Bit slower customer support
3. Verizon Home Internet
Verizon allows you to use its 4G LTE network to get home Internet as well. It is especially suitable for areas that do not have cable or fiber infrastructure. As long as you get cell phone reception in your area, you can go with this option. You can get speeds up to 50 Mbps. In case you already have a Verizon cell phone plan, you can get this plan for as low as $40 per month. Otherwise, you can get it for $60 per month.
With unlimited data, you can use it for streaming, video conferencing, gaming, and so on. Verizon is widely known for its excellent customer service as well. That is why, once you’re going with this plan, you have nothing to worry about. If you want to enjoy 4G connectivity at home, this is undoubtedly a plan perfect for rural areas.
- Affordable
- Speeds up to 50 Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Excellent coverage
- Activation can take some time
4. Nomad LTE Home Internet
Nomad is another Internet provider which offers you LED Internet access even in rural areas. With its wide coverage, it is suitable not only for rural areas but for RVs as well. That is why it is incredibly versatile. The speed on offer is up to 25Mbps. Along with that, you get unlimited data.
The price is up to $149 per month. The price can vary a bit depending on the area in which you live. The plans on offer by Nomad are portable. That is why, if you travel a lot, then this plan can come to your rescue. Thus, it is another ISP that provides you with LTE connectivity.
- Speeds up to 25 Mbps
- Suitable for RVs and rural areas
- Unlimited data on offer
- Portable plan
- Bit expensive
5. HughesNet Satellite Internet
HughesNet Satellite Internet is an excellent option if you live in a remote area. With the help of satellite connectivity, you can get high-speed internet in any corner of the country. You need to understand that Satellite plans are not portable. That is why, if you’re looking for a plan for only a single location, then this is a suitable choice.
The ISP, which we are speaking about now, offers a 25Mbps download speed plan. The upload speed is 3 Mbps. The data which you get is up to 50GB. Even with the most expensive plan, which costs you $150 per month, the data is 50GB. This is the disadvantage of satellite plans.
The nationwide availability means that irrespective of where you live, you can access this plan easily. The equipment cost is just $14.99 per month. It means that you will not have to shell out a lot of money for the equipment.
- Speeds up to 25 Mbps
- 50 GB data
- Nationwide availability
- Low equipment cost
- 24-month agreement
The downside to this plan, however, is that there is a 24-month agreement. If you’re looking for a long-term internet plan, this satellite internet option is certainly a good choice. Otherwise, the contract means that you need not shell out a lot of money for termination. Thus, if you’re looking for home internet for a longer run, this ISP does not disappoint.
6. StarLink Satellite Internet
The next option on our list is once again a satellite internet ISP. It is in beta testing. We are speaking about StarLink. The company offers you a plan for $99 per month. You can get speeds up to 150Mbps. It means that if you’re looking for high-speed internet in a rural area, you can go with this plan.
The latency, however, is up to 40ms. If you’re okay with that, then only you can go with this Satellite Internet. The unlimited data means that you can use this plan according to your requirement. Currently, since it is in beta testing, you have to pay the equipment fee upfront. The total equipment fee is $499.
If you’re willing to shell out that, it is certainly a good option that offers unlimited data. Since it is a company backed by Elon Musk, you can be sure that the infrastructure behind it is excellent. If you’re looking for a satellite internet plan with unlimited data, this one certainly meets all the requirements.
7. AT&T DSL
In case you’re scouting this list for an affordable Internet option, this one will certainly meet your requirement. We are speaking about the AT&T DSL connection. The AT&T DSL connection will cost you $45 per month for the 100 Mbps plan. Along with that, you will get 1 TB of data as well. The good news is that it is available in 21 states. If you live in one of those states, you can easily get rural connectivity.
There is, however, an equipment fee of $10 per month, which you need to pay. You will have to pay the same for 12 months. That is why; you can consider it to be a contract for a year. With excellent reliability, when you’re going with AT&T, you will not have to worry about downtime and any other problems as well. The affordability makes it a good choice.
8. Rise Broadband
One of the most reliable types of connections in rural areas is the fixed wireless connection. The reason for the same is because the infrastructure is proper; you can always get Internet connectivity. One such ISP, which provides this type of connection in over 19 states, goes by the name of rising Broadband.
The $64.95 per month plan will provide you with unlimited data. That is one of the main advantages of Rise Broadband. The speeds up to 50 Mbps are another reason to go for it. The company is known for providing such fixed wireless connections and rural areas as well. That is why, no matter where you are, it will become easier to get Internet connectivity. The unlimited data is the reason why it is on our list.
9. Xfinity Cable Internet
Cable Internet is extremely reliable even in rural areas. The only problem is that very few ISP’s provide cable Internet in rural areas. Today, we will speak about one such ISP. It goes by the name of Xfinity. The best plan by this ISP will cost you $64.99 per month. The best thing about this plan is that it will offer you speeds up to 400 Mbps. It means that irrespective of the application for which you are going to use this plan, it is extremely suitable.
You will not have to worry about data caps as well. The reason for the same is because it offers you 1200 GB of data every month. It means that you will not exhaust the data limit even if you’re using it all 30 days. The affordable cost and excellent speeds make it a perfect choice.
10. T-Mobile Home Internet
T-mobile offers you 5G home Internet. It is one of the rare providers to offer the same in rural areas as well. The cost is just $50 per month for the 25Mbps plan. Along with that, you get unlimited data as well. It is hard to believe that mobile offers such an affordable plan. However, it does.
With its ever-expanding coverage, more and more areas are being served under this plan as well. That is why you have to look at the availability, and then you can go ahead with this plan. T-Mobile has recently acquired Sprint as well. Sooner than later, the network of Sprint will also be offered under this plan. The mobile offers are discounted as well. Along with that, you can pay online, which means that you will never miss a payment. Thus, you can go with this plan if you’re looking for 5G connectivity in rural areas.
Thus, when looking to get high-speed internet in rural areas, these are the ten plans which you can go with. We will help you choose between these ten plans. Before that, however, we will help you understand why it is that difficult to get high-speed internet and rural area.
Why it is Difficult to Get High-speed Internet in Rural Areas
The United States still does not consider the internet to be a utility. There are various other countries like Spain, Finland, and the UK that consider broadband access an essential service. That is why; they either invest in the infrastructure or incentivize the companies to invest in the infrastructure. That is why, in these countries, it is easy to get high-speed internet in rural areas.
In the United States, the population density in rural areas is pretty less. That is why the companies do not have an incentive to invest in the infrastructure in rural areas. However, these days with the increasing demand because of the pandemic, more and more companies are offering high-speed internet in rural areas.
While it is currently difficult to get a plan, numerous ISPs offer high-speed Internet plans in rural areas sooner than later. Now we will help you understand how to choose between the ten plans which we have highlighted above.
How to Choose the Best Internet for Rural Areas
The parameters which you should consider while choosing high-speed Internet plans in rural areas include:
Type of Internet
Firstly, you have to look at the type of Internet connectivity. It can be LTE connectivity, hotspot connectivity, DSL, cable, and so on. Certain types are expensive. For example, when you’re opting for satellite Internet, you will have to pay for the gear as well. In that case, the cost of the gear gets added to the plan. The overall cost increases due to the same.
Similarly, if the company has to install a cable right up to your home, the cost can increase. Comparatively, DSL and LTE connectivity are more affordable. That is why you have to look at the type and after that take a call.
Cost of The Internet
Secondly, you have to look at the cost of the plan as well. Many people cannot afford to pay $150 per month. Once you go through our list above, you will realize that there are plans as low as $50 per month. That is why you have to always take into account your budget, and then you will choose the right plan.
Company
Sooner than later, Internet connectivity in rural areas can break down. It is an eventuality. It might happen once every 2 to 3 years, but it will happen. That is when the reputation of the company and the customer support that it provides come into play.
Rather than testing the company’s customer support at that time, it is a good idea to choose a reputed company right at the start. You have to consider the responsiveness of the company and customer support and then choose the Internet plan. In that case, whenever you face any issue with the connection, the company will get it resolved quickly.
Data
You have to take into account the bandwidth on offer as well. Ideally, when you need high-speed internet, it should come with data of at least 300GB. In that case, it will become easier to use the plan for streaming, video conferencing, educational needs, etc.
Internet Speed
Even though all the plans we have highlighted above are high-speed, but their speed varies greatly. Any plan with a 25 Mbps speed or higher can be considered a high-speed plan. Of course, the higher the speed on offer, the better it is. You have to take into account the speed and then take a call. Once you consider these few parameters while choosing high-speed Internet plans, choosing one in a rural area is easier.
Conclusion
Thus, just because you are in a rural area does not mean that you cannot get high-speed Internet plans. With our guide above, you can certainly do so. Moreover, we have included only the best high-speed Internet plans on this list. That is why, when you’re choosing from this list, enjoying high-speed internet in any part of the country is easy.
