Best Internet Providers in Illinois

AT&T Fiber

Frontier Communications

Quick Facts About Internet Providers in Illinois

Different Types of Internet Providers in Illinois

DSL Internet Providers in Illinois

DSL Internet is the most widely accessible form of wired internet in Illinois. The telephone cable network that distributes DSL internet throughout Illinois covers 94.1 percent of the state. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet service is an upgraded version of old-school dial-up connections that used the existing telephone lines to deliver internet to homes. However, unlike dial-up connections, DSL internet is “always on”. You can surf the web and use the home phone simultaneously. DSL internet is still widely popular in the countryside and suburbs of Illinois. You can get up to 100 Mbps of download speeds, unlimited data, and contract-free service for a median price of $45 per month.

In the table below, we have listed the 5 top-rated DSL internet providers in Illinois that are ensuring basic connectivity across the state.

Fiber Internet Providers in Illinois

The availability of fiber internet in Illinois is limited to 29.3 percent. Every 7 out of 10 residents in Illinois is deprived of fiber internet access. It may seem like Illinois is one of the worst states in the country for fiber internet connectivity, but that’s not true. Fiber-optic cable internet is a relatively new type of broadband technology. The demand for fiber-optic cables exceeds its supply. Moreover, it is expensive to construct and maintain fiber-optic cable networks because just a foot of fiber-optic cable costs $8. At the moment, only 43 percent of the USA has access to fiber internet. The coverage area is smaller in Illinois because 75 percent of the state’s total land area is just farmlands. Therefore, the majority of the state lacks the necessary infrastructure to sustain fiber cable networks.

Fiber internet providers in Illinois can deliver superfast internet speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. Unlike other types of internet services in Illinois, fiber internet can distribute the same upload and download speeds. Urban centers can enjoy fiber-optic broadband for as low as $50 per month.

Below, we have listed the top 5 fiber internet providers in Illinois that are delivering gigabit and multigigabit speeds for a lightning-fast connection.

Cable Internet Providers in Illinois

Cable Internet is the second most widely available source of wired internet in Illinois. Around 92.8 percent of the state has access to cable internet. It is the most popular type of internet in middle-income communities of Illinois because, for an average monthly price of $35, you can get unlimited data and blazing-fast download speeds of up to 1000 Mbps.

Cable internet is distributed via coaxial cables. It is the same network of cables that is used to deliver cable TV service to homes. The design of coaxial cables reduces data loss, thereby ensuring consistent internet speeds over long distances. Like DSL internet, cable internet offers asymmetrical speeds. The maximum upload speed that you can get on your cable internet connection is usually 50 Mbps.

Check out the top 5 cable internet providers in Illinois that are powering fiber-deprived neighborhoods with gigabit download speeds.

Fixed Wireless Internet Providers in Illinois

More than 96 percent of Illinois receives broadband coverage via fixed wireless LTE towers. This type of internet uses mid-band radio frequencies, also called the 4G and 5G wireless technology, to transmit data signals within a 3-mile radius. Fixed wireless internet service can be affected if many people are connected to the same network, the radio frequencies get blocked by physical structures like walls and trees, or if you are too far from its range.

Fixed wireless internet providers in Illinois that operate on a 4G network can deliver download speeds up to 300 Mbps. Only a handful of Illinois internet providers can offer wide-scale availability of 5G home internet. On the 5G LTE network, you can get up to 1000 Mbps of download speeds for as low as $70 per month.

Below, we have listed the 5 best fixed wireless internet providers in Illinois that are encouraging a hassle-free, cordless life.

Satellite Internet Providers in Illinois

Satellite Internet service has the widest coverage in the state of Illinois. More than 98 percent of Illinois has access to satellite internet. It is the most popular form of internet connection in the rural areas of Illinois where wired internet services are hard to find. Satellite internet providers in Illinois, like HughesNet and Viasat, use a fleet of geosynchronous satellites positioned over the earth's equator to transmit radio frequencies directly at their subscribers' homes/ offices. A satellite dish is installed at the customer’s home which intercepts the radio waves and passes them on to an internet modem. A compatible internet modem converts radio signals into internet data with download speeds up to 200 Mbps.

Satellite internet in Illinois is at least $20 more expensive than other types of internet connections. It mostly includes data caps, and the upload speeds can be as slow as 3 Mbps.

Currently, Starlink offers satellite internet access in some villages and towns in central Illinois. Below we have stated the top 3 satellite internet providers in Illinois with their starting prices and maximum speeds.

Coverage Area of Illinois Internet Providers

There are a total of 364 internet providers in Illinois. Among them:

• 104 providers offer DSL internet connections
• 98 providers offer fixed wireless internet
• 86 providers offer fiber-optic internet service
• 73 providers offer coaxial cable internet
• 3 providers offer satellite internet service

Below, we have stated the coverage area of Illinois internet providers according to their type.

• Satellite internet providers have 100% coverage
• Fixed Wireless internet providers have 96% coverage
• DSL internet providers have 94.1% coverage
• Cable internet providers have 92.8% coverage
• Fiber-optic internet providers have 29.3% coverage