Network Providers

New York City offers several types of internet connections including fiber, cable, 5G home internet, and fixed wireless. Fiber internet, such as Verizon Fios and Optimum, provides symmetrical high speeds ideal for remote work and streaming. Cable internet, like Spectrum and Astound, offers good speeds but typically slower upload speeds compared to fiber. 5G home internet from providers like Verizon and T-Mobile offers wireless connectivity with varying coverage and speeds, suitable for small to mid-sized households. Fixed wireless, used by providers like Skywire, is available in limited areas and speeds vary by location.

Internet speeds in New York City vary widely by provider and plan. Optimum offers the fastest speeds up to 8,000 Mbps in some areas, with fiber plans starting around $100/month. Verizon Fios provides fiber speeds between 940 and 2,300 Mbps, with prices starting near $75/month when bundled with mobile plans. Spectrum offers cable internet up to 1,000 Mbps at about $70/month but with slower upload speeds. Astound Broadband offers fiber plans around 1,500 Mbps starting at $80/month. Pricing and availability depend on location, and some providers offer no-contract plans and promotional rates.

Ookla calculates a Speed Score for each network based on a weighted combination of download speed (70%), upload speed (20%), and latency (10%). This score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better performance. The data is collected from consumer-initiated Speedtest tests, aggregated across unique users and locations, and adjusted to represent typical user experience. Only carriers with at least 3% of total test samples in a market are considered. The Speed Score incorporates metrics from the 10th, 50th (median), and 90th percentiles to capture a broad view of network performance.

The Speed Score is a comprehensive measure of network performance that combines download speed, upload speed, and latency into a single score from 0 to 100. Latency, which measures the delay in data transmission, is included because it significantly affects the quality of real-time applications like video calls and gaming. By weighting latency at 10%, Ookla ensures the ranking reflects not just raw speed but also the responsiveness and overall quality of service experienced by users.

Prepaid mobile plans require users to pay for their service in advance before usage, offering no long-term contracts and better control over expenses, while postpaid plans bill users at the end of each billing cycle, often with contracts and additional perks such as unlimited talk and text or international options.

Prepaid carriers often offer comparable features at lower prices without requiring credit checks or long-term contracts, making them attractive for budget-conscious users who want flexibility and to avoid unexpected charges, especially as mobile service costs rise and perks from big carriers diminish.

Alaska residents have access to various internet technologies including fiber, cable, fixed wireless, satellite, and low orbit satellite. Providers like Alaska Communications offer fiber and cable, Borealis Broadband uses fixed wireless, and Hughesnet and Starlink provide satellite options, catering to different needs and locations within the state.

Data caps and contract requirements vary by provider in Alaska. For example, Alaska Communications offers unlimited data with no contracts, while Borealis Broadband has a 1TB data cap with a 2-year contract. Satellite providers like Hughesnet typically have data caps ranging from 100GB to 200GB and require 2-year contracts. Contract terms and data limits depend on the specific provider and plan chosen.