Internet Connectivity in Los Angeles – All You Need To Know

Hollywood is the first thing that comes to mind when we think about LA. The city, often inextricably linked with stardom and dreams, has long been famous for its movie industry. This entertainment hub attracts millions of dreamers from around the world. It has numerous internet service providers catering to the residents’ connectivity requirements.

As the second most populated city in the US, Los Angeles has a well-developed network infrastructure, giving residents plenty of high-speed internet options. The metropolis houses about 60 ISPs, and 96% of its residents can access multiple providers. So if you are looking for the best internet provider in Los Angeles, it is essential to understand the available options in your neighborhood before making your final decision.

Internet Connectivity in Los Angeles

Different areas of LA receive different kinds of broadband connections. The discrepancies in the availability of certain connection types are often due to the lack of required infrastructure. And while most residents have the option of both DSL and cable internet, some areas have only one option. And although the entire city can be wired for fiber internet, it is not available everywhere. However, LA is striving to become one of the first cities to provide free fiber internet to all residents and businesses.

Currently, Spectrum and AT&T are the primary service providers in LA, and you can easily find them in most neighborhoods. You can also find Frontier, Cox, HughesNet, Viasat, and Starry in LA. Let’s look at the best internet providers in LA.

Top Internet Companies in Los Angeles

Spectrum: Best Coverage

From Santa Monica to San Bernardino or from Huntington Beach in the southeast to Burbank northwest of Downtown LA, you can find Spectrum in almost every neighborhood of LA. It is one of the best providers and the most common choice for LA residents.

Spectrum is popular because it offers the best internet deals with straightforward prices compared to different cable internet providers. And although its speeds can’t compete with the fiber internet, it delivers three adequate speed tiers ranging from 200 Mbps to 1000 Mbps. Also, there are no data limits, no contracts, or early termination fees. It also includes a free modem and security software with every plan. Hence, Spectrum customers can rely on consistently reliable service throughout the city with Spectrum.

Price Range: $49.99 – $89.99/month 

Speed Range: 200 Mbps – 940 Mbps

Perks: no data caps, no contracts, free modem, and Security Suite

AT&T: Best Fiber Internet

Most of AT&T’s service area in LA is covered by its DSL service, so you can’t find AT&T fiber in every neighborhood. But if you are fortunate to live in an area covered by this service, we recommend going with it without hesitation. Otherwise, it is better to choose cable internet.

AT&T fiber internet is the best choice as it offers excellent value. While it provides three fiber internet to most residents – 300 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and 1000 Mbps, a growing number of areas can even access AT&T multi-gigabit plans. In fact, this provider offers the fastest fiber internet plan in LA, 5 Gbps. AT&T fiber plans come with symmetrical upload and download speeds, unlimited data, no contracts, and no equipment rental fees. Also, it keeps the residents of LA connected even when they are not home with numerous free AT&T WiFi hotspots.

Price Range: $55 – $180/month

Speed Range: 300 Mbps – 5000 Mbps

Perks: gift card, no data caps, no contracts, and no equipment rental fees

Frontier: Best Choice in Areas with Limited Providers

Frontier is another notable internet provider in LA with a decent presence. You can find this provider in most areas of LA like Beverly Hills, Long Beach, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, and portions of western LA. It delivers fiber and DSL internet services, but most of its service area falls under the latter service. Although Frontier fiber internet provides the most value, its DSL service is also decent if it is your only option. 

Frontier provides various internet plans with upfront pricing and unlimited data. It is also one of the no-contact internet providers. Additionally, it waives the internet pricing by offering various special offers and eligible Autopay discounts. If Frontier fiber internet is available in your neighborhood, you can access up to 940 Mbps speed. However, it is best to call their customer service to inquire about the offered internet speeds in your area.

Price Range: $37.99 – $149.99 per month

Speed Range: 9 Mbps – 2000 Mbps

Perks: no contracts or data caps, special offers, and Autopay discount

Starry: Best Fixed Wireless Internet

Starry is another popular provider in LA, covering 2 million households. You can find this provider in some areas of downtown LA, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Burbank, and Santa Monica. It is one of the best fixed wireless internet options and uses similar technology as 5G to deliver high-speed internet to its customers. 

Starry aims to make the high-speed internet affordable as its standard plan alone comes with 200 Mbps download speed for $50 a month. The internet plan includes no additional fees or introductory prices. Unlike other fixed wireless providers, Starry offers unlimited data. It provides free equipment and a discounted internet plan, Starry Connect. This plan doesn’t require any particular requirements and delivers 30 Mbps speed for just $15 a month.

Price Range: $30 – $80/month

Speed Range: 50 Mbps – 1000 Mbps

Perks: no data caps, no contracts, and free equipment

HughesNet: Best Satellite Internet

HughesNet is an ideal option for people living in areas with limited or no internet connectivity. It covers the entire city and provides a consistent speed of 25 Mbps. HughesNet offers plans based on the amount of data instead of internet speeds like other providers. Instead, it delivers the same uniform internet speed with every plan. 

As HughesNet is a satellite internet provider, it enforces data caps and throttles your speed once you exceed your data limit. However, it provides ease to the customers by offering additional 50 GB of data. You can use this data between 2 am to 8 am. It also allows you to buy extra data in the form of Tokens.

Price Range: $59.99 – $149.99/month

Data Caps Range: 10 GB – 50 GB

Perks: Bonus Zone, consistent speed 

Final Words

The Internet has become a utility, and for a city like Los Angeles, which houses nearly 4 million people, it is their primary source of connectivity. Los Angeles is one the most connected cities, with numerous providers operating to keep the residents connected. While Fiber internet offers high speed to the residents, it is not yet available to the entire city, and residents mostly have to rely on cable internet. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with all the internet options in your neighborhood to make your selection process much more uncomplicated. Therefore we have compiled a list of the most prominent providers in LA based on their coverage, plans, and prices.