As a technology analyst and Florida resident, I constantly field questions from friends, family and neighbors about internet providers in our state. There is certainly no shortage of options, which provides tremendous choice but also potential confusion navigating all the plans, prices and technical jargon. My goal is to cut through all that complexity to equip you with everything needed to make the ideal internet service decision for your home or business.
A Brief History of Internet in Florida
To understand the current provider landscape, it helps to first look at how far we’ve come. Just over a decade ago in 2010, Florida ranked near the bottom nationally in broadband access. Available top speeds through cable providers like Comcast or local telecoms mostly topped out at 10-25Mbps. Fiber networks were still rare, especially in suburban and rural areas.
Fast forward to today where multiple providers now offer 200Mbps+ cable plans and fiber availability explodes across metro regions with speeds exceeding 1Gbps. That’s quite an upgrade! Advancing technologies like DOCSIS 3.1 cable upgrades and swiftly expanding fiber footprints accelerated Florida’s internet speeds.
So what does another decade hold? Experts project continuing rapid fiber expansion as providers like AT&T, Frontier and smaller telecoms battle for customers with lightning fast symmetrical connections. 5G and low-orbit satellites will also enter the mix soon providing another leap in wireless speeds for some areas.
Overview of Major Internet Technologies
Before diving into providers and plans, let’s briefly overview the underlying network technologies that deliver internet across Florida:
DSL – Utilizes copper telephone lines to transmit data by frequency signal encoding. Top speeds reach 100Mbps down/10Mbps up but performance degrades over long distances.
Ideal for basic web browsing and standard definition video streaming.
Cable – Internet data transmits over coaxial cables originally laid for cable TV service. DOCSIS 3.1 upgrades accelerated max speeds up to 1Gbps down shared by users.
Great for most moderate usage including 4K streaming. Congestion can occasionally slow peak speeds.
Fiber – Fastest option transmitting data over glass fibers using lasers or LEDs. Enables symmetrical speeds up to 10Gbps!
Future-proof for fastest connections with no sharing. Higher cost limits widespread deployment.
Fixed Wireless – Providers beam internet signal over radio airwaves from towers to home/business receivers. No cables involved and good for rural areas but weather impacts reliability.
An option for remote regions or as failover. Generally slower speeds than fiber/cable.
Satellite – Orbiting satellites link two-way data transmissions to small receiver dishes installed at customer sites. Latency challenges make satellite better for downloads than real-time apps.
A last resort for incredibly remote sites though improving with Next Gen options.
This table summarizes how Florida’s major provider technologies compare across key categories:
| Provider Technology | Speed Range | Latency | Congestion Potential | Weather Issues | Availability | Cost Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber | Up to 10Gbps symmetrical | Extremely Low | None | Minimal | Growing quickly | High |
| Cable | 50 – 1000Mbps down | Very Low | Moderate | Occasional | Most regions | Low to Moderate |
| DSL | 10 – 100Mpbs down | Low | Minimal | Occasional | Declining availability | Low |
| Fixed Wireless | 10 – 100Mbps down | Low | Minimal | Yes – signal disruption | Rural/remote areas | Moderate |
| Satellite | 25 – 100Mbps down | Very High | Minimal | Yes – weather interference | Anywhere | High |
Now that we’ve established this foundation regarding the technologies powering internet across Florida, let’s examine the major providers in more detail…
Diving Into Florida’s Major Internet Providers
Florida residents have no shortage of options when it comes to internet providers – at least in urban and suburban areas. Availability certainly varies between rural northern Florida versus densely-packed southern metro regions. Below I summarize seven of the largest internet providers across the state and highlight their core strengths.
1. AT&T
The technology giant AT&T provides internet across Florida through a mix of fiber, DSL and fixed wireless plans. Their fiber footprint continues expanding and offers blazing speeds up to 1Gbps. AT&T fiber availability currently concentrates around metro Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and South Florida.
Top Plans
- Internet 300 (300 Mbps down/up) – $55/month
- Internet 500 (500Mbps down/up) – $65/month
- Internet 1000 (1Gbps down/up) – $80/month
Technology
- Fiber
- DSL
- Fixed Wireless
Our Take
AT&T fiber delivers future-proof speeds with the highest ceilings for both downloads and uploads. Their more limited fiber footprint still trails cable availability, however, though continues growing through aggressive deployment campaigns. We expect AT&T to pressure all providers, especially on premium service pricing.
2. Spectrum
Charter Communications (under their Spectrum brand) operates Florida’s largest cable internet network. Peak speeds now reach 1Gbps down after significant DOCSIS 3.1 rollouts, although congestion can occasionally interfere during peak usage times in denser urban areas.
Top Plans
- Spectrum Internet (300Mbps down) – $49.99/month
- Spectrum Internet Ultra (500Mbps down) – $69.99/month
- Spectrum Internet Gig (1Gbps down) – $89.99/month
Technology
- Cable
Our Take
It’s hard to rival Spectrum’s widespread cable infrastructure across Florida for reliable internet under $100/month. Fiber can’t yet match Spectrum’s availability despite closing the speed gap in many regions of the state. Solid choice for high speeds at moderate cost.
3. Xfinity
Comcast Xfinity operates a similarly expansive high-speed cable network as Spectrum across Florida. Speeds now reach 1.2Gbps down in areas with DOCSIS 3.1 upgrades. Bundling internet with Comcast’s pay TV and home phone services can present some savings for eligible residential subscribers.
Top Plans
- Connect (50Mbps down) – $24.99/month
- Connect More (200Mbps down) – $39.99/month
- Gigabit (1.2Gbps down) – $80/month
Technology
- Cable
Our Take
Xfinity matches Spectrum with leading cable infrastructure and speed ceilings exceeding 1Gbps across much of Florida. Residential bundles provide nice cost savings for bundled services. Performance consistency and customer service ratings both trail some competitors, however.
4. Frontier Communications
Once mostly a rural DSL provider, Frontier now operates nearly two million fiber and copper internet lines across Florida after acquiring Verizon assets. Frontier’s fiber plans reach 2Gbps in select regions although availability gaps still dot less dense markets.
Top Plans
- Fiber 500 (500Mbps down/up) – $49.99/month
- Fiber Gig (1Gbps down/up) – $74.99/month
- Fiber 2 Gig (2Gbps down/up) – $149.99/month
Technology
- Fiber
- DSL
Our Take
Frontier’s growing fiber network warrants consideration for high symmetrical speeds despite still trailing AT&T and cable companies in overall reach. Budget DSL plans still service rural areas. Reliability and customer service remain works in progress.
5. EarthLink
EarthLink is not a household brand name but offers fiber speeds rivaling any provider in select Florida metro regions with plans up to 5Gbps down/up! The company concentrates on MDUs while also connecting homes and businesses near existing fiber routes.
Top Plans
- HyperLink Fiber (5Gbps down/up) – $299.00/month
- HyperLink Internet (50-100Mbps down) – $49.95-$69.95/month
Technology
- Fiber
- Cable
Our Take
EarthLink won’t work for everyone given limited home availability. But the pure speed ceiling outpaces any major telecom and warrants a look for fiber-friendly multi-dwelling properties. Beyond fiber, EarthLink resells cable internet networks.
6. Mediacom
Mediacom primarily operates in northern and central Florida regions utilizing a mix of coaxial and fiber cable lines. Speeds reach 1Gbps down on higher plans. Some data caps can limit usage for heavier bandwidth households depending on the plan selected.
Top Plans
- Internet 100 (100Mbps down) – $19.99/month
- Internet 300 (300Mbps down) – $39.99/month
- Internet 1 GIG (1Gbps down) – $59.99/month
Technology
- Cable
- Fiber feeds
Our Take
Mediacom internet deserves a look in their regional footprint for economy starter plans and relatively fast top-tier options. The value drops quickly in between with usage limited by data caps on mid-range plans. Reliability lags some competitors in our experience as well.
7. Viasat/HughesNet
I group these two satellite internet providers together given similar technologies, strengths and limitations. While latency and weather issues will never make satellite a top choice for real-time apps, new generations continue driving major speed improvements.
Top Plans
Viasat Premium 100 (100Mbps down) – $150/month
HughesNet Gen5 Silver 50 (50Mbps down) – $79.99/month
Technology
- Satellite
Our Take
Satellite internet works when no other options exist. Viasat’s new ViaSat-3 satellite aims to triple speeds for rural regions across Florida by 2023. Higher orbits and laser crosslinks also help latency. Still best for downloads unless you have no other choice.
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This overview provides a sampling of major wired and wireless internet providers across Florida. Numerous smaller telecoms and municipalities also offer internet service, especially fiber networks, to fill coverage gaps between big cable and telcos.
Now let’s shift gears and compare plan pricing and speeds head-to-head…
Comparing Internet Plans and Pricing in Florida
We just covered the companies delivering internet across Florida over both wired and wireless networks. Now let’s see how their plan pricing and speeds measure up for consumers evaluating options.
I compiled tiered plans across seven major providers in the table below to illustrate speed and monthly price comparisons:
| Provider Plan | Download Speed | Monthly Price | Data Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Internet | 300Mbps | $49.99 | None |
| Xfinity Connect More | 200Mbps | $39.99 | 1TB |
| AT&T Internet 300 | 300Mbps | $55 | None |
| Frontier Fiber 500 | 500Mbps | $49.99 | None |
| Viasat Premium 100 | 100Mbps | $150 | None |
| Mediacom Internet 300 | 300Mbps | $39.99 | 1.5TB |
| Faster Plans | |||
| Spectrum Internet Gig | 940Mbps | $89.99 | None |
| Xfinity Gigabit | 1200Mbps | $80 | 1.2TB |
| AT&T Internet 1000 | 1000Mbps | $80 | None |
| Frontier Fiber Gig | 1000Mbps | $74.99 | None |
| Mediacom Internet 1GIG | 1000Mbps | $59.99 | 6TB |
A few interesting observations pop out:
- Spectrum and AT&T fiber have an edge in unlimited data for highest speeds
- Xfinity trails slightly in max speeds but offers lower middle tier pricing
- Frontier Fiber plans very competitive if available in your area
- Satellite unsurprisingly highest priced for lowest max speeds
Bundles and new customer promotions can also sway cost comparisons. But focusing just on standalone internet plan attributes provides an apples-to-apples perspective.
Bundles, Promotions & Savings Tricks
While we just examined base standalone pricing across different speed tiers, consumers can often save substantially through bundled packages and time-limited specials.
If already paying for cable TV, for instance, it typically costs $10-20 extra monthly to add high-speed internet with providers like Spectrum and Xfinity. That’s an incremental $240-480 in savings per year. Some providers also give double play TV+Internet customers included perks like HBO Max or other streaming apps.
Many telecoms dangle promotions for up to $500 in prepaid gift cards or first 2-3 months of free service to attract new subscribers. Just be sure to clarify any auto-renew provisions where pricing jumps higher after the promo period. You can always repackage services again later to maintain discount pricing if available.
Existing customers can also save by packaging multiple services like home phone, mobile phone, smart home automation and more. AT&T for one offers nice bundles spanning many products when you link under an AT&T Unlimited plan.
Lastly, carefully review listed prices and consider negotiating if service alternatives exist in your area. Threatening to switch as a long-time customer also weighs surprisingly well to retain discount set pricing. Every situation is different but leveraging competitive promotional offers almost always produces savings from sticker prices.
Navigating Installation & Troubleshooting
Understanding upfront equipment fees and self-installation requirements proves important when selecting internet plans. Equipment rental fees often embedded into quoted monthly pricing can really add up over a multi-year service contract.
Many providers now offer “easy” self-setup options to avoid paying pro installation. But if handyman duties don’t rank among your skills, ponying up $100 or so for a technician spares the headaches – and safety hazards! – of climbing on your roof or drilling holes.
I also strongly advise purchasing your own compatible modem and router upfront rather than renting outdated kits from providers at $10 or more monthly. Break-even comes quickly and you own equipment matching your speed tier rather than whatever basic model the ISP stocks.
On troubleshooting, internet reliability surges in importance working and schooling from home nowadays. Make sure to inquire about committed service guarantees from a provider before signing any multi-year contract. Response times and uptime pledges for business-class plans also far exceed residential.
Lastly, take full advantage of speed tests to benchmark your network against advertised rates after install. Providers often optimize connectivity for hardwired devices so Wi-Fi speeds naturally fall way below. But if consistently measuring say 70% or less of expectation on multiple tests, press them to escalate and resolve any line issues.
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The Future Internet Landscape in Florida
Looking ahead, internet infrastructure and access will only continue expanding across Florida. AT&T, Frontier and smaller telecoms race to blanket urban and suburban markets with high-speed fiber. Impending low-orbit satellite networks like SpaceX Starlink promise big rural speed boosts later this decade.
On the leading edge, private companies and some municipalities now target select regions with 10Gbps fiber service – that’s 10,000 Mbps down and up! Tampa’s Falcon Broadband and other trailblazers aim to futureproof residential networks for decades.
Pricing should continue falling across all speed tiers as competition between cable, fiber and wireless heats up. Within 5 years we foresee 1Gbps plans hitting $50-60/month including major unlimited data provider Spectrum. Regulatory and infrastructure hurdles along with last-mile install logistics stand as the final roadblocks before Florida can declare true statewide broadband victory.
For any individuals or businesses seeking help evaluating Florida internet provider options, please contact us to discuss further. Comparing plans, optimizing installation, improving Wi-Fi, and maximizing savings represent just a few ways we empower clients to take control.