This comprehensive guide covers the past, present and future of Ohio internet providers. You‘ll learn the history of how internet service has evolved in Ohio over time. I analyze the speeds, prices, technology pros/cons and customer satisfaction ratings for providers like Spectrum, AT&T, CenturyLink and WOW. And I offer recommendations to help you pick the right ISP for your home based on usage needs – whether that‘s reliability, fast speeds, unlimited data or bundled savings.
A Brief History of Ohio Internet Service
It may be hard to imagine in today‘s connected world, but consumer internet access only emerged in Ohio during the early 1990s. America Online, NetZero and others offered statewide dial-up access over telephone lines, but excruciatingly slow speeds under 56kbps made usage quite limited.
As cable and DSL broadband appeared around 2000, speeds jumped to 1-10Mbps. But outside major metro areas, many rural counties in Ohio lacked any wired internet infrastructure until 5-10 years ago. Even now roughly 4% of households still have no terrestrial broadband available besides satellite.
| Year | Major Internet Developments in Ohio |
|---|---|
| Early 1990s | Consumer dial-up internet launches (AOL, NetZero, Earthlink) |
| Late 1990s | DSL and cable modems introduce broadband, speeds up to 10Mbps |
| Early 2000s | Time Warner (Spectrum), SBC (AT&T) offer cable internet and DSL |
| Mid 2000s | Fiber optics emerge in some metro areas up to 50-100Mbps |
| Late 2000s | DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades cable to 50+ Mbps; 4G LTE launches |
| Early 2010s | DSL & cable broadband covers most Ohio households |
| Late 2010s | Fixed wireless extends rural access; 5G and satellite internet emerge |
In recent years, rapid fiber optic and enhanced cable network expansion has brought nearly statewide broadband availability in Ohio up to modern standards:
- As of 2023, an estimated 96% of Ohio households have wired broadband access according to BroadbandNow stats.
- Over 75% of Ohio residences can now get wired speeds of 100Mbps and higher.
- Average download speeds are 110Mbps – on par with the national average.
- The FCC defines broadband as 25Mbps down / 3Mbps up.
So while Ohio still has progress to make improving rural access, the internet infrastructure and marketplace competition has advanced tremendously compared to the early 2000s. Next we‘ll analyze leading providers.
Leading Ohio Internet Providers
Residents across Ohio have multiple advanced broadband providers to choose from, usually 3-4 options available per address. While rural county availability still lags, the overall statewide coverage is quite strong.
| Provider | Connection Type | Max Speeds | Est. Statewide Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | Cable | 940Mbps | 60% |
| AT&T | Fiber & DSL | 1Gbps | 50% |
| CenturyLink | Fiber & DSL | 940Mbps | 40% |
| WOW! | Cable | 1Gbps | 25% |
| Windstream | DSL, Fiber, Fixed Wireless | 100Mbps | 10% |
You can verify which providers service your neighborhood by entering your zip code on these comparison sites:
I‘ll overview the strengths and weaknesses of the top five Ohio ISPs…
Spectrum
Pros:
- Fast, reliable speeds up to 940Mbps
- No data caps on higher speed plans
- Bundling options to save money
- 60% Ohio household availability
Cons:
- Expensive standalone pricing
- Poor customer service reputation
Spectrum leverages their extensive statewide cable network to provide broadband speeds up to nearly 1 Gigabit across much of Ohio. With no data caps on plans 300Mbps and up, it suits high demand users. But availability is still scattered in some rural zones.
AT&T
Pros:
- Cutting-edge fiber network with 1Gbps speeds
- Unlimited data on all speed tiers
- Competitive standalone and bundled pricing
- 50% Ohio fiber availability
Cons:
- Speeds/plans vary widely by location
- Old DSL network limited to 100Mbps
AT&T has aggressively expanded fiber in Ohio to over 5 million households. Where available, they offer uncapped gigabit plans from just $60/month. But many areas still lack fiber availability.
CenturyLink
Pros:
- 940Mbps fiber speeds in some regions
- Unlimited data allowance all plans
- Bundling discounts for multiple services
- Around 40% fiber availability
Cons:
- Inconsistent speeds and infrastructure quality
- Poor ratings for customer satisfaction
- Slow DSL speeds in many rural zones
CenturyLink has a very hit-or-miss network presence across Ohio. Their fiber service offers impressive speeds and great value. But outside fiber footprint, old DSL plods along at just 10-20Mbps.
WOW!
Pros:
- Offers true gigabit cable speeds
- Unlimited data on gig tier
- Competitive standalone and bundled pricing
- Strong value if available in your area
Cons:
- Limited to certain metro region footprints
- 1TB data caps on lower speed tiers
WOW operates their own high performance cable network with affordable multi-gigabit plans available to over 1 million Ohio households. But their fragmented coverage area leaves many customers unable to access this top-rated provider.
Hopefully this overview gives you a better understanding of Ohio‘s internet provider landscape. Be sure to check exactly which ISPs serve your address when comparing plans…