How to Find the Best Internet in Rural Areas

There’s a lot to like about living in a rural area. Peace and quiet, a connection to nature, privacy – these are just a few of the benefits of having a home away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

But there are trade-offs, too. For instance, it can be tough to get good internet for your property, and finding a great internet provider for rural areas can feel impossible. Today, we’ll explore why gaining internet in rural areas can be tricky, plus help you discover ways to get in touch with a provider that’s perfect for your needs. Let’s get started!
 

Why is some internet not available in rural areas?

The simple answer is infrastructure.

Many types of internet – especially high-speed options like fiber and cable – need a lot of physical infrastructure. Think of things like underground cables, local distribution hubs, and repeaters. Building and maintaining that infrastructure is expensive, and the further you get from metropolitan areas, the harder it is to build and connect homes to distant internet networks.

Why is it hard to build internet infrastructure for rural households?

In densely populated urban areas, a single mile of cable might serve hundreds or thousands of customers. In rural areas, that same investment might serve just a handful of households spread out over miles.

On top of that, it can be difficult to install internet infrastructure in rural terrain. Hills, forests, or wide-open plains can complicate or drive up the cost of laying cables or installing towers. In some cases, local regulations or land rights issues further slow down expansion.

The result is a patchwork of rural internet options – some areas are covered by multiple providers, while others have only one or two choices or none at all. This scarcity often drives up prices and limits the quality of service.
 

What is the best internet option for rural areas?

Despite the challenges, there are plenty of excellent rural internet options available. The key is understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each so you can choose the best fit for your household’s needs.

Cable internet
 

Cable internet uses coaxial cables – the same ones used for cable television –to deliver service. In areas where it’s available, cable internet is a solid choice. It offers relatively fast download speeds (often up to 1 Gbps) and generally low latency, which is good for video conferencing and online gaming., which is good for video conferencing and online gaming.

That said, availability is limited. Because extending cable networks into rural areas is expensive, most providers focus on towns or suburbs with a higher density of customers. Even where it is available, speeds may slow down during peak usage times since many users share the same cable line.

Fixed Wireless

Fixed wireless internet uses the same signals as your cell phone to deliver internet access to your home. It’s a great option for hard-to-reach areas where laying physical cables isn’t practical. If traditional broadband or fiber isn’t available but you have strong cell service, fixed wireless might be a solid alternative.

The downside is that speeds are generally lower compared to wired connections, and the service depends heavily on a clear line of sight between your home and the nearest cell tower. Seasonal changes – like trees filling out in the summer – can interfere with the signal. Plus, installation often requires mounting a dish or antenna on your home.

Satellite internet

For truly remote areas, satellite internet can sometimes be the only viable option. It uses a dish installed at your home to communicate with satellites orbiting the Earth. This is different from fixed wireless, where the signal comes from cell towers on the ground.
The biggest advantages of true satellite internet are coverage and availability – it can reach areas that other services can’t.

But there are trade-offs. Satellite connections often have high latency, meaning a delay between your action and the network’s response. This can make real-time activities like gaming, video calls, or VPN usage difficult. Many satellite plans also come with data caps, which can restrict usage or throttle your speed once a limit is reached.

In addition satellite internet also tends to be more costly than other internet types due to equipment and infrastructure costs.
 

Fiber internet
 

Fiber optic internet is, without question, the best internet in rural areas where it’s available. It uses flexible strands of glass or plastic to transmit data via light, which means ultra-fast speeds, ultra-low latency, and reliable performance.

What makes fiber so appealing? For one, it offers symmetrical speeds – your upload speed is just as fast as your download speed. That’s critical for remote work, video conferencing, and cloud-based tasks. Fiber is also more future-proof than other options. Its bandwidth capacity is virtually limitless compared to older technologies.

While fiber used to be rare in rural communities, that’s changing. Government grants and public-private partnerships are driving expansion into underserved areas. Internet providers like Glo Fiber are helping bridge the gap by delivering high-speed internet in rural areas that once might have been limited to cable or satellite internet.
 

Can you get WiFi in rural areas?

Absolutely. In fact, any internet service that connects to your home can also bring WiFi.

That’s because your internet service ties your household to the broader online network through an ONT, modem, or router. Once connected, that device can broadcast a WiFi network for your phone, TV, computer, or tablet to access.

Still, the type of internet service you have can and will impact your WiFi speeds. For instance, fiber internet offers lightning-fast speeds that translate to lag-free WiFi activities. Satellite internet, on the other hand, might struggle to provide fast speeds to your home’s router – which means slow speeds for any WiFi devices that connect to the router, as well.
 

How to get fiber internet in rural areas

If you’re near a local fiber internet provider, it might be a great idea to switch. But to make sure you get the right service for your needs, you’ll want to follow a few key steps. Take a look.
 

Research local fiber providers

Rural internet providers might all claim to offer stellar service, but you should do your own research. Use broadband availability tools or visit provider websites to check your address and see which providers are close enough to connect you to the web. You can also call your town’s local government office – some maintain lists of ISPs active in the area, especially if fiber infrastructure was installed through municipal projects.

Once you have a list of local providers, take a look at what they offer. Pay attention to what type of internet the provider says they bring to the table – some might advertise “fiber-backed” or “hybrid” services that combine fiber with copper cables, which don’t deliver true fiber speeds.
 

Call or visit to explore your options

Once you’ve found a provider offering fiber in your area, reach out directly. This step is important since websites don’t always have the most up-to-date service maps. By speaking with a representative, you can get accurate information about pricing, speed tiers, installation timelines, and any discounts or promotions.

Be sure to ask questions like:

• Are there any equipment rental fees?
• What’s the upload and download speed of each plan?
• Are there any data caps?
• Is there a contract, and if so, for how long?

These details will help you make a wise decision and help you enjoy fast, fair, stable internet down the road.
 

Schedule a fiber installation appointment

Choosing your rural internet plan and provider is just the start. Next, you’ll need to schedule a time for installation.

When your appointment date rolls around, a technician will visit your home, run a fiber line from the nearest distribution point (if needed), and install any required equipment like ONTs or routers. In many cases, installation takes just a few hours.

Once complete, you’ll be connected to one of the fastest and most reliable forms of internet available today – perfect for streaming, working from home, and everything in between.
 

Get Glo Fiber internet today

When it comes to fast rural internet, Glo Fiber is the best choice for more reasons than one! From gigabit speeds to best-in-class service, we’re dedicated to ensuring you have internet that’s fast, reliable, and fairly priced. Discover your options for Glo Fiber internet today, or contact us to learn more about our service areas!