| Provider | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | $50.00 ** | 10 - 940 Mbps | DSL | 95% |
Windstream  | - | 200 - 2,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 1.564% |
| Windstream | - | 200 - 2,000 Mbps | DSL | 1.057% |
| MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY | $59.95 | 25 - 1,000 Mbps | Cable | 93% |
| MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY | $59.95 | 25 - 1,000 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 30% |
| CML Telephone Cooperative Association | $39.95 | 100 - 100 Mbps | Fiber-optic | 4.397% |
| HughesNet | $64.99 | 25 - 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| Viasat | $69.99 | 12 - 150 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
| BendBroadband | - | - | Wireless | 87% |
| The Community Agency (TCA) | $35.45 | 15 - 1,000 Mbps | Wireless | 78% |
| ET Deployment | $56.95 | 15 - 50 Mbps | Wireless | 58% |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of Feb 14, 2023.
**Speeds/pricing may vary. Service is not available everywhere.
Need help?5188
people have access to broadband internet of any type
1 provider - 97.38%
2 providers - 92.73%
3 providers - 7.02%
4+ providers - 0%
Source: FCC
At 96%, broadband coverage in Sheldon is comparable to the rest of Iowa - 96%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
The vast majority of those living in the Sheldon area will have access to DSL, which covers 80% of Sheldon residents. Cable internet is also an option for many, offering service to 57% of the area. No fiber-optic providers are currently available in Sheldon, but satellite or fixed-wireless providers may offer broadband options in your area.
There are nine internet providers serving the Sheldon area, and 92.73% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among Sheldon's nine internet providers, prices start at $35.45 and available download speeds reach up to 2,000 Mbps.
Results from real users
| Provider | Download speed | Upload speed | Internet type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | 19.0 Mbps | 3.0 Mbps | DSL |
*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Sheldon.
The largest internet providers in Sheldon are CenturyLink and MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY bringing DSL, cable, and fiber-optic options to Sheldon.
DSL internet from CenturyLink is available to nearly all Sheldon residents, covering 95% of households. Many will also have the option of cable from MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY, which covers 93% of the area. Sheldon’s third most-available internet provider, MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY, offers fiber-optic to around 30% of Sheldon residents.
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*Wireless speeds may vary. Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of Feb 14, 2023.
DSL from CenturyLink offers broadband to nearly all households in Sheldon covering 95% of the area.
DSL internet from CenturyLink uses telephone lines in Sheldon to deliver service, which often leads to lower prices and higher availability, though download speeds are likely to be slower than cable or fiber-optic internet.
Internet prices for CenturyLink start at $50/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in Sheldon, $53.90.
CenturyLink customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 10 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $5.00 per Mbps, significantly higher than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Sheldon, $1.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, CenturyLink offers download speeds up to 940 Mbps and upload speeds up to 10 Mbps in Sheldon. These download speeds are available to 95% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Sheldon's providers, 50 Mbps.
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*Wireless speeds may vary. Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of Feb 14, 2023.
Cable from MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY offers broadband to nearly all households in Sheldon covering 93% of the area.
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but Sheldon residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY start at $59.95/mo.*, which is higher than the average starting price for internet in Sheldon, $53.90.
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 25 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.40 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Sheldon, $1.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 2 Mbps in Sheldon. These download speeds are available to 93% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Sheldon's providers, 50 Mbps.
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*Wireless speeds may vary. Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. As of Feb 14, 2023.
Fiber-optic from MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY offers broadband to some, but not many households in Sheldon covering 30% of the area.
Fiber-optic service from MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY is popular for its fast download and upload speeds, even during peak usage times, but may be less available throughout Sheldon than other internet types.
Internet prices for MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY start at $59.95/mo.*, which is higher than the average starting price for internet in Sheldon, $53.90.
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 25 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.40 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Sheldon, $1.68.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 5 Mbps in Sheldon. These download speeds are available to 30% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Sheldon's providers, 50 Mbps.
If you live in the heart of Sheldon, you’ll likely have options from DSL, cable, and fiber-optic internet providers. For those in rural areas or just outside Sheldon, however, satellite or fixed wireless internet may be the best internet option.
Satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat offers 100% availability in Sheldon and surrounding areas. HughesNet starting prices are significantly higher than average in Sheldon at $64.99/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps. Viasat starting prices are significantly higher than average in Sheldon at $69.99/mo. for speeds up to 150 Mbps. Satellite internet is a less appealing option for many Sheldon residents, however, as service typically comes with high latency and low data allowances.
Windstream is the fastest internet provider in Sheldon with download speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. These speeds are available to 1.564% of households in Sheldon. The next fastest internet provider in Sheldon is Windstream, offering download speeds up to 2,000 Mbps to 1.057% of the area.
The Community Agency (TCA) offers the cheapest internet in Sheldon with plans starting at $35.45/mo. This is significantly less than the average starting price for internet in Sheldon, $53.90.
MUTUAL TELEPHONE COMPANY is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider in Sheldon, covering 30% of the city. CML Telephone Cooperative Association also offers fiber internet in Sheldon and is available to 4.397% of households.
Speeds of 10 Mbps and higher are good for gaming, but what you really want to consider when choosing an internet service for gaming is latency, or ping. Latency is the measure of how long it takes for your device to communicate with the server and is the main contributor to lag. The higher the ping, the more likely you are to experience lagging. Shoot for an internet service with latency below 100 ms.
There are benefits to using your own router vs. buying or renting one from your internet provider, such as lower monthly costs and more product options. If you choose to use your own router, keep in mind that your internet provider’s tech support may not be able to fully assist you with your personal router. Select providers may not give you the option to use your own router.
Fiber and cable internet are similar internet service types, but fiber offers a few advantages over cable. Fiber internet can deliver faster upload and download speeds than cable in most areas, and is less vulnerable to slowed speeds during peak usage times. Cable does have the advantage over fiber in terms of availability, covering 89% of U.S. households compared to fiber’s 38%.
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