Compare Madison internet speeds to the national average
Download Speeds
Madison – 108 Mbps
SD – 104 Mbps
U.S. – 125 Mbps
Upload Speeds
Madison – 29 Mbps
SD – 32 Mbps
U.S. – 45 Mbps
*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Madison.
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Shop the best Madison internet providers. Compare internet plan pricing and speeds from cable, DSL and fiber-optic providers in your area.
Shop local providersProvider | ||||
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CenturyLink | $49.00 | 20 - 80 Mbps | DSL | 98% |
Midcontinent Communications | $49.95 | 10 - 1,000 Mbps | Cable | 99% |
Vast Broadband | $39.99 | 4 - 200 Mbps | Cable | 98% |
HughesNet | $49.99 | 25 - 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
Viasat | $50.00 | 12 - 5 Mbps | Satellite | 100% |
Interlakes Wireless | $55.00 | 75 - 40 Mbps | Wireless | 75% |
SpeedConnect | $39.95 | - | Wireless | 2.774% |
*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 Jun 27, 2022.
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people have access to broadband internet of any type
1 provider - 99.93%
2 providers - 98.00%
3 providers - 96.03%
4+ providers - 0.60%
Source: FCC
At 100%, broadband coverage in Madison is comparable to the rest of South Dakota - 98%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
The vast majority of those living in the Madison area will have access to cable, which covers 100% of Madison residents. DSL internet is also an option for many, offering service to 98% of the area. No fiber-optic providers are currently available in Madison, but satellite or fixed-wireless providers may offer broadband options in your area.
There are seven internet providers serving the Madison area, and 98.00% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among Madison's seven internet providers, prices start at $39.99 and available download speeds reach up to 1,000 Mbps.
Results from real users
Provider | Download speed | Upload speed | Internet type |
---|---|---|---|
Midcontinent Communications | 90 Mbps | 21 Mbps | Cable |
*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Madison.
The largest internet providers in Madison are CenturyLink, Midcontinent Communications, and Vast Broadband bringing DSL and cable options to Madison.
DSL internet from CenturyLink is available to nearly all Madison residents, covering 98% of households. Many will also have the option of cable from Midcontinent Communications, which covers 99% of the area. Madison’s third most-available internet provider, Vast Broadband, offers cable to around 98% of Madison residents.
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*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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 27, 2022.
DSL from CenturyLink offers broadband to nearly all households in Madison covering 98% of the area.
DSL internet from CenturyLink uses telephone lines in Madison 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 $49/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in Madison, $47.70.
CenturyLink customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 20 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.45 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Madison, $1.99.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, CenturyLink offers download speeds up to 80 Mbps and upload speeds up to 40 Mbps in Madison. These download speeds are available to 98% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all Madison's providers, 225 Mbps.
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*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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 27, 2022.
Cable from Midcontinent Communications offers broadband to all households in Madison covering 99% of the area.
Midcontinent Communications’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but Madison residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Midcontinent Communications start at $49.95/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in Madison, $47.70.
Midcontinent Communications 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 Madison, $1.99.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Midcontinent Communications offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps in Madison. These download speeds are available to 99% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Madison's providers, 225 Mbps.
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*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. Speeds may vary. As of Jun 27, 2022.
Cable from Vast Broadband offers broadband to nearly all households in Madison covering 98% of the area.
Vast Broadband’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but Madison residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Vast Broadband start at $39.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Madison, $47.70.
Vast Broadband customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 4 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $10.00 per Mbps, significantly higher than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Madison, $1.99.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Vast Broadband offers download speeds up to 200 Mbps and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps in Madison. These download speeds are available to 98% of the area, and are about the same as the average max speeds from all Madison's providers, 225 Mbps.
If you live in the heart of Madison, you’ll likely have options from cable and DSL internet providers. For those in rural areas or just outside Madison, however, satellite or fixed wireless internet may be the best internet option.
Satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat offers 100% availability in Madison and surrounding areas. HughesNet starting prices are about average in Madison at $49.99/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps. Viasat starting prices are about average in Madison at $50/mo. for speeds up to 5 Mbps. Satellite internet is a less appealing option for many Madison residents, however, as service typically comes with high latency and low data allowances.
Fixed wireless is another popular internet option for those in rural areas. Those living in or just outside of Madison may have access to fixed wireless internet service from HughesNet, with plans starting at $49.99 and available download speeds up to 25 Mbps. Fixed wireless service is less likely to come with the high latency of satellite internet, but monthly data limits can still be an issue compared to Madison cable and DSL internet providers.
Midcontinent Communications is the fastest internet provider in Madison with download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. These speeds are available to 99% of households in Madison. The next fastest internet provider in Madison is Vast Broadband, offering download speeds up to 200 Mbps to 98% of the area.
SpeedConnect offers the cheapest internet in Madison with plans starting at $39.95/mo. This is slightly less than the average starting price for internet in Madison, $47.70.
Wi-Fi extenders are handy when your router can’t project a strong signal to everywhere in your home that you need it. Your internet provider may offer Wi-Fi extenders for an added monthly cost, or you can purchase one online or from most electronics retailers.
Download speeds of 25 Mbps and above are considered broadband speeds, and can handle most online activities including streaming and gaming. For households with multiple devices using a Wi-Fi connection, speeds of 100 Mbps and higher are likely to offer a better online experience. Learn more about what speeds are best for your home.
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.
Yes. Fiber-optic internet is a completely different technology than DSL or cable internet, and therefore requires a different type of modem. In many cases, you can get the required modem from your internet provider at no extra cost.