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Internet providers in Portsmouth, VA
Shop the best Portsmouth internet providers. Compare internet plan pricing and speeds from cable, DSL and fiber-optic providers in your area.
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Portsmouth, VA internet providers
*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 Oct 13, 2021.
Need help?Portsmouth internet service at a glance
Broadband availability
95535
people have access to broadband internet of any type
1 provider - 99.14%
2 providers - 97.11%
3 providers - 0.41%
4+ providers - 0%
Source: FCC
At 99%, broadband coverage in Portsmouth is comparable to the rest of Virginia - 97%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
The vast majority of those living in the Portsmouth area will have access to cable, which covers 98% of Portsmouth residents. DSL internet is also an option for many, offering service to 80% of the area. Fiber-optic is less available but still a popular internet option for roughly 62% of those living in Portsmouth.
There are four internet providers serving the Portsmouth area, and 97.11% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among Portsmouth's four internet providers, prices start at $29.99 and available download speeds reach up to 940 Mbps.
Top high-speed internet providers in Portsmouth
The largest internet providers in Portsmouth are Verizon and Cox bringing DSL, fiber-optic, and cable options to Portsmouth.
DSL internet from Verizon is available to most Portsmouth residents, covering 80% of households. Many will also have the option of fiber-optic from Verizon, which covers 62% of the area. Portsmouth’s third most-available internet provider, Cox, offers cable to around 98% of Portsmouth residents.
Verizon DSL internet
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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 Oct 13, 2021.
DSL from Verizon offers broadband to nearly all households in Portsmouth covering 80% of the area.
DSL internet from Verizon uses telephone lines in Portsmouth 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 Verizon start at $39.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $44.99.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Verizon offers download speeds up to 15 Mbps and upload speeds up to 1 Mbps in Portsmouth. These download speeds are available to 80% of the area, and are slightly slower than the average max speeds from all Portsmouth's providers, 112 Mbps.
Verizon fiber-optic internet
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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 Oct 13, 2021.
Fiber-optic from Verizon offers broadband to most households in Portsmouth covering 62% of the area.
Fiber-optic service from Verizon is popular for its fast download and upload speeds, even during peak usage times, but may be less available throughout Portsmouth than other internet types.
Internet prices for Verizon start at $39.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $44.99.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Verizon offers download speeds up to 940 Mbps and upload speeds up to 880 Mbps in Portsmouth. These download speeds are available to 62% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Portsmouth's providers, 112 Mbps.
Cox cable internet
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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 Oct 13, 2021.
Cable from Cox offers broadband to nearly all households in Portsmouth covering 98% of the area.
Cox’s cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but Portsmouth residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Cox start at $29.99/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $44.99.
Cox customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 10 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $3.00 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Portsmouth, $2.81.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Cox offers download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 30 Mbps in Portsmouth. These download speeds are available to 98% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Portsmouth's providers, 112 Mbps.
Internet coverage for rural areas
If you live in the heart of Portsmouth, you’ll likely have options from cable, DSL, and fiber-optic internet providers. For those in rural areas or just outside Portsmouth, however, satellite or fixed wireless internet may be the best internet option.
Satellite internet from HughesNet and Viasat offers 100% availability in Portsmouth and surrounding areas. HughesNet starting prices are significantly higher than average in Portsmouth at $59.99/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps. Viasat starting prices are higher than average in Portsmouth at $50/mo. for speeds up to 12 Mbps. Satellite internet is a less appealing option for many Portsmouth residents, however, as service typically comes with high latency and low data allowances.
Internet provider frequently asked questions
What’s the fastest internet provider in Portsmouth?
Verizon is the fastest internet provider in Portsmouth with download speeds up to 940 Mbps. These speeds are available to 62% of households in Portsmouth. The next fastest internet provider in Portsmouth is Cox, offering download speeds up to 300 Mbps to 98% of the area.
What’s the cheapest internet provider in Portsmouth?
Cox offers the cheapest internet in Portsmouth with plans starting at $29.99/mo. This is significantly less than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $44.99.
Is fiber internet available in Portsmouth?
Verizon is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider in Portsmouth, covering 62% of the city.
Is cable or DSL better?
Cable internet will nearly always offer faster speeds than DSL, but typically at a higher price point. So if you’re shopping for cheap internet plans, DSL may be your better option but if you want speed, consider cable internet.
What’s a good speed for gaming?
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.
What's a good internet speed for my home?
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.
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