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Shop the best Portsmouth internet providers. Compare internet plan pricing and speeds from cable, DSL and fiber-optic providers in your area.
Shop local providers*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 Aug 9, 2022.
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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 $49.99 and available download speeds reach up to 940 Mbps.
Results from real users
| Provider | Download speed | Upload speed | Internet type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | 158 Mbps | 21 Mbps | Cable |
| Verizon | 42 Mbps | 13 Mbps | Fiber-optic |
*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users 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.
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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 Aug 9, 2022.
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 $49.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $57.49.
Verizon customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 300 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.17 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Portsmouth, $0.31.
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 much slower than the average max speeds from all Portsmouth's providers, 323 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 Aug 9, 2022.
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 $49.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $57.49.
Verizon customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 300 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.17 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Portsmouth, $0.31.
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, 323 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 Aug 9, 2022.
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 $49.99/mo.*, which is lower than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $57.49.
Cox customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 100 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $0.50 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Portsmouth, $0.31.
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 about the same as the average max speeds from all Portsmouth's providers, 323 Mbps.
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 higher than average in Portsmouth at $64.99/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps. Viasat starting prices are higher than average in Portsmouth at $64.99/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.
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.
Cox offers the cheapest internet in Portsmouth with plans starting at $49.99/mo. This is slightly less than the average starting price for internet in Portsmouth, $57.49.
Verizon is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider in Portsmouth, covering 62% of the city.
Downgrading services or cutting extras, such as Wi-Fi extenders or premium tech support, can lower your monthly internet bill. You can also try to negotiate with your internet provider for a lower rate. Switching internet providers and bundling internet with other services is another common way to lower internet costs.
Wi-Fi connects your device to a router, but that router needs to be connected to the internet for your device to also be connected to the internet. You need an internet service provider to get Wi-Fi.
If you suspect your slow speeds are the result of your internet provider throttling your connection, the easiest way to determine if you’re being throttled is to perform two speed tests. Run the first test on your regular network, then run the second one on a VPN. If the two speeds are drastically different (and the VPN test was higher), your internet provider may be throttling your speeds.
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