Best Internet Providers in Carson, California

What is the best internet provider in Carson?

If you live in Carson, California and are looking for good internet service, CNET is here to help. This guide will walk you through the best deals from the top internet providers. For most households in Carson, Spectrum is the best ISP — with broad coverage, the cheapest prices (for the first year or two, at least), and fast download speeds. The main drawbacks are Spectrum’s price hikes and slower upload speeds, which can hinder online gaming and videoconferencing. The right internet package for you really depends on your individual needs. If those slower upload speeds are a dealbreaker or you’re looking for something a little more budget-friendly, there are other ISPs to consider.

If you’re looking for the fastest internet speeds, AT&T Fiber is the way to go, with its symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps. Unfortunately, only 15% of Carson residents currently have access to it. If you can’t get AT&T Fiber and don’t want to deal with Spectrum’s price increases, T-Mobile Home Internet is a solid wireless internet provider and guarantees that your price won’t go up as long as you remain a customer.

Best Internet in Carson, California

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

How to Find Internet Deals and Promotions in Carson

The best internet deals and top promotions in Carson depend on what discounts are available at the time. Most deals are short-lived, but we regularly search for the latest offers.

Carson ISPs like Spectrum may offer lower introductory prices or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including AT&T Fiber, T-Mobile, and Verizon, maintain the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more comprehensive overview of all offers, please consult our guide to the best online deals.

Source: CNET analysis of carrier data.

What is a good internet speed?

Most internet plans now can handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that’s suitable for video conferencing, streaming video, or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s a look at the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the Federal Communications CommissionPlease note that these are guidelines only and that Internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, check out our guide to how much internet speed you really need.

• With 0 to 5 Mbps you can perform basic tasks: surfing the web, sending and receiving email, and streaming low-quality videos.
• 5 to 40 Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100 Mbps should provide enough bandwidth for a single user to meet the demands of modern teleworking, video streaming, and online gaming.
• With 100 to 500 Mbps, one or two users can simultaneously participate in high-bandwidth activities such as video conferencing, streaming, and online gaming.
• With 500 to 1,000 Mbps, three or more users can participate in high-bandwidth activities simultaneously.

How CNET Picked the Best Internet Providers in Carson

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router, or kitchen utensil, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So how do we do it? We start by examining pricing, availability, and speed information based on our own historical ISP data, provider sites, and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

And it doesn’t stop there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we account for every ISP that offers service in an area. We also enter local addresses into carrier websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power to evaluate how satisfied customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and pricing are subject to frequent change; all information provided is accurate at the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask ourselves three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get value for their money?
3. Are customers satisfied with their service?

The answers to these questions are often multi-layered and complex, but the providers that come closest to yes on all three are the providers we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also consider things like price increases, equipment costs, and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively simple. We look at advertised upload and download speeds, and consider real-world speed data from sources such as Ookla And FCC Reports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Providers in Carson