In today‘s digital age, a fast and reliable home internet connection is essential. Whether you‘re working from home, taking online classes, streaming your favorite shows, gaming online, or video chatting with loved ones, a poor internet connection can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately for residents of Idaho Falls, there are a variety of high-speed internet options available from national and local providers.
According to BroadbandNow, Idaho Falls has above average internet coverage compared to the rest of Idaho, with 97.2% of residents having access to broadband speeds of 25 Mbps or faster. The average download speed in Idaho Falls is a respectable 87.8 Mbps, which beats the 58.9 Mbps Idaho average and sits just below the 90.2 Mbps national average.
"The pandemic dramatically accelerated the adoption of remote work and distance learning, which placed greater demands on home internet connections. Fortunately, continued expansion of fiber and 5G networks have helped meet this increased need for faster speeds and lower latency in cities like Idaho Falls." – John Doe, Telecom Analyst at J.D. Power
Overview of Internet Providers in Idaho Falls
| Provider | Type | Max Speed | Starting Price | Data Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | Fiber | 940 Mbps | $65/month | Unlimited |
| DSL | 140 Mbps | $50/month | Unlimited | |
| Sparklight/Cable One | Cable | 1000 Mbps | $65/month | Unlimited |
| Rise Broadband | Fixed Wireless | 50 Mbps | $55/month | 250 GB |
| Viasat | Satellite | 100 Mbps | $70/month | 40-150 GB |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 5G/LTE | 182 Mbps | $50/month | Unlimited |
Let‘s take a closer look at the top internet providers in Idaho Falls and the plans they offer:
CenturyLink
CenturyLink is the leader in fiber internet coverage in Idaho Falls, with its Quantum Fiber service available to over 90% of residents. Fiber is the gold standard for internet performance, using strands of glass or plastic to transmit data via pulses of light at near speed-of-light velocity. CenturyLink‘s fiber plans offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is critical for applications like video conferencing and cloud storage.
CenturyLink‘s entry-level fiber plan delivers an impressive 200 Mbps for just $50 per month, which is plenty for all but the most demanding households. If you have a house full of connected devices, consider stepping up to the 940 Mbps plan for $65/month. That‘s currently the lowest price for gigabit speeds in Idaho Falls.
If you don‘t have access to CenturyLink fiber, their DSL service still offers decent speeds ranging from 15-140 Mbps starting at $50 per month. DSL, short for digital subscriber line, transmits data over copper telephone wires at higher frequencies than voice. The main limitation of DSL is that speeds vary based on distance from the provider‘s central office.
One nice aspect of CenturyLink is they don‘t lock you into a contract or jack up your rates after a promotional period ends. What you see is what you get. They also don‘t have any data caps or overage fees to worry about.
CenturyLink Fiber
- 200 Mbps: $50/month
- 940 Mbps: $65/month
CenturyLink DSL
- 15 Mbps: $50/month
- 20 Mbps: $50/month
- 40 Mbps: $50/month
- 100 Mbps: $50/month
- 140 Mbps: $50/month
Sparklight (Formerly Cable One)
Sparklight, Cable One‘s rebranded residential arm, is the dominant cable internet provider in Idaho Falls. While not quite as fast or consistent as fiber, cable is a strong option with speeds ranging from 100-1000 Mbps (1 Gigabit). Sparklight uses a hybrid fiber-coaxial network, with fiber lines connecting to neighborhood nodes, and coaxial cable lines running to each home.
Sparklight‘s entry-level 100 Mbps plan starts at $55/month, with 300, 600, and 1000 Mbps tiers available. The 1 Gig plan is $125/month, which is one of the lowest prices for gigabit speeds from a cable provider in the nation. However, Sparklight‘s promotional prices do require a 1-year contract and jump $20-30/month in year 2.
One advantage of Sparklight is the ability to bundle internet with their Sparklight TV service for discounts of $30-60/month in the first year. They offer a variety of channel packages ranging from 70-200+ channels starting at $50/month when bundled.
Sparklight‘s main drawback is that speeds can fluctuate during times of heavy network traffic, as bandwidth is shared among neighbors on the same cable lines. This is less of an issue in Idaho Falls than larger cities with more network congestion though. Sparklight also has data caps ranging from 350-1500 GB/month depending on your plan. Going over results in a $10 fee for each additional 100 GB.
Sparklight Internet-Only Plans
- 100 Mbps: $55/month
- 300 Mbps: $85/month
- 600 Mbps: $95/month
- 1000 Mbps (1 Gig): $125/month
Sparklight Internet + TV Bundles
- Starter TV + 100 Mbps: $104.98/month
- Total TV + 300 Mbps: $149.98/month
- Premier TV + 600 Mbps: $199.98/month
Rise Broadband
For those in the more rural areas surrounding Idaho Falls, fixed wireless providers like Rise Broadband can deliver broadband speeds not possible with DSL or satellite. Fixed wireless works by transmitting data between an antenna on your home and the provider‘s nearby broadcast tower, similar to a powerful WiFi network.
Rise offers speeds up to 50 Mbps with unlimited data starting at $65/month, which is competitive with wired providers. The main difference is setup requires professional antenna installation on your roof, which comes with a hefty $150 fee.
Obstructions between your antenna and the tower can impact connection quality and speeds. Weather can cause temporary outages as well. To optimize your fixed wireless setup, choose an antenna mounting location with clear line of sight in the direction of your provider‘s broadcast tower.
"Fixed wireless technology has improved dramatically in recent years, with many systems now supporting the 5 GHz frequency band. This allows for faster speeds and greater capacity, although range is more limited than lower frequencies. Providers are also integrating more automation and intelligence to optimize antenna positioning and avoid interference." – Jane Doe, Wireless Network Engineer
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless
- 25 Mbps: $55/month
- 50 Mbps: $65/month
Viasat
Satellite internet from providers like Viasat is often the only option for those in very remote parts of Idaho. Viasat uses a dish mounted on your roof to send and receive data via geostationary satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above Earth‘s equator.
Satellite internet has come a long way, with Viasat now offering speeds up to 100 Mbps in select areas. Plans start at $70/month for 12 Mbps and go up to $230/month for 100 Mbps. However, all plans have data caps ranging from 40-150 GB/month, after which speeds are throttled to 1-5 Mbps. Latency is also much higher than wired connections at 500-800ms.
Viasat requires a 2-year contract and professional installation of the satellite dish and modem. The equipment lease fee is $13/month, but installation is free in most cases. Be aware that the advertised speeds are "up to" and vary based on weather, time of day, and other factors.
Viasat Satellite Internet
- 12 Mbps: $70/month
- 25 Mbps: $100/month
- 50 Mbps: $150/month
- 100 Mbps: $230/month
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
One of the newest entries to the Idaho Falls internet market is T-Mobile Home Internet, which uses their 5G and 4G LTE cellular networks to deliver fast wireless internet to your home. 5G is the latest generation of cellular technology, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps and lower latency than previous generations.
T-Mobile Home Internet offers a simple, all-inclusive plan with speeds ranging from 33-182 Mbps download and 6-23 Mbps upload for $50/month flat. There are no data caps, contracts or extra fees. T-Mobile will even cover up to $750 in early termination fees if you switch from another provider.
To use the service, T-Mobile provides a 5G Gateway device that combines a modem and WiFi router into a single unit. There is no equipment fee and setup is as easy as plugging it in and downloading the T-Mobile Internet app.
The main catch is that speeds vary widely based on the quality of T-Mobile‘s network in your specific location. They provide an estimated speed range, but there‘s no guarantee. T-Mobile is rapidly expanding their 5G coverage though, so speeds and availability should improve over time.
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- $50/month flat
- Speeds from 33-182 Mbps download, 6-23 Mbps upload
- Equipment included
How to Choose the Right Internet Provider
With so many internet options available in Idaho Falls, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are some key factors to consider:
1. Availability: First and foremost, you need to find out which providers and connection types are available at your address. The fastest providers like CenturyLink Fiber and T-Mobile Home Internet are not yet available everywhere.
2. Speed: Consider how many devices you have and what you use the internet for most. Streaming video, gaming, and video conferencing require more speed than browsing and email.
| Activity | Recommended Speed |
|---|---|
| Streaming HD Video | 5-8 Mbps |
| Streaming 4K Video | 25 Mbps |
| Online Gaming | 3-4 Mbps |
| Video Conferencing | 1.5-8 Mbps |
| Social Media | 1 Mbps |
3. Price: Look beyond the advertised monthly price at the total cost of service, including equipment fees, installation, contracts, promotional terms, and extra data charges.
4. Data Caps: Consider if you need unlimited data or can live with a monthly cap. Most wired providers now offer unlimited data, but fixed wireless and satellite plans almost always have caps.
5. Contract: Some providers require a 1-2 year contract, while others are month-to-month. Try to avoid long contracts if you may be moving soon.
6. Bundling: Bundling TV and/or home phone service with your internet can provide savings and simplify billing. But be sure to compare standalone pricing to ensure you‘re actually saving money.
7. Customer Service: In the event you have an issue with your connection, you want an internet provider that offers reliable support. Look at reviews and ratings to see how each provider stacks up.
Optimizing Your Home WiFi
No matter which internet provider you choose, there are some simple steps you can take to maximize your WiFi coverage and speeds within your home:
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Place your router in a central location, away from obstructions and interference from appliances.
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Update your router firmware to the latest version to implement performance improvements and security patches.
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Switch to the 5 GHz frequency band if you have a dual-band router. 5 GHz offers faster speeds at shorter range than 2.4 GHz.
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Change your router‘s default SSID and password for greater security. This makes it harder for hackers to guess the login.
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Use a mesh WiFi system like Google WiFi or Netgear Orbi to eliminate dead zones across a larger home. Mesh systems use multiple nodes to create one large, seamless network.
By choosing the right provider and optimizing your home network, you can enjoy lightning-fast internet speeds for streaming, gaming, working, and learning. Idaho Falls has some great internet options, so take advantage of them!
