Rural vs. urban moves: how internet options change depending on where you live

Moving from a city to the country, or vice versa, comes with obvious trade-offs. One that often surprises people? Internet options can look very different depending on where you live.

Here’s what to expect.

Rural areas typically have fewer internet providers and high-speed plan options than cities and suburbs. According to research from the Benton Institute on Broadband and Society, as of December 2023:

• About 75% of urban households had at least two providers offering 100 Mbps speeds. Only 35% of rural households did.
• Around 9% of urban households had access to two providers offering near-gig speeds. Just 3% of rural households had that level of choice.

This gap is often called the digital divide — the difference in access to modern internet infrastructure between urban and rural communities. What’s behind this divide?

Rural networks were often built for basic phone service and later adapted for internet. That means high-speed broadband and fiber upgrades have reached many rural areas more slowly.

In cities, providers can serve many homes with shorter network runs, making upgrades more efficient. In rural areas, longer distances between homes require more infrastructure per customer, slowing expansion.

Customers who live in urban areas are more likely to have their pick of fast, modern internet technologies, including:

Fiber internet is the fastest and most reliable widely available connection today. By sending data as pulses of light, it delivers:

• High download and upload speeds
• Symmetrical speeds (uploads as fast as downloads)
• Consistent performance

Fiber is more commonly available across entire city neighborhoods. Learn more about the benefits of fiber internet.

Cable is still one of the most common broadband types in the U.S. It offers strong download speeds for everyday use, like streaming and browsing.

However:

• Speeds may slow during peak hours
• Upload speeds are typically lower

These options use wireless towers instead of physical cables. Setup is simple, but performance varies by location and network congestion. Urban density often supports stronger performance.

Rural internet options vary by location, but typically include:

Digital subscriber line (DSL) runs over existing phone lines and is widely available. Speeds are usually lower than cable or fiber, and performance declines with distance from equipment.

Fixed wireless delivers service from a nearby tower to a receiver at your home. Speeds can outperform DSL in some areas but depend on distance, terrain, and line of sight to the tower.

Satellite internet service is exactly what it sounds like: internet service delivered via satellites orbiting the Earth. It works almost anywhere, making it a common rural fallback option. However, it often comes with higher latency and weather-related disruptions.

Until recently, most rural communities had little or no access to high-speed fiber-optic internet. High-speed fiber internet service is becoming more available in rural areas as providers expand infrastructure. Brightspeed Fiber Internet is actively expanding into underserved communities, helping close the digital divide with modern, high-performance internet.

Explore rural internet options and check Brightspeed availability at your address.

If you’re used to city internet options, here’s what may change:

You may only have one or two options available. Check availability before you move and confirm actual speeds offered at your address.

Find out if Brightspeed Fiber Internet is available in your area!

Rural plans may offer lower top speeds due to infrastructure limits. Review your household’s usage needs before choosing a plan.

Some rural options include data limits or higher latency, which can affect streaming, gaming, and video calls. Look closely at plan details, ask about data limits and typical latency, and weigh how those factors line up with how you actually use the internet.

Brightspeed Fiber Internet brings fast, reliable internet to more rural communities every year. If you’re moving and want both wide-open spaces and high-performance internet, check if Brightspeed is available at your new address.

If we’re not there yet, check back. Expansion is ongoing!

More Resources

• Find Brightspeed Fiber Internet Plans At Your Address
• Moving Your Home Internet Service
• What Internet Speed Do I Need?