Balsam Lake, Wisconsin Broadband Internet Service

There are a total of 5 companies providing internet service to a significant portion of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin and meet the minimum accepted broadband definition of 25 Mbps download speed. Our proprietary ranking calculation takes into account different aspects of useable download speed, upload speed and coverage area. For example, an increase of 100 Mbps download speed from 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps is much more significant for users than an increase from 1000 Mbps to 1100Mpbs. Also, for nearly all users download speed is much more important than upload speed. Our ranked ordering of internet service providers in Balsam Lake:

Rank Provider Tech Max Download Speed Max Upload Speed Availability
1Lakeland CommunicationsCable, DSL, Fiber1000 Mbps1000 Mbps100.0%
2Amery TelcomCable, Fiber1000 Mbps100 Mbps66.4%
3CenturyLinkDSL80 Mbps10 Mbps83.5%
4ViaSatSatellite100 Mbps3 Mbps100%
5HughesNetSatellite25 Mbps3 Mbps100%
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Balsam Lake WI Internet Access Options

When it comes to high speed internet availability, download speeds and overall customer satisfaction, cities with more than a single provider more often than not lead in all of these categories.
Does Balsam Lake have more than a single option at 25 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps and 1000 Mbps? The diagram below shows a summary:

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Broadband Internet Speeds

How does the average download speed for broadband internet in Balsam Lake compare to Polk County? The average speed in Balsam Lake is 47.61 Mbps which is faster than Polk County overall.
On a statewide basis this download speed is faster than the Wisconsin average of 26.43 Mbps.

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Balsam Lake Internet Access Facts

  • Fiber optic internet is available to 66.2% of Balsam Lake residents

  • The average internet download speed in Polk County is 23.18 Mbps based upon 87416 samples taken in the past year

  • The average upload speed in Balsam Lake is 18.36 Mbps. This is 140.3% faster than the average in Wisconsin and 58.3% faster than the national average of 11.56 Mbps

  • The average download speed in Balsam Lake is 105.4% faster than the Polk County average and 46.9% faster than the national average of 32.4 Mbps

  • The average upload speed in Balsam Lake is 18.36 Mbps. This is 290.6% faster than the Polk County average and 58.3% faster than the national average of 11.56 Mbps

  • Cable internet is available to 51.7% of Polk County residents

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Internet Access Technologies

DSL, Cable, Fiber and Fixed Wireless are four common types of technology used to provide internet access. The following chart shows the percentage of Balsam Lake residents who have access to each of these technology types.


Internet Service FAQs

Who has the best internet service near me?

Our proprietary algorithm that takes into consideration download speed, upload speed, availability and overall value ranks Lakeland Communications as the top provider for Balsam Lake, Wisconsin.

How do the internet speeds in Balsam Lake compare to other cities in Wisconsin?

Click through to see how the Balsam Lake broadband speeds compare to these other cities throughout the state: Big Bend, Galesville, Glenwood City, Iola, Milton, New Glarus, Sussex

What is Mbps?

Mbps is an abbreviation for Megabits Per Second and represents the rate of data transmission. A larger value for download Mbps or upload Mbps means a file will take less time to be sent than it will with an internet connection with a lower Mbps.

What download speed do I need to stream movies?

For HD movies and shows Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu all recommend a minimum of 5 Mbps. Streaming 4K/UHD content requires a minimum of 25 Mbps for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu.

What locations were used in calculating broadband internet coverage for Balsam Lake, Wisconsin?

The following zip codes were used: 54810

Who has the fastest internet service in Balsam Lake?

Lakeland Communications and Amery Telcom with a download speed of 1000 Mbps provide the fastest internet service in Balsam Lake.

Is there DSL internet service near me?

Yes, there are 2 DSL providers in Balsam Lake - Lakeland Communications and CenturyLink.

What is an internet data cap?

Some internet providers on their lowest end plans limit the amount of data that can be downloaded in a month. Like cellular phone plans, when that usage limit is hit, an additional charge is added to the customer's bill. Data caps are typically 1TB or more. In a month you could send 40,000 emails, streaming music 24 hours a data, surf the web 24 hours a day plus stream HD video 12 hours a day and still not hit a 1TB limit. Fewer than 10% of customers hit their data caps in a month.




Balsam Lake Cable TV, Satellite TV and Streaming Services

Our ranking of internet service plans can make choosing a new provider fairly easy. Selecting a TV provider is more difficult as additional variables are involved. If you are a heavy TV viewer and/or watch in multiple rooms at the same time, a traditional cable TV package or satellite TV provider may be the best option for you. However, if you live in a rental property or a heavily wooded area, satellite TV may not be a viable option. Streaming TV packages can be a good option for many, especially if your internet plan does not have a data limit. Read through the pros and cons of the various TV packages available to you and chose the best match to your viewing needs.


DISH

  • 290+ channels
  • Satellite coverage virtually anywhere
  • 4 video package tiers
  • Access to apps, Google assistant and 2000 hour smart DVR
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Hulu Live TV

  • 75+ channels
  • Access to premium Hulu originals
  • Includes Disney+ and ESPN+
  • 2 simultaneous streams supported on a broad array of devices
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YouTube TV

  • 85+ channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR
  • Local network coverage
  • Sports plus, Spanish plus and premium movie add-ons
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DIRECTV stream

  • 140+ channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR
  • Local network and sports coverage
  • Unlimited streams in-home. TV to go with the DIRECTV app
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fuboTV

  • 180+ channels
  • 1000 hours of cloud DVR
  • Local network coverage
  • Extensive sports coverage plus sports add-on packages
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Sling

  • 50+ channels
  • 50 hours of DVR storage
  • No annual contracts
  • Up to 4 simultaneous streams across a wide variety of devices
Learn More