Best Madison Internet Service Providers

There are a total of 5 companies providing internet service to a significant portion of Madison, 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 Madison:

Rank Provider Tech Max Download Speed Max Upload Speed Availability
1SpectrumCable, Fiber1000 Mbps1000 Mbps98.9%
2AT&TDSL, Fiber1000 Mbps1000 Mbps75.0%
3Telephone and Data SystemsDSL, Fiber1000 Mbps400 Mbps17.1%
4ViaSatSatellite100 Mbps3 Mbps100%
5HughesNetSatellite25 Mbps3 Mbps100%
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Madison 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 Madison 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

Curious how fast the average internet speeds in Madison are compared to Dane County? Also, curious how the speeds compare to Wisconsin overall?
Average download speeds in Madison of 41.31 Mbps are faster than the Dane County average download speeds and faster than the statewide average for Wisconsin.

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Madison Internet Access Facts

  • Fiber optic internet is available to 40.1% of Madison residents

  • The average internet download speed in Dane County is 25.5 Mbps based upon 1801920 samples taken in the past year

  • The average upload speed in Madison is 12.42 Mbps. This is 62.6% faster than the average in Wisconsin and 7.1% faster than the national average of 11.56 Mbps

  • The average download speed in Madison is 62% faster than the Dane County average and 27.5% faster than the national average of 32.4 Mbps

  • The average upload speed in Madison is 12.42 Mbps. This is 58.4% faster than the Dane County average and 7.1% faster than the national average of 11.56 Mbps

  • Cable internet is available to 91.5% of Dane 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 Madison 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 Spectrum as the top provider for Madison, Wisconsin.

Who has the fastest internet service in Madison?

Spectrum, AT&T and Telephone and Data Systems with a download speed of 1000 Mbps provide the fastest internet service in Madison.

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

The following zip codes were used: 53532, 53558, 53562, 53590, 53593, 53597, 53701, 53702, 53703, 53704, 53705, 53706, 53707, 53708, 53711, 53713, 53714, 53715, 53716, 53717, 53718, 53719, 53725, 53726, 53744, 53774, 53777, 53778, 53779, 53782, 53783, 53784, 53785, 53786, 53788, 53789, 53790, 53791, 53792, 53793 and 53794

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

Click through to see how the Madison broadband speeds compare to these other cities throughout the state: Bonduel, Fremont, New Lisbon, Pewaukee, Sturtevant, Wales, West Bend

What is fixed wireless internet service?

Fixed wireless internet is typical used in rural areas where there are no buried telephone or cable lines. An antenna is attached to the home or business which transmits and receives data from access point towers. Download speeds are typically much better than with satellite.

Which internet service provider offers the most coverage in Madison, Wisconsin?

Spectrum provides broadband internet service to 98.9% of Madison.

How many broadband service providers are there near me?

Currently there are 5 companies that provide internet service to at least 15% of Madison, WI residents.

What is cable internet service?

Cable internet service streams data through the same coaxial cables used for cable television. In nearly all instances cable internet will be faster than DSL. Cable internet is available to nearly 90% of Americans but does not have as much coverage in remote areas as DSL.

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.




Madison 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.


Spectrum

  • 125+ channels
  • Flexible packages
  • 85,000 OnDemand titles
  • All plans feature sports, breaking news, movies plus Spectrum Originals
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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
Learn More

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
Learn More