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Spectrum was first introduced to the world after its parent company, Charter, merged with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks to bring all three companies under the same roof and to increase the level of service more than any one of the individual companies could have provided on their own. Since then, Spectrum has expanded into forty-four states offering coverage to over 100 million Americans. Spectrum continues to expand their coverage areas, attracting more and customers with its easy to understand tiered pricing and historically fast, reliable internet connections.
Charter, Spectrum’s parent company, was founded in 1980 primarily offering home telephone service and television. They eventually entered into the internet market through a strategic partnership with EarthLink, since acquiring and merging with multiple companies over its life cycle. The company we now know as Charter Spectrum came to fruition in 2016 when it merged with Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable, making it the third-largest cable television provider in the nation just behind AT&T and Comcast. It was after this merger that Charter brought all services covered by the three formerly-independent companies under the brand name “Spectrum.” As a condition of this merger, Charter Spectrum agreed to expand its lines to generally underserved areas of New York State with 145,000 new residences to receive service by 2021. Since the merger, Charter has entered into further strategic partnerships with companies like Comcast and Verizon to expand the suite of services it offers as well as expanding its general service area.
Spectrum uses a hybrid fiber-coaxial network to supply its customers with the internet. This was an easy transition for the company to make once they started offering internet, leveraging the massive network they inherited from Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, allowing them to hit the ground running once they entered the market as an internet service provider. Hybrid fiber-coaxial lines are the most common way for most companies to offer internet service due to their relative low cost, especially when compared to fiber. Reaching higher speeds than DSL, a hybrid fiber-coaxial line is able to provide more than fast enough internet for most consumers though still being slower than fiber. With that being said, hybrid fiber-coaxial lines do have their drawbacks. The biggest is shared bandwidth. Total bandwidth is shared among all users on those lines so when there is heavy usage, the end-user is going to receive reduced speeds. However, this usually only happens a portion of the day and even when congested, most receive fast enough speeds to be able to handle anything they’d be looking to do.
Spectrum offers multiple services beyond the internet including cable television and home phone service. They offer multiple different plans, bundles, and prices, allowing for easy navigation and customization for their customers. This is especially important as every household has different needs based on their number of active devices, active users, and budget. Now, this is all based on availability, but generally, there are multiple different options in every market Spectrum serves. Spectrum has created a service that can meet the demands of any budget and any digital lifestyle.
CenturyLink is not only an internet service provider serving homes and businesses nationwide, it's a pioneer in the world of technology. CenturyLink provides service to 37 states, and its mission is to maximize the customer experience by providing the best, possible connection to a world weaved together by the networks that we all depend upon to do business and to do entertainment each and every day. CenturyLink serves its mission to provide secure, reliable, and fast connections to all its customers via its far-reaching fiber network.
In areas where CenturyLink's fiber network is available, customers will enjoy gigabit speeds at a great price. Even in areas where gigabit speeds are not available, customers enjoy the same great promotions, prices, and features no matter where they live. Not only does CenturyLink offer some of the most affordable internet prices in the United States, but it also offers customers the tremendous value of locking those prices in for as long they keep the same service at the same address and keep the account in good standing. Now you can stay connected for as long as you need at the price you signed up for!
CenturyLink aims to give you the best internet experience and to accomplish that, it provides a state-of-the-art WiFi service that allows you to connect multiple devices to your network at the same time. You will be able to stream your favorite content, play your favorite games online, and upload effortlessly from any connected device in your home at any time. CenturyLink offers customers the option to either purchase the modem for a one time upfront fee of $150 or to lease the equipment for a monthly charge of $15. CenturyLink Ease offers added protection by offering round-the-clock tech support and online identity protection.
CenturyLink offers fiber or slower DSL speeds, depending on where you live. A one time installation fee will most likely apply if a tech is required to come out to your home to install the service. Self-installation is an option in some areas and is free when it is available. CenturyLink also offers home phone service to its customers and is also subject to the Price for Life guarantee. As long as you don't change the service, move the service, or stop paying for the service, you'll always pay the same low price for internet and phone. CenturyLink home phone service includes unlimited nationwide calling.
HughesNet currently has the highest coverage area in the nation with all fifty states falling under its service area. One of the two major satellite providers in the nation, HughesNet has focused the core of its business on providing internet to underserved or un-served areas, often rural or small towns. Its recently increased speeds up to 25mbps with the launch of its new Gen 5 satellite, the “EchoStar XIX.” With ninety-eight percent of the country under HughesNet’s coverage area, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll be an option available to any consumer.
HughesNet uses geosynchronous satellites to provide its customers with broadband internet connections. Since HughesNet was initially founded, it’s launched multiple satellites with its latest launch occurring in 2017 with the “EchoStar XIX,” powering HughesNet’s Gen 5 service. This launch allowed the company to reach broadband levels, increasing speeds to 25 Mbps across the board. It also increased the available bandwidth that HughesNet offered its customers as well as simplifying their pricing structure to a tiered system that was based on available data caps. HughesNet does operate off of priority data caps though its internet can be considered unlimited. At no point does HughesNet charge overage prices or shut the internet off if a customer goes over their “priority data” limit, instead just having to deal with reduced speeds until their next billing cycle. If a customer does need more data before their next billing cycle rolls around, HughesNet has made data tokens available, increasing priority data and increasing available speeds in the process.
HughesNet is a great choice for rural customers as wired connections are often completely unavailable in America’s more remote locations. Satellite internet allows them to access the world wide web at broadband speeds allowing for almost any activity. It does have its drawbacks though. The biggest activities this can be seen in is online gaming and virtual private networks. This is in large part due to the latency, or ping, that satellite internet experiences. The time signals take to transmit from the customer’s dish to the satellite to the receiving and then back again can take anywhere from a half-second to a second. For most activities like browsing the internet or streaming video, this latency is almost entirely imperceivable. For gaming though, that often required split-second reaction times, it is unavoidable. VPNs, in particular, are affected, as well. When using a VPN, download speeds even when within the priority data limit can tank anywhere from fifty to seventy-five percent. This reduction in speeds is not guaranteed with some VPN users not having any issues whatsoever. With that being said, it is something to take into account when considering a satellite internet provider.
For many rural customers, satellite internet is going to be one of the only viable options open to them. That doesn’t make it a lesser product though. When choosing the right package for you, assess your needs, your internet usage, and your budget to choose the package that will leave you satisfied and meet all of your digital requirements.
Though having been around since 1986, ViaSat didn't launch its first internet plans until 2012. ViaSat is a satellite internet service provider with a general focus on serving areas that normally do not have access to a reliable internet connection. Covering 98% of the country and all 50 states, all that is needed to be able to connect is a clear line of sight to the southern sky, a modem, and a satellite dish to send and receive signals. This has helped many of those who would otherwise have to spend thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, to run a DSL, cable, or fiber line to their home.
ViaSat has continually upgraded its service. When the company first launched, its entire service survived off the back of one satellite, the ViaSat-1. Since then, they've acquired three additional satellites, either through additional launches or acquisitions from other companies to greatly expand its capabilities. The last of these to launch, the ViaSat-2, was said to increase the total bandwidth and network capacity available by 300 Gigabits per second as well as take ViaSat's service internationally. They have plans to increase this further. They've announced three more launches of their newest satellite, the ViaSat-3, that will increase the total bandwidth by a full terabit per second. The first of these is set to launch in 2020 with a second launch planned by 2022.
Offering free standard installation on all orders, ViaSat makes connecting to the internet easier than ever. ViaSat offers multiple different plans that feature different speeds and different levels of priority data. Priority data? I'm sure the question being asked is “Does ViaSat have a data cap?” The answer is a resounding no. Viasat offers unlimited data without charging overage fees or shutting your internet connection off. If one does go over their priority data, then at that point, customers just have to contend with network congestion much like any other internet service provider. If there is no congestion, then speed should be unaffected. This makes ViaSat a perfect option for activities like streaming, checking social media, or visiting a favorite site on the web.
ViaSat is perfect for almost any web-based application. Connecting your smartphone, sharing videos online, and watching your favorite streaming service are perfect fits for ViaSat's network. The only limitations ViaSat has are gaming and Virtual Private Networks(VPN). When it comes to gaming, there should be a half a second to full second lag time when playing online. If you're playing single-player games, this interruption is non-existent and will not interfere with any updates that a game may release after launch. A VPN is another matter. VPNs put a significant strain on any network and satellite networks doubly so. When using a VPN with ViaSat, speeds can be expected to drop anywhere from 50 to 75 percent. That doesn't mean ViaSat is an inferior service though. However, when looking to game or use in-home VPN, it's important to be aware of the technology's limitations so that you can plan accordingly and choose the best service that will fit your needs.
Mediacom is one of the largest cable internet providers in the nation. Founded in 1995, Mediacom uses a mix of coaxial cable and fiber to provide its customers with fast, reliable internet connections. With service in over twenty-two states, Mediacom is ever-expanding its coverage area with more states and more service areas being added. Already, it’s currently the fifth-largest provider in the nation with particularly high coverage through the Southeast and Midwest United States. In addition, Mediacom is currently in the process of upgrading and updating its current cable lines to fiber. This will allow the company to deliver an unprecedented level of speed and service.
Founded in 1995 by Rocco Commisso with the goal of providing high-quality TV, internet, and phone service to America’s smaller cities and towns. By focusing on underserved regions, Mediacom was able to carve out a unique niche for themselves and they have since grown to cover major metropolitan areas as well. In 2000, Mediacom held its initial public offering, infusing the company with a massive amount of capital allowing for the company’s rapid growth into other, more competitive markets. Mediacom continues to invest billions, recently completing a three-year, billion-dollar investment to increase its bandwidth specifically aimed at small to mid-sized companies to help them increase productivity and better compete with their larger competitors. By providing cutting-edge technology, Mediacom is helping to bridge the gap of options available to major cities and the smaller regions where finding fiber lines is more difficult.
Most of Mediacom’s connections are based on a coaxial cable line network to provide its customers with service. These cable lines were originally used to provide television service and can compete with speeds available through fiber. Cable’s biggest advantage when compared to similar technologies like DSL and fiber is cost. With much of the network already laid, Mediacom is able to pass those savings on to its customers. With that being said, Mediacom has begun to upgrade much of its current network to fiber to increase speeds, bandwidth, and to meet the ever-growing demand that fiber has seen in the last number of years. Fiber’s big advantages are two-fold. First is increased speeds with fiber easily able to reach into the gigabit range. Second is bandwidth. Under cable, bandwidth is shared with every household on that line which can lead to reduced speeds when there is heavy usage and the network is congested. Fiber does not suffer these limitations. Fiber can deliver streams of data simultaneously to multiple households without quality suffering.
Mediacom is going to be a great option for any household. With an array of products that can be chosen and bundled together, Mediacom is able to meet any household’s needs and budget. Whether you need just the internet or television and home phone service as well, Mediacom meets the consumer where they’re at. As Mediacom continues to upgrade its lines and expand its coverage area, more and more customers will find what the outstanding offers Mediacom can provide to any residential household.
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DSL Internet Coverage
90.01%
Cable Internet Coverage
87.86%
Fiber Internet Coverage
43.88%
Fixed Wireless Coverage
0.09%
Summary of Fastest Internet Providers in Columbia, MO
| Provider | Max Speed | Avg Speed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps | |
| 2. | | Xtream by Mediacom | 1 Gbps | 731 Mbps | |
| 3. | | CenturyLink | 1 Gbps | 164 Mbps | |
| 4. | Socket Telecom | 1 Gbps | 36 Mbps | ||
| 5. | | Spectrum | 940 Mbps | 275 Mbps | |
| 6. | | ViaSat | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps | |
| 7. | | HughesNet | 25 Mbps | 25 Mbps | |
| Data provided by various data sources including the FCC. For more information please view our sources page. | |||||
Summary of All Internet Providers in Columbia, MO
| Provider | Type | Coverage | Max Speed | Avg Speed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | | HughesNet | 100.00% | 25 Mbps | 25 Mbps | ||
| 2. | | ViaSat | 100.00% | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps | ||
| 3. | | CenturyLink | 95.90% | 1 Gbps | 164 Mbps | ||
| 4. | | Xtream by Mediacom | 84.03% | 1 Gbps | 731 Mbps | ||
| 5. | Socket Telecom | 54.40% | 1 Gbps | 36 Mbps | |||
| 6. | | Spectrum | 23.40% | 940 Mbps | 275 Mbps | ||
| 7. | | Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative | 11.84% | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps | ||
| Data provided by various data sources including the FCC. For more information please view our sources page. | |||||||
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia, MO.
Which provider offers the best internet service in Columbia, MO?
Spectrum is the best internet provider in Columbia, MO, with download speeds up to 940 Mbps and pricing starting at $40.00.
How many internet providers provide service in Columbia, MO?
There are currently 7 providers that offer internet service in Columbia, MO.
What providers offer internet service in Columbia, MO.
Spectrum, CenturyLink, HughesNet, ViaSat, Xtream by Mediacom, Socket Telecom and Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative offer internet service in Columbia, MO.
What is the cheapest internet provider in Columbia, MO?
Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in Columbia, MO, with pricing starting at $40.00.
What provider has the fastest speeds in Columbia, MO?
Xtream by Mediacom is the faster internet provider in Columbia, MO, with maximum speeds reaching 1 Gbps and average speeds of 731 Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Columbia, MO?
Yes! Fiber internet covers 44% of Columbia, MO.
Summary of School Districts in Columbia, MO
| District | Grades | Max Speed | Avg Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia 93 | PK - 12 | 1 Gbps | 187 Mbps |
| Hallsville R-IV | PK - 12 | 1 Gbps | 60 Mbps |
| Data provided by various data sources including the FCC. For more information please view our sources page. | |||
Top 10 Neighborhoods in Columbia, MO
| Neighborhood | Max Speed | Avg Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Hinkson Creek Valley | 1 Gbps | 360 Mbps |
| Moon Valley Heights | 1 Gbps | 307 Mbps |
| Westwinds Park | 1 Gbps | 303 Mbps |
| Rothwell Heights | 1 Gbps | 300 Mbps |
| Historic Old Southwest | 1 Gbps | 298 Mbps |
| East Campus | 1 Gbps | 297 Mbps |
| Parkade | 1 Gbps | 281 Mbps |
| Valley View Garden | 1 Gbps | 279 Mbps |
| Rockingham | 1 Gbps | 273 Mbps |
| College Park | 1 Gbps | 272 Mbps |
| Data provided by various data sources including the FCC. For more information please view our sources page. | ||