Top Highlights
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Widespread Access: 100% of Bakersfield residents have access to at least 100Mbps download speeds, meeting FCC broadband standards, ranking among the top 50 cities in the U.S. for median speed.
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Limited Providers: High-speed internet options are limited; AT&T Fiber serves around 25% of households, while Spectrum is the predominant provider in many areas. Both T-Mobile and Verizon offer fluctuating wireless plans.
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Promising Development: A deal approved by the Bakersfield City Council aims to establish a new fiber network throughout the city at no taxpayer cost, potentially offering residents speeds up to 10,000Mbps for approximately $60 monthly, though still in the design phase.
- Pricing Overview: Monthly internet costs in Bakersfield range from $30 (Spectrum) to $245 (AT&T), but options for truly affordable or high-speed plans are scarce, with fiber only available to a quarter of households.
Current Internet Landscape in Bakersfield
Residents of Bakersfield, California, enjoy reliable internet access. Every household can connect to a plan offering at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds. This meets the Federal Communications Commission’s minimum broadband requirement. Furthermore, Bakersfield ranks among the top 50 U.S. cities for median internet speeds. However, options for high-speed internet remain limited. AT&T Fiber is available to about one in five households, with plans starting at $55. In many neighborhoods, Spectrum dominates as the only viable choice. Additionally, both T-Mobile and Verizon offer wireless internet, but their speeds can vary significantly.
Exciting developments are on the horizon. In 2022, the Bakersfield City Council approved a partnership with SiFi Networks to create a city-wide fiber network. This project will proceed at no cost to taxpayers, as SiFi will sell access to private providers. Residents could pay around $60 monthly for speeds up to 10,000Mbps. In contrast, AT&T currently charges $245 for 5,000Mbps. Nonetheless, this ambitious project remains in the design phase, with no confirmed timeline for construction.
Top Internet Providers in Bakersfield
When evaluating internet service providers, customer service, speed, and pricing remain crucial. For many years, Spectrum was the only option for high-speed internet in Bakersfield. However, AT&T expanded its fiber-optic service in 2017 and quickly emerged as the top choice. Yet, fiber coverage only extends to approximately 25% of residents.
AT&T offers plans ranging from $55 to $245, with speeds between 300Mbps and 5,000Mbps. Spectrum has plans starting at $30, providing speeds up to 1,000Mbps but lower upload rates. T-Mobile and Verizon also present affordable wireless options, costing between $50 and $70 with speeds varying from 50 to 415Mbps. In rural areas, options like Applied Technology Group and unWired Broadband exist, but typically at slower speeds. Overall, while Bakersfield has promising developments, many residents still navigate a limited internet landscape.
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