Best Internet Providers in Louisville, Kentucky
CNET recommends AT&T Fiber as the best internet provider in Louisville, Kentucky. It's not hard to see why. The ISP offers the fastest average speeds in the Louisville area but it can go as high as 5 GIG for $245. With its speedy plans, you'll have little trouble doing most things, whether streaming your favorite show on Netflix or working remotely.
However, other solid providers exist for those who can't get AT&T Fiber at their home address or area. Louisville is 19th among the top 20 US cities regarding median internet download speeds, at just 258Mbps. That's much faster internet than some of the bigger cities such as Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and New York.
Louisville has several internet service providers throughout the area, including big names like AT&T, Spectrum (aka Charter Communications) and T-Mobile. Options include fiber, 5G, cable connections and even unlimited data plans.
We're calling the race for AT&T Fiber as the best ISP in Louisville. Even if it's not available at your address, CNET can help you choose the right internet provider for your needs.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers' national offerings. Your particular internet service options -- including prices and speeds -- depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
The providers listed above aren't necessarily the only ones you'll come across in Louisville, just the ones we'd recommend most. Here's a quick look at all Louisville ISPs that may be worth your consideration.
Louisville has several other ISPs available. If you're shopping for a particular price or you just want to weigh all of your options, consider the following providers who didn't make our best list.
Earthlink: This provider has DSL, fiber and 5G internet plans available across Louisville. Plans start at $60 per month and speeds vary by available connection type.
Kinetic by Windstream: Windstream high-speed internet is not widely available in Louisville but if you can get it at your address you may enjoy download speeds up to 1Gbps. The company also has 200Mbps and 400Mbps plans. Prices start at $40 per month.
Most providers in Louisville start their internet plans at about $50 per month. Some providers will offer a lower introductory rate, so be sure to check out the long-term pricing when you're shopping for plans. Fortunately, few require an equipment fee.
If you already have service with a specific phone company or television provider, you can often take advantage of cheaper internet rates in Louisville. For instance, Verizon 5G Home Internet offers the best bang for your buck at just $35 per month for up to 300Mbps, but you need to have an eligible Verizon mobile plan to take advantage of the deal. Similarly, the best Spectrum and Viasat plans come by way of bundled services.
For customers who only want internet coverage and need a lot of speed to work at home and stream video, AT&T Fiber is the best option. The speeds are far superior to other options with a price tag that is competitive to other providers.
For basic internet service, satellite service offers rural customers an affordable option.
Thanks to AT&T's multigigabit plans, Louisville has access to some of the fastest residential internet speeds you'll find anywhere, up to 5,000Mbps. AT&T won't be your only option for high-speed internet in the area, as Spectrum and Verizon 5G offer speeds up to 1,000Mbps as well.
Louisville offers some of the fastest average internet speeds in the country, much of that because of AT&T Fiber, although Spectrum is more than capable of delivering fast speeds in the area as well. Other options, particularly 5G home internet from T-Mobile or Verizon, are a little less enticing for speed potential but the low cost and high availability make the two worth a look.
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it's impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What's our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
We then go to the FCC's website to check our data and ensure we're considering every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. To evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP's service, we look at sources including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
Do customers get decent value for what they're paying?
Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to 'yes' on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
AT&T Fiber offers the fastest internet service for your money, although Spectrum boasts greater availability throughout the Louisville area and offers competitive pricing. Either is a decent option for internet service, but AT&T Fiber's likely to be the better value due to faster download and upload speed potential, lower equipment fees and more stable pricing.
Yes. AT&T offers fiber internet service in Louisville. The provider offers speeds up to 5,000Mbps.
There are locations in Louisville with free Wi-Fi, including the public libraries. AT&T also offers an internet plan for qualifying Louisville residents in low-income households that costs $30 per month.
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Are You Experiencing Slow Internet? Here's How I Fixed My Laggy Internet At Home
I was on my provider's second-fastest speed tier and was confused why I was experiencing internet trouble. But even with speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second, there are some cases where internet trouble is unavoidable. Considering that more than half of the US population has access to gigabit internet, it's important to make sure that you're getting the speeds you're paying for, especially for gigabit service. While sometimes your internet provider is to blame or an outdated router, in other cases, there could be other minor issues that could be easily resolved in a few simple steps. Ever since joining the CNET broadband team last year, I've realized the value of a good internet connection and that troubleshooting your speeds doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I learned. 'Enough is enough' The red flags are there for a reason, so don't ignore them: the buffering, the slow downloads and the interrupted Zoom calls. I wouldn't usually have paid attention to these signs, since I had never had a problem with my internet before. A solid internet connection has become vital since I started working from home. My family and I also noticed that streaming our favorite shows, like the newest season of Squid Game,, like the newest season of Black Mirror, had become a pain due to our fluctuating speeds. I finally gave in, said enough is enough and contacted my internet service provider, Verizon Fios. The Fios agent was shocked that I was experiencing internet issues since I was on the company's second-fastest tier, the gigabit plan. "You shouldn't even be experiencing fluctuating speeds with your plan," the Verizon Fios agent said over the phone. I was stumped. I didn't want to make a hasty decisionswitching out my current provider or buying a new router. So I turned to CNET's advice for help. Locating local internet providers What is gigabit internet? Your internet speed is measured in megabits per second. In other words, your speed is measured by how much data can be processed over a network in a second. Gigabit internet refers to 1,000 megabits. The more data processed over your network, the better your connection performs. Here are some of the top ISPs that offer gigabit service: As of June 2024, data from the Federal Communications Commission show that over half of the US population has access to gigabit speeds. Service typically ranges anywhere between $40 to $90 monthly. You can find gigabit service from internet providers such as Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Optimum, , AT&T and more. Though cable providers like Spectrum and Astound Broadband's gigabit plans are more widely available nationwide than other ISPs, but might be pricier down the line. You could end up paying double your initial price after a year, since most cable providers are notorious for hiking up their prices after a year. Depending on the connection type available at your address, most fiber ISPs like AT&T and Google Fiber won't increase your prices after a year and can offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1,000Mbps, whereas a cable connection may only top out at 35 to 50Mbps. To learn more about where you can sign up for gigabit service, read our review on gigabit internet and the best fiber internet providers for June 2025. 4 ways to boost your internet At the start of this journey, I felt like a kid riding their first bike. It felt daunting because I didn't know where to start. Thankfully, one of our pages details how to boost your Wi-Fi connection in four simple steps. Here's how it went. 1. Take a speed test These speeds are well below what I expect from my gigabit connection. Something's awry. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET Before you do anything else, conduct an internet speed test. I chose Ookla's speed test because this is the format I am most familiar with. CNET recommends Ookla for its consistency, and it also shows you your speed test history once you create an account. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) This step was fairly easy. I conducted a few speed tests online. The image above is a test I took near my workspace. Speeds of 248 to 275Mbps aren't bad, being on a gigabit plan supported by a fiber connection makes them surprising (and disappointing). I took it a step further and went to an area of my home where we experienced the most internet trouble. A significant speed drop was shown when I conducted a speed test in my basement. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET I avoid working in the basement most days because the internet is inconsistent. After conducting a speed test, I found our speed dipped to 76Mbps in downloads and 19Mbps in uploads. This area is the farthest from my router, so it only makes sense that the signal is weaker. According to the FCC, the minimum mark for broadband speeds is 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. My speeds were missing that mark. It should be noted that Ookla is not the only speed test you can try. Just recently, CNET broadband expert Cierra Noffke tested out the Orb internet speed test. Noffke writes that it doesn't just test your download and upload speeds. Orb, which was developed by the same creators of Ookla, measures the overall health of your home network using multiple metrics and continuous speed tests. On the other hand, if your household uses mostly streaming services, is a solid option, as it measures your internet's capacity to stream Netflix. M-Lab is also at the top of my list, as it has an easy-to-use program. You can always keep it simple as well by turning to resources from your provider. My provider (and many other ISPs) also offers its own Verizon Fios speed test. 2. Move your router or your workspace This next step requires you to experiment a bit with your router's location or your workspace. It wasn't easy to uproot my entire workspace, so I moved my router closer to my existing workspace area instead. This step wasn't a significant change because the router was already placed across the room from my workspace. You should ideally move your router to a central location. Using an Ethernet cable might be helpful, especially if the new location of your router is far from the modem. In any case, moving your router too far from the modem might prove troublesome. You can try to raise your router instead and mount it to the wall, if possible. That way, you don't need to jump through all these hoops to install an Ethernet cable. 3. Seek out a Wi-Fi extender If moving your router is not an option, try contacting your internet provider for additional equipment. After contacting my ISP, I discovered that a Fios Wi-Fi extender came with my plan at no extra cost to my monthly service bill. The extender came with a small guide, and at first glance, it seemed pretty simple. Obtaining equipment from your ISP is not the only option — many Wi-Fi extenders currently on the market support Wi-Fi 6. CNET previously named the TP-Link RE605X as the top pick for the best Wi-Fi extender due to its affordability and easy-to-use controls. Note: TP-Link routers could be banned sometime this year due to a recent government investigation. That said, the next best thing is the Linksys RE7310, currently priced at $90, which tied in performance with the TP-Link RE605X when we tested them. Check out our other top picks for the best Wi-Fi Extenders. Pair your extender to the router The extender came with a coax cable, a coax splitter and a small set-up guide that outlined four steps: confirm the internet connection, plug it in, pair it and finally move the extender to a designated spot in your home. Seems simple enough, right? I went through the first three steps without running into any issues. I paired my extender to my router using the coax cable. Placing your extender Things took a turn with the final step. After pairing, I unplugged my extender and moved it to the basement, where the signal was weaker. The light from the extender wasn't the solid white it should have been. Instead, it was a yellow color, meaning the extender was disconnected from the router. Solving this problem took some time as I went back through the set-up guide and covered my bases again. During this process, I also discovered Verizon Fios' complete Wi-Fi extender set-up guide online. Some ISPs offer customers the option of self-installation. Here are some of the top internet providers nationwide that have how-to pages and guides dedicated to installing devices that boost your internet: The complete set-up guide mentioned an Ethernet cable, but I was not provided one, so I wondered if that prevented my extender from connecting to the router. I contacted Verizon Fios to make sure I was not missing any parts. Per our conversation, Verizon Fios confirmed that an Ethernet cable is recommended but not necessary. The coax cable works just as well. Ethernet offers a wired connection through cables, which you can plug directly into the router, and should provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi. CNET's own Hallie Seltzer tested this at her home. After pairing, place your extender in an area that is not too far from the router. Trisha Jandoc/CNET I decided to pivot my approach and placed the extender a bit closer to the router, near my workspace. After a few minutes, I saw a solid white color -- the sign of success. 4. Prioritize your traffic You can manage your work traffic at home by changing your router settings. CNET/Trisha Jandoc After installing the extender, my internet speeds surged, making this step optional for me. If you cannot obtain a Wi-Fi extender, you can try managing how much bandwidth your household consumes through your router settings. For instance, Verizon Fios allows customers to set up parental controls, which can eliminate access to certain websites. Other routers can even schedule access to the network for certain devices. This process will look different depending on your internet provider and your equipment. How much speed do you need for your home? High-speed internet may be enticing, but you may not even need it. According to OpenVault's first quarter 2024 report, over a third of Americans use the internet at gigabit speeds, a 20% increase from 2023. In addition, its fourth quarter 2024 report shows that the average American household uses 569Mbps in downstream speeds and 32Mbps in upstream. In other words, if you can access gigabit speeds, it should be plenty fast for your household. Finding the right speed will also boil down to your household's activities. Check out our speed recommendations below. Our speed recommendations 1Mbps: Sending emails Sending emails 5 to 10Mbps: Web browsing Web browsing 10Mbps: Using social media Using social media 10 to 20Mbps (or 35Mbps in 4K): Streaming in HD Streaming in HD 25 to 35Mbps: Online gaming For more information, read our comprehensive internet speed guide. Factors that can affect your internet speed Even if you are on your provider's fastest plan, there is no guarantee you will see the exact speeds promised. What's advertised by your ISP may not be the actual speeds you get. Many conditions can impact your internet speeds. According to AT&T's website, certain materials, dense walls and even furniture can obstruct your Wi-Fi signal. Other common factors contributing to a weaker signal include outdated equipment, poor router settings, bad weather and extreme cases like hacking or malware. In addition, finding the right Wi-Fi band for your router can also help optimize your internet connection at home. To ensure you're making the most of your internet, read our guides on how to weatherproof your internet and secure your connection from hackers. My main takeaways My speeds in the basement increased after installing the extender. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET Once I successfully installed my extender, I conducted another speed test in my basement and I saw a surge in my internet connection, coming in at 598Mbps in download and 187Mbps in upload. Here's what I discovered when optimizing my speeds at home: Router and Wi-Fi extender placement are key . The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router. . The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router. Conduct a series of speed tests after every step , monitoring any changes in your internet connection. , monitoring any changes in your internet connection. Seek out self-installation guides . Many ISPs, including AT&T Cox Spectrum Xfinity . Many ISPs, including Consider buying a Wi-Fi extender. While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. Check out our top picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. A coax cable works just as well as an ethernet cable . Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works. . Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works. When in doubt, contact your ISP for support and discuss your options. You can also try negotiating with your ISP What's the bottom line? Since completing this experiment, I've seen a drastic change in my internet connection. My family and I can stream our shows without problems and my Zoom calls are running more smoothly than ever. I outlined four steps on this page, but you might need to do a few extra steps to ensure you cover all your bases. Fixing your internet doesn't have to be complex. This is my first time experimenting with this, and I've discovered a new comfort level with my internet connection and how it works. Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:01 / Duration 0:06 Loaded : 0.00% 0:01 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:05 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. Technical details : Session ID: 2025-06-14:4ebaafab493ea2f0e94acbdc Player Element ID: vjs_video_3 OK Close Modal Dialog Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Boosting your gigabit speeds FAQs How can I boost my internet speeds at home? Our Four Expert Tips to Help Boost Your Internet Speeds page outlines the four simple steps I cover on this page: Conduct a few internet speed tests, move your workspace or router, get a Wi-Fi extender (or upgrade your router) and prioritize your work traffic. It's worth noting that many factors -- such as certain materials, dense walls and even furniture, and the type of Wi-Fi band you have -- can affect your internet connection. You can look into investing in an extender or mesh system to optimize your connection. If all else fails, you can contact your provider to explore your options. What is the best speed test? Ookla's speed test is known for its consistency and accuracy. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Unlike other speed tests, Ookla allows you to access your speed test history when you create an account. In addition, Android and iOS users can conduct speed tests from their mobile devices.
CNET
5 hours ago
- CNET
I Fixed My Laggy Internet With 4 Simple Tricks
With speeds as fast as 1,000 megabits per second, I was confused as to why I was experiencing internet trouble. Considering that more than half of the US population has access to gigabit internet, it's important to make sure that you're getting the speeds you're paying for, especially for gigabit service. While sometimes your internet provider is to blame, in other cases, there could be other minor issues that could be easily resolved in a few simple steps. Ever since joining the CNET broadband team last year, I've realized the value of a good internet connection and that troubleshooting your speeds doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I learned. 'Enough is enough' The red flags are there for a reason, so don't ignore them: the buffering, the slow downloads and the interrupted Zoom calls. I wouldn't usually have paid attention to these signs, since I had never had a problem with my internet before. A solid internet connection has become vital since I started working from home. My family and I also noticed that streaming our favorite shows, like the newest season of Squid Game,, like the newest season of Black Mirror, had become a pain due to our fluctuating speeds. I finally gave in, said enough is enough and contacted my internet service provider, Verizon Fios. The Fios agent was shocked that I was experiencing internet issues since I was on the company's second-fastest tier, the gigabit plan. "You shouldn't even be experiencing fluctuating speeds with your plan," the Verizon Fios agent said over the phone. I was stumped. I didn't want to make a hasty decisionswitching out my current provider or buying a new router. So I turned to CNET's advice for help. Locating local internet providers What is gigabit internet? Your internet speed is measured in megabits per second. In other words, your speed is measured by how much data can be processed over a network in a second. Gigabit internet refers to 1,000 megabits. The more data processed over your network, the better your connection performs. As of June 2024, data from the Federal Communications Commission show that over half of the US population has access to gigabit speeds. Service typically ranges anywhere between $40 to $90 monthly. You can find gigabit service from internet providers such as Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Optimum, , AT&T and more. Though cable providers like Spectrum and Astound Broadband's gigabit plans are more widely available nationwide than other ISPs, but might be pricier down the line. You could end up paying double your initial price after a year, since most cable providers are notorious for hiking up their prices after a year. Depending on the connection type available at your address, most fiber ISPs like AT&T and Google Fiber won't increase your prices after a year and can offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1,000Mbps, whereas a cable connection may only top out at 35 to 50Mbps. To learn more about where you can sign up for gigabit service, read our review on gigabit internet and the best fiber internet providers for May 2025. 4 ways to boost your internet At the start of this journey, I felt like a kid riding their first bike. It felt daunting because I didn't know where to start. Thankfully, one of our pages details how to boost your Wi-Fi connection in four simple steps. Here's how it went. 1. Take a speed test These speeds are well below what I expect from my gigabit connection. Something's awry. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET Before you do anything else, conduct an internet speed test. I chose Ookla's speed test because this is the format I am most familiar with. CNET recommends Ookla for its consistency, and it also shows you your speed test history once you create an account. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) This step was fairly easy. I conducted a few speed tests online. The image above is a test I took near my workspace. Speeds of 248 to 275Mbps aren't bad, being on a gigabit plan supported by a fiber connection makes them surprising (and disappointing). I took it a step further and went to an area of my home where we experienced the most internet trouble. A significant speed drop was shown when I conducted a speed test in my basement. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET I avoid working in the basement most days because the internet is inconsistent. After conducting a speed test, I found our speed dipped to 76Mbps in downloads and 19Mbps in uploads. This area is the farthest from my router, so it only makes sense that the signal is weaker. According to the FCC, the minimum mark for broadband speeds is 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. My speeds were missing that mark. It should be noted that Ookla is not the only speed test you can try. Just recently, CNET broadband expert Cierra Noffke tested out the Orb internet speed test. Noffke writes that it doesn't just test your download and upload speeds. Orb, which was developed by the same creators of Ookla, measures the overall health of your home network using multiple metrics and continuous speed tests. On the other hand, if your household uses mostly streaming services, is a solid option, as it measures your internet's capacity to stream Netflix. M-Lab is also at the top of my list, as it has an easy-to-use program. You can always keep it simple as well by turning to resources from your provider. My provider (and many other ISPs) also offers its own Verizon Fios speed test. 2. Move your router or your workspace This next step requires you to experiment a bit with your router's location or your workspace. It wasn't easy to uproot my entire workspace, so I moved my router closer to my existing workspace area instead. This step wasn't a significant change because the router was already placed across the room from my workspace. You should ideally move your router to a central location. Using an Ethernet cable might be helpful, especially if the new location of your router is far from the modem. In any case, moving your router too far from the modem might prove troublesome. You can try to raise your router instead and mount it to the wall, if possible. That way, you don't need to jump through all these hoops to install an Ethernet cable. 3. Seek out a Wi-Fi extender If moving your router is not an option, try contacting your internet provider for additional equipment. After contacting my ISP, I discovered that a Fios Wi-Fi extender came with my plan at no extra cost to my monthly service bill. The extender came with a small guide, and at first glance, it seemed pretty simple. Obtaining equipment from your ISP is not the only option — many Wi-Fi extenders currently on the market support Wi-Fi 6. CNET previously named the TP-Link RE605X as the top pick for the best Wi-Fi extender due to its affordability and easy-to-use controls. Note: TP-Link routers could be banned sometime this year due to a recent government investigation. That said, the next best thing is the Linksys RE7310, currently priced at $90, which tied in performance with the TP-Link RE605X when we tested them. Check out our other top picks for the best Wi-Fi Extenders. Pair your extender to the router The extender came with a coax cable, a coax splitter and a small set-up guide that outlined four steps: confirm the internet connection, plug it in, pair it and finally move the extender to a designated spot in your home. Seems simple enough, right? I went through the first three steps without running into any issues. I paired my extender to my router using the coax cable. Placing your extender Things took a turn with the final step. After pairing, I unplugged my extender and moved it to the basement, where the signal was weaker. The light from the extender wasn't the solid white it should have been. Instead, it was a yellow color, meaning the extender was disconnected from the router. Solving this problem took some time as I went back through the set-up guide and covered my bases again. During this process, I also discovered Verizon Fios' complete Wi-Fi extender set-up guide online. Some ISPs offer customers the option of self-installation. Here are some of the top internet providers nationwide that have how-to pages and guides dedicated to installing devices that boost your internet: The complete set-up guide mentioned an Ethernet cable, but I was not provided one, so I wondered if that prevented my extender from connecting to the router. I contacted Verizon Fios to make sure I was not missing any parts. Per our conversation, Verizon Fios confirmed that an Ethernet cable is recommended but not necessary. The coax cable works just as well. Ethernet offers a wired connection through cables, which you can plug directly into the router, and should provide faster speeds than Wi-Fi. CNET's own Hallie Seltzer tested this at her home. After pairing, place your extender in an area that is not too far from the router. Trisha Jandoc/CNET I decided to pivot my approach and placed the extender a bit closer to the router, near my workspace. After a few minutes, I saw a solid white color -- the sign of success. 4. Prioritize your traffic You can manage your work traffic at home by changing your router settings. CNET/Trisha Jandoc After installing the extender, my internet speeds surged, making this step optional for me. If you cannot obtain a Wi-Fi extender, you can try managing how much bandwidth your household consumes through your router settings. For instance, Verizon Fios allows customers to set up parental controls, which can eliminate access to certain websites. Other routers can even schedule access to the network for certain devices. This process will look different depending on your internet provider and your equipment. How much speed do you need for your home? High-speed internet may be enticing, but you may not even need it. According to OpenVault's first quarter 2024 report, over a third of Americans use the internet at gigabit speeds, a 20% increase from 2023. In addition, its fourth quarter 2024 report shows that the average American household uses 569Mbps in downstream speeds and 32Mbps in upstream. In other words, if you can access gigabit speeds, it should be plenty fast for your household. Finding the right speed will also boil down to your household's activities. Check out our speed recommendations below. Our speed recommendations 1Mbps: Sending emails Sending emails 5 to 10Mbps: Web browsing Web browsing 10Mbps: Using social media Using social media 10 to 20Mbps (or 35Mbps in 4K): Streaming in HD Streaming in HD 25 to 35Mbps: Online gaming For more information, read our comprehensive internet speed guide. Even if you are on your provider's fastest plan, there is no guarantee you will see the exact speeds promised. What's advertised by your ISP may not be the actual speeds you get. Many conditions can impact your internet speeds. According to AT&T's website, certain materials, dense walls and even furniture can obstruct your Wi-Fi signal. Other common factors contributing to a weaker signal include outdated equipment, poor router settings, bad weather and extreme cases like hacking or malware. In addition, finding the right Wi-Fi band for your router can also help optimize your internet connection at home. To ensure you're making the most of your internet, read our guides on how to weatherproof your internet and secure your connection from hackers. My main takeaways My speeds in the basement increased after installing the extender. Ookla screenshot by Trisha Jandoc/CNET Once I successfully installed my extender, I conducted another speed test in my basement and I saw a surge in my internet connection, coming in at 598Mbps in download and 187Mbps in upload. Here's what I discovered when optimizing my speeds at home: Router and Wi-Fi extender placement are key . The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router. . The location of your router and extender is directly proportional to optimizing your speeds. Give it a few tries and place your extender in different areas of your home. Ensure you don't place the extender too far or close to the router. Conduct a series of speed tests after every step , monitoring any changes in your internet connection. , monitoring any changes in your internet connection. Seek out self-installation guides . Many ISPs, including AT&T Cox Spectrum Xfinity . Many ISPs, including Consider buying a Wi-Fi extender. While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. Check out our top picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders While your ISP might recommend using its equipment, many Wi-Fi extenders support Wi-Fi 6 and should do the trick. A coax cable works just as well as an ethernet cable . Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works. . Your ISP might recommend an Ethernet cable for pairing your extender to the router, but a coax cable also works. When in doubt, contact your ISP for support and discuss your options. You can also try negotiating with your ISP What's the bottom line? Since completing this experiment, I've seen a drastic change in my internet connection. My family and I can stream our shows without problems and my Zoom calls are running more smoothly than ever. I outlined four steps on this page, but you might need to do a few extra steps to ensure you cover all your bases. Fixing your internet doesn't have to be complex. This is my first time experimenting with this, and I've discovered a new comfort level with my internet connection and how it works. Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:45 Loaded : 26.33% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:45 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Revive Slow Gigabit Speeds Without Panicking Boosting your gigabit speeds FAQs How can I boost my internet speeds at home? Our Four Expert Tips to Help Boost Your Internet Speeds page outlines the four simple steps I cover on this page: conduct a few internet speed tests, move your workspace or router, get a Wi-Fi extender (or upgrade your router) and prioritize your work traffic. It's worth noting that many factors, such as certain materials, dense walls and even furniture, and the type of Wi-Fi band you have, can affect your internet connection. You can look into investing in an extender or mesh system to optimize your connection. If all else fails, you can contact your provider to explore your options. What is the best speed test? Ookla's speed test is known for its consistency and accuracy. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Unlike other speed tests, Ookla allows you to access your speed test history when you create an account. In addition, Android and iOS users can conduct speed tests from their mobile devices.
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It's Been a Week Since the Nintendo Switch 2 Launched: Now What?
At over 3.5 million units sold in just four days, the Nintendo Switch 2 is now the fastest-selling game console of all time, and shows no signs of stopping, with some retailers still having trouble keeping them in stock. This is all despite the jaw-dropping $450 price tag that kept some consumers from clicking "Add to Cart." Until recently, I was one of those purchase-shy shoppers, waiting for a cute, limited-edition model or an OLED screen. Then I watched several dozen social media clips of Cow winning races in Mario Kart World and got hit by a bovine load of FOMO. And despite CNET's Scott Stein insisting it was OK to wait to pick up a Switch 2, when the chance arose to pick one up directly during the console launch, I handed over my credit card with only some hesitation. But on the ride home, the smiling Mario on the box and I stared at one another like Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross at the end of The Graduate, the giddy high of ownership settling into stark reality. Had I really dropped $500 (yes, I got the bundle) for this console just to play Mario Kart? And if so -- now what? It was earlier at the Switch 2 launch in San Francisco where I spoke briefly with Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America's VP of Player and Product Experience, about how the game company planned to keep players excited after the midnight launch confetti settled. "We've got over 20 games launching on day 1," said Trinen. "That includes Mario Kart World, but that also includes a lot of games from some really important publishing and development partners." "Really, it's gonna be all about number one: the games we're launching with." Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America's VP of Player and Product Experience And that's true: Switch 2 owners can immediately play big titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6, and indie titles like Deltarune, all formatted for the Switch 2, along with upgraded versions of Switch classics like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But those are far from brand new games. In fact, beyond Mario Kart World and the $10 Welcome Party tutorial game, Nintendo can't claim any new titles until Donkey Kong Bananza is released in July. (Donkey Kong was admittedly the game Trinen was most excited to play as well.) What else is there? That question doesn't seem to worry the company. Trinen continued, "Because Nintendo Switch 2 plays all your existing Nintendo Switch games, and because so many of those games are getting either upgrade packs […] or some are getting free updates, for a lot of people, just going back and revisiting some of those games is going to be a great experience." And that ultimately turned out to be true, for me at least. Even without cool Zelda Joy-Cons or a fancier OLED screen, I'm finding a lot of joy revisiting my library with the power of the Switch 2. After winning a few Cups in Grand Prix mode in MKW, I decided to visit my friends in Dreamlight Valley and was dazzled by the quick loading times and how much smoother it played compared to my original Switch. Hello Kity Island Adventure runs great on the Nintendo Switch 2. Sunblink/Sanrio The same was true when I hopped over to Hello Kitty Island Adventure. One of my seatmates flying back from Summer Game Fest was happily blasting away in Cyberpunk 2077, a game my home computer struggles to play without overheating, on his own Switch 2. So even if what's next is technically a lot of the same games (at least until July), I'm still happy with my decision, and that's before I even get to explore GameChat and mouse mode. But I do hope we won't have to wait too much longer for truly new experiences, especially for us cozy gamers. With the San Francisco Nintendo store covered in Pikmin merch, as well as Pikmin Bloom pop-ups, well, popping up around the world, I assumed it was a sure bet Nintendo was going to have some cuddly surprises at launch for those of us not punching each other in Yakuza 0. But so far, Nintendo has shown neither hide nor Slowpoke tail of the new cozy variety. In fact, the reason I was initially holding out on buying the system at launch was that I still remember the sting of finally buying a 3DS XL in 2013, only for Nintendo to release the Animal Crossing: New Leaf edition with a cute pattern and preinstalled game a few months later. So fine, Nintendo. Take your time for now. Just promise me there will be more Tom Nook in my future.
