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USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Top cheap internet providers in San Diego, CA in 2025: Compare plans and prices
San Diego's internet landscape features a variety of options for homes and businesses. Residents can choose from cable, fiber-optic and wireless services to meet their internet needs. Internet access is important for work, school and streaming. In San Diego, several national providers offer plans at different price points. Understanding the choices helps residents find affordable internet and reliable service. This guide compares leading providers, including Cox, Verizon 5G, T-Mobile, Spectrum and AT&T, highlighting available plans, speeds and costs to help readers make informed decisions. These companies are considered the top cheap internet providers in San Diego due to their broad coverage, range of plans and competitive prices. Each provider has different strengths, such as speed, price or contract flexibility, making it important for customers to compare options. Top cheap internet service providers in San Diego, CA San Diego, CA, has a competitive internet market with several national providers offering services across the city. These providers are ranked from cheapest to most expensive based on base plan costs: Compare the best cheap internet providers in San Diego, CA Spectrum is a cable internet provider with wide coverage in San Diego. Its plans do not have data caps and do not require contracts. Spectrum offers bundled options with TV and phone services. The network is known for stable speeds and straightforward pricing. Here's a quick look at Spectrum provider plan options in San Diego: Read our full Spectrum review. Cox is a cable internet provider with wide coverage in San Diego. It offers multiple plans with varying speeds, making it suitable for a range of users. Cox is known for flexible month-to-month terms and the option to bundle with TV or phone services. Cox internet is powered by fiber, but connected via a coaxial cable line. Its plans include data caps, but they are high enough for most households. Here's a quick look at Cox provider plan options in San Diego: Read our full Cox Internet review. Verizon 5G Home Internet uses wireless technology to deliver internet to homes. It is available in many San Diego neighborhoods and provides an alternative to traditional wired services. Verizon's plans feature straightforward pricing, no annual contracts and no data caps. Here's a quick look at Verizon 5G provider plan options in San Diego: Read our full Verizon 5G home internet review. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is a wireless service that uses T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE networks. It is available in most areas of San Diego. Plans are simple with no annual contract or data cap. T-Mobile's easy setup makes it popular for renters and those looking for a quick start. Here's a quick look at T-Mobile's provider plan options in San Diego: Read our full T-Mobile home internet review. AT&T offers fiber and fixed wireless internet in parts of San Diego. Its fiber-optic plans are the fastest out of all the providers in our San Diego guide. AT&T plans feature no annual contracts and unlimited data for fiber connections. Here's a quick look at AT&T fiber plan options in San Diego: Which internet providers offer the cheapest internet in San Diego, CA? Spectrum is the cheapest internet provider in our San Diego guide. Based on the lowest advertised monthly plan prices, here are the providers ranked from cheapest to most expensive: What are the fastest internet options in San Diego, CA? The fastest internet provider in our San Diego guide is AT&T. Download speeds matter because faster speeds support more devices and let users stream, game or work with fewer interruptions. High speeds are important for large households or heavy internet use. Here are the providers ranked from fastest to slowest maximum download speeds: How to choose an internet service provider in San Diego, CA There are several things to consider before choosing an internet provider in San Diego, including: What types of internet are available in San Diego, CA? San Diego residents have a variety of choices when it comes to types of internet connections. Common internet connection types include: Are there any special programs for affordable internet in San Diego? Several providers offer low-cost internet programs in San Diego. To qualify, you must meet eligibility requirements. Contributing: Robin Layton, Hannah Whatley, Allconnect This article was edited with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. Learn more about Gannett's AI guidelines and policy here. Our team of editors independently makes all recommendations. When you buy a product or subscribe to a service through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Forbes
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
AT&T's Connected Car: Wi-Fi That Beats Your Mobile Device
As personal vehicles evolve into mobile technology platforms rather than merely serving as means of transportation, consumers now demand reliable, high-speed connectivity wherever they drive. To meet these expectations—and to provide connectivity that goes beyond what a standard mobile phone can offer—AT&T offers its Connected Car technology. AT&T Connected Car technology is a set of services and hardware that allows your vehicle to function as a Wi-Fi hotspot, enabling internet connectivity on the road for all passengers. This technology uses your car's built-in cellular antenna—typically more powerful than a standard handheld mobile phone antenna—to connect to AT&T's 4G LTE or 5G network (covering most major highways and interstates in the United States). The system supports streaming, browsing, work, and smart assistants like Alexa and Google, both inside and around the vehicle—allowing passengers to stream video and music, play games, and catch up on work right from their vehicle. While Connected Car technology may be added to many vehicles, many automakers (including General Motors, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Infiniti, Audi, and Volkswagen) offer integrated AT&T connected car technology, enabling new vehicles to be sold with factory-installed in-car Wi-Fi and connected features that run on AT&T's cellular network. To understand more about the company's Connect Car offering, I interviewed Matt Harden, AVP business development at AT+T: How would you explain how AT&T helps enable connected cars in simple, everyday language? 'AT&T works with the vast majority of automotive manufacturers to power their vehicles' connectivity with built-in AT&T Connected Car SIMs. This effectively turns the vehicle into a smartphone on wheels, providing connectivity for the vehicle's embedded features and applications on the head unit and passenger screens, as well as enabling the vehicle to broadcast its own Wi-Fi hotspot for brought-in devices. AT&T's network covers more roads than any other carrier, allowing customers to stay connected even on the go. Beyond convenience and entertainment, AT&T embedded SIMs provide peace of mind by enabling safety and security features and allowing remote over-the-air software updates when they're needed, not just when a customer can get to their local dealer.' How extensive is AT&T's network coverage, especially in rural or remote areas? 'AT&T covers more roads than any other carrier across nationwide US Interstates, US Highways, State Highways, and other main roads. As the leading provider of connected car services in the US for over a decade, AT&T has invested heavily to expand its infrastructure in remote and rural areas. Our partnership with AST SpaceMobile will continue our commitment to keeping people connected even in less-populated areas.' How is a vehicle with a built-in AT&T Connected Car SIM different from tethering your phone to the vehicle (e.g., Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, etc.)? 'AT&T's embedded Connected Car SIM provides continuous, reliable, and secure connectivity. Unlike tethering a smartphone for connectivity, connected vehicles using AT&T embedded SIMs are 'always on'—no cords, no hassle. Vehicle connectivity is designed for vehicles in motion, with stronger antennas that provide stronger, more reliable signal strength and less interruption than a mobile device, particularly in remote areas.' Which automakers and models currently support AT&T in-car Wi-Fi, how can consumers check if their car is compatible, and is it possible to add this technology to older vehicles? 'More than 60 of the top global automotive brands trust AT&T with their connectivity needs. Consumers who are interested in AT&T In-Car Wi-Fi can check compatibility by visiting and entering their VIN. Some of our partner automotive manufacturers also offer integrated sign-up via their OEM-branded mobile companion app and/or directly in the head unit under a Wi-Fi hotspot. Eligible vehicles can receive a free trial of in-car Wi-Fi service and can choose from monthly or annual plans.' In terms of pricing, AT+T Connected Car plans typically cost around $10–$20 per month. They are available as add-ons to existing AT&T phone plans or as standalone subscriptions (there are often promotional trials for new vehicles). For older vehicles, AT&T offers HARMAN Spark, a plug-in device for most cars from 1996 onward, that provides LTE connectivity, vehicle diagnostics, security features, driving tips, on-demand roadside assistance, and in-app payments. AT&T's Connected Car services deliver stronger, more reliable, and more comprehensive in-vehicle Wi-Fi than handheld phones. It's perfect for families needing dependable streaming for multiple passengers, frequent travelers (and adventurers) seeking consistent connectivity for navigation and emergency alerts, and business users requiring uninterrupted access to video calls, email, and cloud services—all without relying on a battery- and connection-dependant mobile phone.
Android Authority
26-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Save 15% on this SIMO Solis Lite hotspot and get 1GB monthly for free
Are you often feeling data anxious? We live in a very connected world, and we rely on the internet more than ever. A dedicated hotspot device can be convenient, especially if you travel often. Check out this deal on the SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, which is currently $24.01 off. The discount is not really the most important part here, though. What's more exciting is that you'll get 1GB of data for free monthly! Get the SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot with a free 1GB of data monthly for $135.98 ($24.01 off) This offer is available from Amazon, and it is a 'limited time deal.' That said, SIMO provides the service. Want to know more? Let's talk about the device first. The SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot can provide a Wi-Fi connection for your devices. The internet is provided by a variety of network providers in over 140 countries, and this will change depending on where you are. The device supports 4G LTE, which is often pretty fast. Max speeds can reach 150Mbps down and 50Mbps up. You can connect up to 10 devices to it, which isn't much, but should satisfy your on-the-go needs easily. How many devices would you really take on your trips? It has a 16-hour battery life. The cool part is that, if you're willing to sacrifice some of that juice, you can use it as a power bank. The 4,700mAh internal battery can juice up other devices in a pinch. All things considered, it's actually a pretty nice hotspot for the price, but what really makes it stand out are its services and convenience. For starters, all users get 1GB of data for free every month. This is 'global data,' which means you can use it in any of the more than 140 countries supported worldwide. If you're going to be using the hotspot for more than the basics, a GB won't be enough. Luckily, SIMO has plenty of options for you. You can pay per GB, per day, or per month. Of course, there are some limitations. For example, the unlimited monthly plans are throttled after 100GB of use in a single month. The only exception is the global unlimited plan, which is limited to 20GB. The options don't seem too bad for what you get. The unlimited plans range between $89 and $99 per month. If all you need is a GB here and there, you can pay between $8 and $12 for those. We can see this being a great alternative for frequent flyers, RV travelers, campers, and digital nomads. It will ensure you always have a reliable internet connection. Not to mention that free GB per month is a really nice addition! Go get yours while it's on sale.
CNET
11-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
5G Internet Is Beating Fiber in Customer Satisfaction: Here's Why 5G Might Be Here to Stay
Since its widespread launch in 2019, 5G home internet has become a staple in many urban homes and a viable solution for rural connectivity. While I generally tout a 'fiber-first' mindset when recommending cost-efficient, reliable high-speed internet options, 5G has often surpassed my expectations, and consumers seem to think so, too. J.D. Power data from 2024 and 2025 suggests that customers prefer fixed wireless internet, specifically 5G or 4G LTE, over both fiber and cable internet. The report finds that even while adoption has grown to nearly 12 million subscribers, a 47% increase since last year, customer satisfaction has remained stable in the past two years. J.D. Power Technology, Media & Telecom Intelligence Report June 2025 That's a significant achievement, even if subscribers are still in the 'honeymoon phase,' as Carl Lepper, senior director of the technology, media and telecommunications intelligence practice at J.D. Power, writes in the report. 'I think there's a bit of a halo effect,' Lepper told me. 'I do think there are a lot of people who were early adopters who loved it because it gave them an option they didn't have, and it gave them a price point they didn't have before.' That echoes the thoughts of a former CNET colleague, Rick Broida, who tested T-Mobile's 5G home internet service in 2021 and concluded, 'Imperfection is a lot more tolerable when you're paying less than half what you were before.' Locating local internet providers As more consumers sign up for 5G internet, the fact that the 5G home internet services continue to receive high marks is impressive. The American Customer Satisfaction Index also affirms customer satisfaction with 5G, with scores for non-fiber providers trending upwards. In contrast, fiber scores remained stagnant, and for the first time, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet tied with AT&T Fiber for first place overall. As an industry, broadband receives pretty low customer satisfaction scores overall, and it's not hard to see why. Everything from navigating confusing marketing lingo, dealing with sales-forward customer service and paying expensive monthly bills makes for a frustrating internet user experience. Plus, if you have an unreliable internet connection, it may not seem like you're getting the most out of your money. A recent CNET survey found that 63% of US adults are paying, on average, $195 more for their internet service than last year. J.D. Power Technology, Media & Telecom Intelligence Report April 2024 As an internet solution for rural communities without the luxury of fiber internet or the infrastructure of cable networks, 5G is an increasingly appealing alternative, especially over DSL, slower fixed wireless internet and satellite internet. Recent FCC data shows that the nation's biggest 5G provider, T-Mobile, covers 64% of households nationwide, and a significant portion of its coverage is rural. 'Is it a better product than fiber? Absolutely not,' Lepper said. 'No one would say it is, but it's hitting all the other buttons just right.' 5G may not always be consistent, but it's getting better J.D. Power uses several metrics to gauge customer satisfaction with broadband, the most notable being the level of trust an internet user has with an ISP. Fixed wireless internet is generally more unreliable than fiber internet since it's more susceptible to congestion and requires proximity to a tower and good weather conditions. However, it has substantially improved over the years. Former CNET writer Eli Blumenthal switched from Spectrum to Verizon 5G and hands-on tested T-Mobile 5G and AT&T Internet Air. While Blumenthal didn't get consistent gigabit speeds with any provider, each connection handled the stress of heavy bandwidth tasks from multiple users just fine. In that vein, I'll note that CNET router expert and broadband writer Joe Supan spent a week testing AT&T Internet Air in his apartment in Seattle and found the speeds sorely lagging -- they barely passed 10Mbps down. Still, while Supan's experience emphasizes the potential inconsistencies of 5G internet, AT&T Internet Air is a preferred alternative to AT&T's legacy DSL network and is much easier to install in rural communities than fiber. Additionally, while fiber providers often emphasize lightning-fast speeds, that speed only gets you so far. Depending on your internet usage and the number of devices in your home, you probably don't need more than 100 or 300Mbps of download speed. Equipment upgrades from T-Mobile 5G Home Internet have allowed the provider to boost speed maximums to 415Mbps down. That's quite an improvement from when T-Mobile 5G Home Internet first debuted in 2021. Broida was one of the earliest adopters of the service, and he saw max speeds of 132Mbps down and a low speed of 6.8Mbps, but those average speeds were still more than fine to get through the work day. In fact, you probably won't be able to tell the difference between 300Mbps of download speed and 1,000Mbps of download speed. What you can pick up on, however, is latency, lag and congestion. The true measure of a good internet connection is it's overall reliability, and if this latest batch of high customer approval ratings for the service suggests anything, it's that 5G has some staying power. What's next for 5G? The promise and convenience of 5G lie in the fact that mobile network operators can use the same technology powering our phones to get us online at home. But that technology has some limitations, like the amount of licensed spectrum, for example. 'There is a finite amount of spectrum,' Alex Roytblat, vice president of worldwide regulatory affairs at the Wi-Fi Alliance, told me in a previous interview. 'It's like real estate.' Major 5G internet providers Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet use a mixture of frequency bands, such as millimeter-wave, low-band and midband 5G spectrums, to optimize customer experience. 'The higher in frequency you go, the more challenging it becomes to propagate the signal,' Roytblat said. 'The attenuation of the signal becomes greater as the frequency increases.' Concerns of spectral efficiency, or the limits to what information we can transmit in a communication channel, are also at play in the effectiveness of 5G. In fact, due to 'network capacity,' T-Mobile 5G Home Internet has a waitlist of around 1 million people. After covering the broadband industry for nearly two decades, Lepper is optimistic about how 5G technology will evolve in the hands of today's major mobile network operators. 'I'm always amazed how much control the industry has over the new technology, and what's next is already ready to go,' Lepper said. 'I think 5G has been extremely well-marketed.' Telecoms like Huawei and Bell Canada have successfully tested new technology to improve spectral efficiency. In February, Verizon 5G achieved record-breaking upload speeds of 480Mbps, mainly due to the newly opened 6-GHz band. 'The MNOs [mobile network operators] of the world have such a strong network that is impressive now,' said Lepper. 'When it taps out, will they have the next thing ready to go? Absolutely.'
CNET
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
Beyond the Hype: J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey Confirms 5G Internet Might Be Here to Stay
Since its widespread launch in 2019, 5G home internet has become a staple in many urban homes and a viable solution for rural connectivity. While I generally tout a 'fiber-first' mindset when recommending cost-efficient, reliable high-speed internet options, 5G has often surpassed my expectations, and consumers seem to think so, too. J.D. Power data from 2024 and 2025 suggests that customers prefer fixed wireless internet, specifically 5G or 4G LTE, over both fiber and cable internet. The report finds that even while adoption has grown to nearly 12 million subscribers, a 47% increase since last year, customer satisfaction has remained stable in the past two years. J.D. Power Technology, Media & Telecom Intelligence Report June 2025 That's a significant achievement, even if subscribers are still in the 'honeymoon phase,' as Carl Lepper, senior director of the technology, media and telecommunications intelligence practice at J.D. Power, writes in the report. 'I think there's a bit of a halo effect,' Lepper told me. 'I do think there are a lot of people who were early adopters who loved it because it gave them an option they didn't have, and it gave them a price point they didn't have before.' That echoes the thoughts of a former CNET colleague, Rick Broida, who tested T-Mobile's 5G home internet service in 2021 and concluded, 'Imperfection is a lot more tolerable when you're paying less than half what you were before.' Locating local internet providers As more consumers sign up for 5G internet, the fact that the 5G home internet services continue to receive high marks is impressive. The American Customer Satisfaction Index also affirms customer satisfaction with 5G, with scores for non-fiber providers trending upwards. In contrast, fiber scores remained stagnant, and for the first time, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet tied with AT&T Fiber for first place overall. As an industry, broadband receives pretty low customer satisfaction scores overall, and it's not hard to see why. Everything from navigating confusing marketing lingo, dealing with sales-forward customer service and paying expensive monthly bills makes for a frustrating internet user experience. Plus, if you have an unreliable internet connection, it may not seem like you're getting the most out of your money. A recent CNET survey found that 63% of US adults are paying, on average, $195 more for their internet service than last year. J.D. Power Technology, Media & Telecom Intelligence Report April 2024 As an internet solution for rural communities without the luxury of fiber internet or the infrastructure of cable networks, 5G is an increasingly appealing alternative, especially over DSL, slower fixed wireless internet and satellite internet. Recent FCC data shows that the nation's biggest 5G provider, T-Mobile, covers 64% of households nationwide, and a significant portion of its coverage is rural. 'Is it a better product than fiber? Absolutely not,' Lepper said. 'No one would say it is, but it's hitting all the other buttons just right.' 5G may not always be consistent, but it's getting better J.D. Power uses several metrics to gauge customer satisfaction with broadband, the most notable being the level of trust an internet user has with an ISP. Fixed wireless internet is generally more unreliable than fiber internet since it's more susceptible to congestion and requires proximity to a tower and good weather conditions. However, it has substantially improved over the years. Former CNET writer Eli Blumenthal switched from Spectrum to Verizon 5G and hands-on tested T-Mobile 5G and AT&T Internet Air. While Blumenthal didn't get consistent gigabit speeds with any provider, each connection handled the stress of heavy bandwidth tasks from multiple users just fine. In that vein, I'll note that CNET router expert and broadband writer Joe Supan spent a week testing AT&T Internet Air in his apartment in Seattle and found the speeds sorely lagging -- they barely passed 10Mbps down. Still, while Supan's experience emphasizes the potential inconsistencies of 5G internet, AT&T Internet Air is a preferred alternative to AT&T's legacy DSL network and is much easier to install in rural communities than fiber. Additionally, while fiber providers often emphasize lightning-fast speeds, that speed only gets you so far. Depending on your internet usage and the number of devices in your home, you probably don't need more than 100 or 300Mbps of download speed. Equipment upgrades from T-Mobile 5G Home Internet have allowed the provider to boost speed maximums to 415Mbps down. That's quite an improvement from when T-Mobile 5G Home Internet first debuted in 2021. Broida was one of the earliest adopters of the service, and he saw max speeds of 132Mbps down and a low speed of 6.8Mbps, but those average speeds were still more than fine to get through the work day. In fact, you probably won't be able to tell the difference between 300Mbps of download speed and 1,000Mbps of download speed. What you can pick up on, however, is latency, lag and congestion. The true measure of a good internet connection is it's overall reliability, and if this latest batch of high customer approval ratings for the service suggests anything, it's that 5G has some staying power. What's next for 5G? The promise and convenience of 5G lie in the fact that mobile network operators can use the same technology powering our phones to get us online at home. But that technology has some limitations, like the amount of licensed spectrum, for example. 'There is a finite amount of spectrum,' Alex Roytblat, vice president of worldwide regulatory affairs at the Wi-Fi Alliance, told me in a previous interview. 'It's like real estate.' Major 5G internet providers Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet use a mixture of frequency bands, such as millimeter-wave, low-band and midband 5G spectrums, to optimize customer experience. 'The higher in frequency you go, the more challenging it becomes to propagate the signal,' Roytblat said. 'The attenuation of the signal becomes greater as the frequency increases.' Concerns of spectral efficiency, or the limits to what information we can transmit in a communication channel, are also at play in the effectiveness of 5G. In fact, due to 'network capacity,' T-Mobile 5G Home Internet has a waitlist of around 1 million people. After covering the broadband industry for nearly two decades, Lepper is optimistic about how 5G technology will evolve in the hands of today's major mobile network operators. 'I'm always amazed how much control the industry has over the new technology, and what's next is already ready to go,' Lepper said. 'I think 5G has been extremely well-marketed.' Telecoms like Huawei and Bell Canada have successfully tested new technology to improve spectral efficiency. In February, Verizon 5G achieved record-breaking upload speeds of 480Mbps, mainly due to the newly opened 6-GHz band. 'The MNOs [mobile network operators] of the world have such a strong network that is impressive now,' said Lepper. 'When it taps out, will they have the next thing ready to go? Absolutely.'
