Finest Web Suppliers in Alaska

Alaska has lots to supply, together with rugged pure magnificence, nationwide parks, gorgeous glaciers and recent seafood. Nevertheless, the choices are restricted in relation to web choices accessible to the state’s 730,000 residents. Whether or not it is fiber, fastened wi-fi, DSL or satellite tv for pc, you may should make some compromises when choosing an web service supplier in Alaska. In response to our CNET consultants, GCI is the highest decide for many within the state — if it is accessible in your neighborhood.

What’s the finest web supplier in Alaska?

GCI is CNET’s decide for the most effective web service supplier in Alaska, due to prime speeds of two.5 gigabits per second and the widest (and nonetheless rising) availability of any wired supplier within the state.

For those who’re attempting to find the bottom costs round or the quickest blazing speeds, we have additionally discovered these prime choices. One of many least expensive web plans in Alaska is obtainable by Alaska Communications that includes as much as 2,500Mbps beginning at $80 a month.

Virtually any alternative of web supplier in Alaska will include some compromises, whether or not in velocity, value or reliability. Rural residents usually have to decide on between satellite tv for pc, fastened wi-fi or DSL connections, with satellite tv for pc as the one viable choice for some. Whereas the broadband scene might sound a bit of bleak, there are causes for optimism as over $1 billion in federal funding is pouring into the state to enhance web entry in underserved communities. 

Finest web choices in Alaska in 2025

Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge

Web breakdown by metropolis in Alaska

It’s onerous to cowl the broadband choices of a whole state like Alaska and provides particular person cities the eye they deserve. That’s why we additionally compile lists of the most effective web suppliers throughout totally different cities in Alaska. We sort out particulars akin to web connection sorts, most speeds, least expensive suppliers and extra. Test again later for those who don’t discover the town you’re on the lookout for under. We’re working so as to add extra areas each week. 

Low-cost web choices in Alaska

You gained’t discover discount basement costs on web service in Alaska. Lots of the providers that are available on a budget facet within the contiguous 48 states aren’t accessible on this northern state. Meaning no bundling bargains with the likes of 5G house web service from Verizon 5G House Web or T-Cell House Web. In case your month-to-month web invoice is below $100 for an honest velocity degree, then you definitely’re doing fairly effectively in Alaska. GCI and Alaska Communications have plans for below 100, however speeds will differ primarily based on location and the kind of web connection.

Alaska broadband particulars at a look

Many rural Alaska ISPs have roots in long-time phone cooperatives which have developed to supply web providers. That’s why DSL is a typical choice for these native corporations. There are some drawbacks with legacy DSL networks, like slower prime speeds than you’ll get with cable or fiber. DSL will be serviceable when there are few different choices. FCC knowledge means that 100% of residents can entry broadband speeds, outlined as not less than 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up. That quantity contains the attain of satellite tv for pc web, which is not an amazing answer for everybody because of expense or lack of a transparent view of the sky. 

The story of fiber in Alaska is fairly slim for the time being. The FCC reveals solely about 10% of residents can entry fiber. If we have a look at gig speeds and better, that drops to simply 7%. What little fiber entry there’s tends to be targeted on extra populated areas. There are some surprising pockets of fiber. Native ISP Copper Valley Telecom providers Valdez, a metropolis of below 4,000 individuals, with speeds as much as 1,000Mbps. Fiber is all the time on the prime of house web want lists, however Alaska’s terrain and distant areas make it a difficult place to construct in depth fiber networks.

How one can discover web offers and promotions in Alaska

The perfect web offers and prime promotions in Alaska rely upon what reductions can be found throughout a given time. Most offers are short-lived, however we glance regularly for the newest provides. 

Massive suppliers run the identical customary pricing year-round in some components of the nation. The smaller and extra native suppliers in Alaska, akin to GCI, don’t comply with a sure timeline when altering their costs.

For a extra in depth checklist of promos, try our information on the finest web offers.

How briskly is Alaska’s broadband?

In terms of house web, Alaska is available in at 49 for Ookla’s This fall 2023 Speedtest.internet rating of web speeds for the 50 states (and Washington, DC). Alaska ranks on the backside of the checklist with a median obtain velocity of 119Mbps. The US total is at 262Mbps. That is fairly a distinction. Ookla lists GCI as Alaska’s quickest supplier, with a decent median obtain velocity of 284Mbps.

Quick web will be onerous to come back by within the Final Frontier. About 100% of Alaska properties can entry web speeds of not less than 100Mbps, in accordance with the FCC. Transfer as much as 250Mbps, and that dips to 70%. If quick web is a should for you and also you’re transferring to Alaska, you’ll need to do some homework about the place to land. Your finest guess for gig speeds can be within the larger cities.

As of February 2025, Ookla reviews that Alaska has a median obtain velocity of 165Mbps for fastened web. Ookla city-level knowledge confirmed Anchorage with a median fastened web obtain velocity of 250Mbps, Fairbanks was 258Mbps, and Juneau logged 272Mbps. These numbers can change over time. 

With restricted choices, switching to a sooner supplier is just not all the time possible. You’ll be able to take advantage of your web connection by following these steps to hurry up your Wi-Fi.   

What’s a superb web velocity?

Most web connection plans can now deal with primary productiveness and communication duties. For those who’re on the lookout for an web plan that may accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you may have a greater expertise with a extra sturdy connection. Here is an summary of the beneficial minimal obtain speeds for numerous functions, in accordance with the FCC. Observe that these are solely tips and that web velocity, service and efficiency differ by connection kind, supplier and deal with.

For extra info, seek advice from our information on how a lot web velocity you really want.

• 0 to 5Mbps means that you can sort out the fundamentals: shopping the web, sending and receiving e mail and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps offers you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps ought to give one consumer ample bandwidth to fulfill the calls for of recent telecommuting, video streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps permits one to 2 customers to concurrently have interaction in high-bandwidth actions like videoconferencing, streaming and on-line gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps permits three or extra customers to have interaction in high-bandwidth actions on the identical time.

How CNET selected the most effective web suppliers in Alaska

Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. Not like the newest smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen instrument, it is impractical to personally take a look at each web service supplier in a given metropolis. What’s our strategy? For starters, we faucet right into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and velocity info that attracts from our personal historic ISP knowledge, accomplice knowledge and mapping info from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov. 

It doesn’t finish there. We go to the FCC’s web site to examine our knowledge and guarantee we take into account each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to search out particular choices for residents. We have a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to guage how comfortable clients are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all info offered is correct as of publication. 

As soon as now we have this localized info, we ask three fundamental questions: 

• Does the supplier provide entry to fairly quick web speeds? 
• Do clients get respectable worth for what they’re paying? 
• Are clients proud of their service? 

Whereas the reply to these questions is commonly layered and complicated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate. When choosing the most affordable web service, we search for the plans with the bottom month-to-month charge, though we additionally consider issues like value will increase, tools charges and contracts. Selecting the quickest web service is comparatively easy. We have a look at marketed add and obtain speeds and take into account real-world velocity knowledge from sources like Ookla and FCC reviews. (Ookla is owned by the identical mum or dad firm as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we take a look at ISPs web page.

What is the last phrase on web suppliers in Alaska?

Alaska poses numerous challenges to the enlargement of high-speed and reasonably priced broadband. The terrain will be unforgiving, the climate will be excessive and lots of communities are in distant areas. Thankfully, there was a concentrate on broadband enlargement, particularly in these distant areas. Cordova Telecom Cooperative introduced in 2023 it will be putting in a submarine fiber optic cable from Cordova to Juneau to ship fiber to Pelican, Yakutat, Gustavus and Hoonah. The challenge may take 5 years to finish. Alaska may also obtain $100 million in US Division of Agriculture funding to construct out fiber (and a few wi-fi) web within the Bethel, Yukon-Kuskokwim, Kusilvak and Hoonah-Angoon areas. GCI’s work to convey fiber-based wired connections to distant communities can also be notable. In December 2023, GCI linked over 4-thousand Alaskans to entry speeds of as much as 2.5Gigs by way of its Aleutians Fiber Mission. Relating to bettering broadband, Alaska has nowhere to go however up.

Residents can count on to select from a spread of DSL, satellite tv for pc and stuck wi-fi plans. Though, choices are restricted in most distant areas, Alaskans usually have entry to satellite tv for pc suppliers like Starlink with plans beginning at $120 a month. GCI provides prime speeds of two,500Mbps for $190 a month.

Web in Alaska FAQs