Those that dwell in Bakersfield, California, have a blended bag with regards to the web. The nice? It seems that 100% of residents have entry to a plan with at the very least 100Mbps obtain and 20Mbps add speeds — the Federal Communications Fee’s proposed minimal for broadband — and it’s one of many prime 50 cities within the nation by median velocity.
Then what is the unhealthy? The choices for high-speed web in Bakersfield are nonetheless very restricted. Whereas AT&T Fiber is now obtainable to round one in 5 households (with costs beginning at $55), Spectrum is the one possibility in lots of neighborhoods. Wi-fi suppliers like T-Cellular and Verizon additionally supply residence web plans now, however their speeds are inclined to fluctuate greater than wired connections. Plans supplied by each suppliers begin at $50 and go as much as $70.
On the brilliant aspect, in 2022 the Bakersfield Metropolis Council accepted a cope with SiFi Networks to construct and preserve a fiber community alongside each road within the metropolis without charge to taxpayers. SiFi will then promote community entry to personal web suppliers. In accordance with a presentation given to the Board of Supervisors, residents would pay about $60 every month for 10,000Mbps. For comparability, AT&T at present expenses $245 for five,000Mbps. However the challenge is at present within the design section, with no clear timetable for building but.
Finest web choices in Bakersfield
CNET examines customer support, velocity, pricing and general worth earlier than recommending one of the best broadband in your space. For a very long time, Spectrum was basically the one possibility for high-speed web in Bakersfield. Then, in 2015, AT&T agreed to broaden its fiber-optic community to twenty new metro areas inside 4 years as part of its deal to purchase DirecTV. In 2017, AT&T Fiber formally launched in Bakersfield, instantly turning into the town’s greatest web possibility. It is at present obtainable to 79% of Bakersfield households.
Be aware: The costs, speeds and options detailed within the article textual content could differ from these listed within the product element playing cards, which characterize suppliers’ nationwide choices. Your specific web service choices — together with costs and speeds — rely in your handle and should differ from these detailed right here.
Prime Bakersfield web suppliers
| Supplier | Web expertise | Month-to-month value vary | Velocity vary | Month-to-month tools prices | Knowledge cap | Contract | CNET evaluation rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber Learn full evaluation |
Fiber | $55-$245 | 300-5,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| AT&T Web Air Learn full evaluation |
Fastened Wi-fi | $60 | 768Kbps-100Mbps | None | 1.5TB (no knowledge cap for 100Mbps plan) | None | 7.4 |
| Spectrum Learn full evaluation |
Cable | $50-$70 | 500-1,000Mbps | $10 | None | None | 7.2 |
| T-Cellular House Web Learn full evaluation |
Fastened wi-fi | $50-$70 ($30-$50 with eligible cellular plans) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G House Web Learn full evaluation |
Fastened wi-fi | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with eligible cellphone plan) | 50-250Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
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Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.
What different web choices are there in Bakersfield?
We expect the three suppliers highlighted above are your greatest choices for web in Bakersfield, however there are a number of different ISPs you’ll be able to contemplate:
- Utilized Know-how Group: For residents in rural areas round Bakersfield, Utilized Know-how Group presents mounted wi-fi web plans with speeds as much as 35Mbps. If the selection is between Utilized and satellite tv for pc web, we’d in all probability go along with Utilized. However in each different state of affairs, there’s in all probability a greater possibility.
- unWired Broadband: That is one other mounted wi-fi supplier within the space, with plans beginning at $60 month-to-month. It’s focused in the direction of individuals residing in rural areas; once we requested them for a quote for an handle within the metropolis, they really advisable we glance into Spectrum or AT&T as a substitute. In case you can’t get the rest, unWired could also be price a glance.
- Satellite tv for pc web: Firms like Hughesnet and Viasat supply web service at nearly each handle within the nation, nevertheless it’s solely your only option if it’s your solely possibility. Satellite tv for pc web comes with gradual speeds, low knowledge caps and excessive costs. One exception is Starlink, which supplies considerably sooner speeds however prices $120 a month with a $349 tools charge upfront.
- Verizon 5G House Web: Like T-Cellular, Verizon’s residence web service presents wi-fi web all through Bakersfield. It has two plans: $50 a month for obtain speeds as much as 85Mbps or $70 for speeds as much as 250Mbps. Each plans get an honest low cost when bundled with qualifying Verizon 5G cellular plans.
Pricing particulars on Bakersfield residence web service
Bakersfield residents can count on to pay between $50 and $90 a month for web service, which is about common for cities throughout the nation. That mentioned, there’s a lack of actually low-cost web plans within the metropolis, with beginning costs round $50 month-to-month.
Most cost-effective web plans in Bakersfield
| Supplier | Beginning value | Max obtain velocity | Month-to-month tools charge | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum Learn full evaluation |
$50 | 500Mbps | $10 | None |
| Verizon 5G House Web Learn full evaluation |
$50 ($35 with eligible cellular plans) | 85Mbps | None | None |
| T-Cellular House Web Learn full evaluation |
$50 ($30 with eligible cellular plans) | 245Mbps | None | None |
| AT&T Fiber Learn full evaluation |
$55 | 300Mbps | None | None |
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Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.
Quickest web plans in Bakersfield
There are solely two suppliers providing gig speeds — obtain speeds reaching 1,000Mbps — however they’re each good choices. AT&T’s fiber plans go all the best way as much as 5,000Mbps, which is way over most individuals want, nevertheless it’s a pleasant possibility for ultra-connected good houses. Whereas Spectrum’s obtain speeds attain 1,000Mbps, households that do numerous working from residence or gaming would possibly run into points with its 35Mbps add speeds.
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Supply: CNET evaluation of supplier knowledge.
How CNET selected one of the best web suppliers in Bakersfield
Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. In contrast to the newest smartphone, laptop computer, router or kitchen software, 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 data that attracts from our personal historic ISP knowledge, accomplice knowledge and mapping data 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 contemplate 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 take a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to guage how joyful clients are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent adjustments; all data supplied is correct as of publication.
As soon as we’ve this localized data, we ask three important questions:
- Does the supplier supply entry to fairly quick web speeds?
- Do clients get first rate worth for what they’re paying?
- Are clients pleased with their service?
Whereas the solutions to these questions are sometimes layered and complicated, the suppliers that come closest to “sure” on all three are those we suggest. When choosing the most cost effective web service, we search for the plans with the bottom month-to-month charge, though we additionally think about issues like value will increase, tools charges and contracts. Selecting the quickest web service is comparatively easy. We take a look at marketed add and obtain speeds and contemplate real-world velocity knowledge from sources like Ookla and FCC reviews. (Disclosure: 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’s the ultimate phrase on web suppliers in Bakersfield?
Bakersfield residents aren’t precisely swimming in nice choices for web, however all residents have entry to at the very least one supplier providing 100/20Mbps speeds — the brand new minimal broadband velocity proposed by the FCC. Whereas AT&T Fiber is by far the only option within the metropolis, not all residents have entry to their fiber plans. Nonetheless, Spectrum and T-Cellular are each good backup choices.
Bakersfield web FAQs
Which is one of the best web service supplier in Bakersfield?
AT&T Fiber is one of the best web supplier in Bakersfield, with plans beginning at $55 month-to-month for 300Mbps obtain and add speeds. Spectrum’s cable web is a distant second, with a lot decrease add speeds and value hikes within the second 12 months.
Is fiber web obtainable in Bakersfield?
Sure. AT&T presents 100% fiber-optic web plans with speeds as much as 5,000Mbps in some areas. Nonetheless, fiber web is at present solely obtainable to 21% of Bakersfield households.
What’s the most cost-effective web supplier in Bakersfield?
There are three web suppliers that provide web plans beginning at $50 a month in Bakersfield: Spectrum, T-Cellular and Verizon. That mentioned, each T-Cellular and Verizon supply reductions for cellphone clients that carry the value down considerably. Moreover, AT&T Fiber plans begin at $55.
Which web supplier in Bakersfield presents the quickest plan?
AT&T Fiber presents the quickest web plan in Bakersfield, with 5,000Mbps obtainable at some addresses. Spectrum additionally has gig-speed plans in Bakersfield — 1,000Mbps obtain — however add speeds are simply 35Mbps.