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Copper Internet in the USA

Written by
Oct 11, 2023

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Provider Types

Providers Offering Copper Service

We've found 208 providers offering Copper service in the US. Below are stats on their coverage and speeds.

Raw Bandwidth Communications 947,622 1 0 mbps
Upstream Network 22,765 9 1000 mbps
Full Service Network 2,327 1 0 mbps
802Networks 980 1 150 mbps
Verizon Business 0 51 0 mbps
TPx Communications 0 49 0 mbps
Spectrotel 0 43 0 mbps
Windstream 0 39 0 mbps
GTT Communications 0 35 0 mbps
Access One Inc 0 30 3 mbps
Call One 0 26 1.5 mbps
Vocal IP Networx 0 22 45 mbps
altafiber 0 21 0 mbps
Global Cloud Xchange 0 21 905 mbps
CenturyLink 0 19 1000 mbps
Panterra 0 18 100 mbps
One Ring Networks 0 16 1000 mbps
NetFortris 0 14 0 mbps
T2 Technologies 0 14 50 mbps
EXA Infrastructure 0 12 0 mbps
WorxOne 0 12 10 mbps
ICS Advanced Technologies 0 11 1000 mbps
Telefonica USA 0 11 0 mbps
Everstream 0 10 0 mbps
Allied Telecom Group 0 9 0 mbps
Zayo 0 9 0 mbps
Tata Communications 0 9 0 mbps
Impulse Internet Services 0 8 15 mbps
US Signal Company 0 6 0 mbps
Utility Telecom 0 6 0 mbps
Netrix 0 6 0 mbps
Astound Business Solutions Powered by RCN 0 5 1000 mbps
NetCarrier Telecom 0 5 0 mbps
AssetBlack 0 5 100 mbps
Mammoth Networks 0 5 50 mbps
First Communications 0 4 0 mbps
TEC 0 4 25 mbps
Blackfoot Communications 0 4 30 mbps
InterGlobe 0 4 0 mbps
Xclutel Communications 0 4 0 mbps
TeleComp Computer Services 0 4 45 mbps
Tailwind 0 4 0 mbps
Xtel Communications 0 3 0 mbps
Telesystem 0 3 602 mbps
Atlantech Online 0 3 0 mbps
Aureon 0 3 30 mbps
Syringa Networks 0 3 0 mbps
NUVISIONS 0 2 100 mbps
Comporium Communications 0 2 1.5 mbps
Sail Internet 0 2 1000 mbps
Lumos Networks 0 2 10 mbps
Smartaira 0 2 1000 mbps
CS Technologies 0 2 0 mbps
Georgia Public Web 0 2 0 mbps
LS Networks 0 2 40 mbps
South Central Communications 0 2 15 mbps
Tierzero 0 2 0 mbps
Plumas Sierra Telecommunications 0 2 50 mbps
FORETHOUGHT.net 0 2 300 mbps
Port Networks 0 2 400 mbps
DataBank 0 2 1000 mbps
Dobson Fiber 0 2 1.5 mbps
Jabo Communications 0 2 0 mbps
Sterling Communications 0 2 0 mbps
Visionary Communications 0 2 100 mbps
SNET 0 2 0 mbps
Aero Communications 0 2 0 mbps
InfoStructure 0 2 15 mbps
Monmouth Telephone & Telegraph 0 1 0 mbps
Claro Internet 0 1 0 mbps
DigitalAgent 0 1 50 mbps
Clear Rate Communications 0 1 0 mbps
FirstDigital Telecom 0 1 12 mbps
Seimitsu 0 1 1.4 mbps
Dakota Carrier Network 0 1 3 mbps
Brandenburg Telecom 0 1 20 mbps
Quantum Communications 0 1 10 mbps
TDS Telecom 0 1 3 mbps
Northern Telephone and Data 0 1 50 mbps
POPP Communications 0 1 0 mbps
Westelcom Network 0 1 0 mbps
Douglas Fast Net 0 1 40 mbps
Telnet Worldwide 0 1 0 mbps
Shentel 0 1 0 mbps
DLS Internet Services 0 1 6 mbps
Public Utility District No 1 of Douglas County 0 1 1000 mbps
StarLinX Technical Services 0 1 50 mbps
Native Network 0 1 1000 mbps
509FIBER 0 1 1000 mbps
Westel 0 1 0 mbps
Hawaiian Telcom 0 1 10 mbps
Central Scott Telephone Company 0 1 100 mbps
ECSISNET 0 1 0 mbps
Chickamauga Telephone Corporation 0 1 20 mbps
Ketchikan Public Utilities 0 1 0 mbps
Salish Networks 0 1 100 mbps
Otava 0 1 0 mbps
Arvig 0 1 1.5 mbps
Iserv 0 1 100 mbps
CyberNet 0 1 300 mbps

Copper Internet In the United States

While DSL and Cable are technically transmitted over cables made from copper, our definition of copper broadband is limited to the other technologies that use copper cables. This includes traditional T-carrier lines like T1 and T3, as well as new technologies like Ethernet over copper (EoC). T1’s are usually used for multi-channel voice lines, but they can also be used for dedicated symmetrical broadband. They don’t necessarily have to connect to the internet; they can also be used as a private point-to-point network connection over any distance.

These copper connections are typically not a ready-connect type of service. They can take weeks or months to setup depending on the infrastructure already in place. The upside is that they can be used in cases where other broadband options are not available. However the cost is usually quite high. That’s why it’s rare that any of these technologies are used for a home broadband connection. It’s usually larger businesses that can justify the cost of these services.

If you are in the market for an alternative copper based internet connection for your business or home, we’ve compiled a full list of providers offering copper based technologies in the United States to help make finding the right one easier.

Should You Get T1/T3 Internet Service?

If typical internet service via fiber, DSL, and copper are not available to you, or you need a more robust business-class service, then you should look into the availability of T1 and T3 lines.

Benefits

Business Class Service

T-carriers and EoC are dedicated connections to your desired endpoint or back to the service provider’s internet backbone connection. Cable, DSL, and even fiber broadband is distributed through shared networks. While a shared network may still provide full speeds at all times, this is usually not guaranteed. Whereas a business class service like T1 is guaranteed making more suitable for mission critical applications.

Alternative to Fiber

Since EoC can achieve speeds reaching 200 Mbps or more, Ethernet can be an alternative to fiber when existing telephone cables can be used to transmit EoC. Compared to the cost of installing fiber optic cables (from the provider all the way to your premises), EoC or T3 may be a cost-effective alternative.

Limitations

Speeds Can be Slow

Newer services like Ethernet can provide really good bandwidth per dollar, but traditional T1’s are slow by their very definition. T1 is defined as a 1.544 Mbps service, which was fast back in the day, but not anymore. T3 is much faster at 45 Mbps, but cost per month can be in the $1,000s.

Cost is High

Even the low bandwidth T1’s can cost 10x as much as a home DSL connection. Costs are based on the type of service needed and the distance from the provider to the service location (the local loop).

How it Works

Coaxial Copper Cable

T-carrier was developed to carry multiple voice channels over a single twisted copper pair (telephone cable) to increase the capacity of existing infrastructure. It is a digital transmission technology that can also be used for data. A T1 line can carry 24-channels of voice simultaneously or 1.544 Mbps of data or any combination of. Since signals can degrade quickly over copper wires, repeaters must be placed every 5,000 feet or so.

Ethernet over copper uses the same ethernet protocol as we use to connect computers and local area networks, but instead of Cat5 ethernet cables, it uses multiple pairs of existing phone wires for transmission. This is an example of squeezing more out of older existing infrastructure.

Largest Copper Providers

  1. > 2.87
  2. Verizon Business
    2.24% Coverage
    > 2.24
  3. Claro Internet
    0.90% Coverage
    > 0.90
  4. TPx Communications
    0.61% Coverage
    > 0.61
  5. US Signal Company
    0.56% Coverage
    > 0.56
  6. NUVISIONS
    0.53% Coverage
    > 0.53
  7. > 0.49

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