In between exploring the beautiful landscapes and attending respected colleges, reliable internet service is imperative to your daily life in Tucson. If you’re planning to move to this desert-dwelling city, this thorough Internet Buyer’s Guide will help you navigate the process and find the internet plan best for you and your lifestyle.
Residential Internet Providers in Tucson, AZ
| Provider | Starting Price | Speed Range | Type Of Internet | Coverage Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | $50/mo. | 100-940 Mbps | DSL, Fiber | 93% DSL, 58% Fiber |
| Cox Communications | $29.99/mo. | 25-1000 Mbps | Cable | 61% Cable |
| XFINITY from Comcast | $29.99/mo. | 50-1200 Mbps | Cable | 36% Cable |
| Viasat Internet | $49.99/mo. | 12-100 Mbps | Satellite | 100% Satellite |
| HughesNet | $59.99/mo. | 25 Mbps | Satellite | 100% Satellite |
The table above summarizes Tucson internet providers with the greatest coverage locally.
Fastest Internet Providers in Tucson, AZ
| Provider | Maximum Speed | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| XFINITY from Comcast | 1200 Mbps | $29.99-84.99/mo. |
| Cox Communications | 1000 Mbps | $29.99-99.99/mo. |
| CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit | 940 Mbps | $50-65/mo. |
| Triad Wireless | 300 Mbps | N/A |
The providers above offer the fastest download speeds currently available to Tucson residents.
What type of internet is available in Tucson?
In Tucson, internet users have access to five types of internet: DSL, Cable, Fiber-Optic, Copper, and Satellite. DSL and satellite are the two most widely available across Tucson.
- DSL: Ideal for light internet users looking for a plan usually no faster than 10-50 Mbps, DSL is oftentimes a great budget-friendly option.
- Cable: Offering faster speeds than DSL and making use of cable TV lines, cable internet is an ideal option for gamers or internet users that like to stream movies.
- Fiber-Optic: The gold standard for users wanting high-speed internet, fiber-optic provides the fastest internet speeds in Tucson, with speeds reaching 1200 Mbps.
- Copper: Copper internet offers fast speeds, but has limited coverage in Tucson. It requires infrastructure to be installed directly from the provider to your home which is timely and costly.
- Satellite: If your household is situated in an area with limited broadband access, satellite internet is a smart way to stay connected. You’ll just need to install a dish on your roof or balcony to send and receive data.
Keep in mind that while all five are available in Tucson, they may not all be available in your specific neighborhood. Check to see what kind of internet is supported in your area.
How do I find the cheapest internet option in Tucson?
When searching for the lowest-priced internet plans in Tucson, look to providers like Cox Communications, XFINITY from Comcast and TWN Communications. There are a total of 30 providers to choose from in Tucson—14 residential providers and 16 business providers.
Cheapest internet in Tucson
- Cox Communications—$29.99/mo. for up to 25 Mbps *
- XFINITY from Comcast—$29.99/mo. for up to 50 Mbps *
- Viasat Internet—$49.99/mo. for up to 12 Mbps *
- CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit—$50/mo. for up to 200 Mbps *
- CenturyLink—$50/mo. for up to 100 Mbps *
How Much Internet Speed Do I Need In Tucson?
How much internet speed you’ll need looks different for every household and business. Depending on your lifestyle in Tucson—whether it’s owning a business, going to school at U of A, or enjoying your retirement—the majority of Tucson residents want to have fast internet speeds at an affordable monthly price. Because prices vary from plan to plan, consider what’s important to you before making your decision.
Internet users looking to do some emailing and light browsing should look at plans with speeds at a minimum of 25 Mbps. However, if you’re expecting to download large files or live in a gaming household, look at plans with at least 100 Mbps or higher to support that daily internet usage. Internet users who prefer Gigabit performance will want speeds of 1000 Mbps.
Below are the recommended download speeds based on frequent internet activities and the residential providers in Tucson that offer these speeds.
| Recommended Speeds | Type of Internet Activities | Internet Providers in Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ Mbps |
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| 100+ Mbps |
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| 1000+ Mbps |
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How do I find the fastest internet in Tucson?
XFINITY from Comcast and CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit currently provide some of the fastest internet speeds in Tucson with speeds that reach up to 1200 Mbps. If fiber is what you’re after, check to see if it’s available in your Tucson neighborhood.
Should I bundle TV or phone service in Tucson?
Bundled deals are popular in Tucson. Whether you’re running a business or looking for service for your household, bundled packages are great for getting all of your services through one provider and cutting down on monthly costs. In Tucson, Cox Communications offer double and triple play plans.
Bundled Cable Plans and Pricing in Tucson
| Internet Providers in Tucson | Services | Price Range of Bundles |
|---|---|---|
| Cox Communications | Internet + Phone + TV | $129.99-209.99/mo. |
How can I compare the major internet providers in Tucson?
When you’re moving to a new city, finding an internet provider is a necessary part of getting settled. As you’re shopping around, keep these key factors in mind to compare providers and find the plan best for you:
- Price: Deciding your monthly internet budget should be one of your first steps. This will help you narrow down your options based on what you can comfortably pay each month.
- Speed: Whether it’s for bookkeeping services or movie streaming, research how you, your household, and/or your business use the internet each day. This will help indicate what internet speeds you’ll need to keep up with your daily internet usage.
- Data Caps: On your next bill, track how much data you’ve used for the month. This will help determine how much data to look for and whether or not you’d need more or less with your new plan.
- Contracts: Anticipate contracts around 1-2 years in length from most internet providers in Tucson. For short-term residents, you may want to check to see if your local provider offers contract-free plans.
What do I need to keep in mind when moving to Tucson?
Whether it’s the great outdoors or the impressive universities calling your name, Tucson is home to many different kinds of internet users. As you’re planning to move to Tucson, consider these important factors when leaving your current internet provider and finding a new one.
Take some time to consider your overall satisfaction with your current provider—your likes, dislikes, the limitations of your plan, etc. If you’re happy with their service, check to see if they’re available in your new Tucson neighborhood. If they are, it’s as simple as talking with a representative about transferring your service to your new address. If you’re not satisfied with their service, take note of what you don’t like and keep that in mind during your search for a new internet provider.
Also, keep in mind the possibility of early termination fees if you’re leaving your contract early. In Tucson, early termination fees typically range from $0-400. Be sure to thoroughly read your contract before you cancel, or sign a new contract, to understand what fees you may be expected to pay.
Lastly, be sure to keep in mind the length of your contract. As mentioned previously, Tucson contracts generally range from 1-2 years, depending on the internet provider. If you anticipate moving within the year, check to see if any local providers offer contract-free plans such as TWN Communications and Simply Bits.
Installation Fees in Tucson
In Tucson, professional installation fees vary depending on the provider, but can range from $0 to . If you choose to self-installation, you may still have to pay some fees for the provider’s self-install kit. However, always ask a representative, as sometimes they will waive installation fees as a promotional deal.
How much data do you need for your home or business internet in Tucson?
Deciding how much data you’ll need for your home or business depends on what your internet usage looks like from day to day. If you’re anticipating high data usage, look to providers like Viasat Internet and TWN Communications—who both offer unlimited data with their plans. Otherwise, providers like Simply Bits and CenturyLink offer data caps of at least 1 TB of data.
What are the most-connected neighborhoods in Tucson?
In most Tucson neighborhoods there is an average of 2-3 internet providers available for internet users to choose from, with TWN Communications and Bluespan as the most available. Neighborhoods like Flowing Wells, Casas Adobes, and the area southeast of the Catalina Foothills have up to four internet providers available to them.
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Internet Statistics for Tucson, Arizona
Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman, a recent retiree, or a student at the University of Arizona—a reliable internet plan is a must. Tucson ranks as the 4th most-connected city in Arizona. The city averages a download speed of 116.5 Mbps and is ahead of ahead of Green Valley, Sahuarita, Vail, and Oracle. Tucson residents have an average of four choices for broadband-quality service in their neighborhoods. TWN Communications, Bluespan and Triad Wireless are the top providers that have widespread coverage in the city. That being said, only five percent of people have access to fiber internet and approximately 83,000 people in Pima county don’t have access to one or any wired internet service.
