Internet Providers in San Diego, California

Best Internet Providers in San Diego, CA

The very best internet service provider in San Diego, California, is AT&T Fiber. AT&T, the company, actually offers two major types of internet in San Diego: a fiber option (AT&T Fiber) and an IPBB internet service called AT&T Internet. We consider the fiber offerings from AT&T to be the best choice for most users in San Diego because these plans offer blazing symmetrical speeds of up to 5 Gbps.

In areas not served by AT&T Fiber, you could opt for AT&T Internet. But we recommend looking at one of the city’s two cable internet providers as your second choice. Depending on where you are in San Diego, your local cable provider will likely be either Spectrum or Cox (and you probably won’t be able to access both).

While cable doesn’t have symmetrical speeds — meaning that upload speeds on cable internet will be slower than download speeds — it still has excellent broadband internet download speeds. Streaming movies and working from home are no problem with a cable provider. Cable providers also typically allow you to bundle a pay TV plan with your internet service, and Spectrum and Cox are no exceptions.

Fastest Internet Providers in San Diego, CA

Fiber is the fastest type of internet connection, so it’s no surprise that a fiber provider is the fastest option in San Diego: AT&T Internet. The fastest plan available reaches speeds of up to 5 Gbps.

San Diego’s local cable internet providers, Spectrum (1 Gbps) and Cox (2 Gbps) are pretty fast, too. Depending on your internet needs, you may find that these cable speeds are sufficient.

Internet Availability in San Diego, CA

When it comes to cable internet providers, San Diego is divided more or less right down the middle from east to west. The border between Spectrum territory and Cox territory is the San Diego river.

North of the San Diego River, you’re in Spectrum territory. Spectrum will be your cable internet option in Bay Park, Linda Vista, Serra Mesa, Allied Gardens, and pretty much all points north of those neighborhoods, all the way up to the Carmel Country Highlands. (Spectrum also serves some areas north of San Diego proper, like Del Mar.) If you’re sitting in class at UC San Diego or golfing at Torrey Pines, you’re in Spectrum’s territory.

Cox’s domain is just across the San Diego River. South of the river, meaning Ocean Beach, Old Town, Mission Hills, Hillcrest, and so on, is Cox’s area. Their network extends all the way down into neighboring Chula Vista and beyond, and it covers all of downtown San Diego as it goes. The Gaslamp District and San Diego Zoo are also part of the Cox kingdom.

Of course, that’s just the cable providers. AT&T doesn’t pay any attention to Cox or Spectrum’s territory. You’ll be able to get AT&T home internet plans at virtually any address in any neighborhood of San Diego.

The important thing to consider with AT&T, however, is whether you have access to the company’s premium AT&T Fiber product. AT&T’s fiber footprint blankets neighborhoods north and east of Balboa Park, with particularly good coverage in Mission Hills, North Park, Burlingame, and Altadena. These aren’t the only areas with AT&T Fiber, though, so it’s worth checking availability in your area before you give up.