The state of Delaware ranks 14th in the US in terms of broadband access. Deleware excels in providing high-speed internet to the bulk of its population, with over 97% of its residents enjoying access to a broadband connection capable of 100 Mbps or faster. Additionally, over 56% of Delawareans have access to fiber-optic service, which is more than double the national average of 25% of consumers who have access to fiber internet. Recent speed tests reveal an average statewide download speed of 139.9 Mbps.
The Digital Divide in Delaware
The digital divide is the gap existing between those who have affordable access to the latest internet technologies and those who do not. With nearly even high-speed coverage throughout the three counties that make up this small state, Deleware’s digital divide may be slight but can still be seen in the following data.
At this time, 97.3% of Delawareans have access to a wired broadband connection providing speeds of 25 Mbps or faster. Still, 26,000 people in Delaware are left without a wired connection capable of the same speeds, and another 11,000 residents do not have access to a wired connection at all where they live. In addition, while 52 internet providers offer services in Deleware, 43,000 people only have one provider operating at their place of residence, making it impossible to switch, should the need arise.
Further, affordability data shows that 57.1% of Delaware’s population has access to a low-priced ($60/month or less) wired internet plan. This is above the national average of 51.5% of Americans with access to the same nationwide.
Best-Connected Cities
While Delaware is fairly evenly connected, a few cities offer the best mix of price, coverage, and speed. The five most well-connected cities in Delaware are Newark, Wilmington, Middletown, Bear, and New Castle, with Newark ranking at the top of the list.
Internet for Rural Areas in Delaware
In contrast, the cities with the worst broadband connection in Delaware are Montchanin, Kenton, Marydel, Dagsboro, and Hartly with Montchanin at the bottom of the list.
See how Delaware stacks up against other states nationwide.
Governmental Initiatives
The Delaware Department of Technology and Information has received over $3 million in federal grants since 2010 to further broadband mapping and data development within the state.
The information above is taken from a mix of public and private datasets. More about our data here.