Internet Providers in New Orleans, LA

The two most popular ISPs in New Orleans are AT&T and Cox Communications. These two providers serve roughly 95 percent of the local population. They both offer low prices and high speeds to the vast majority of residents who call New Orleans home. Additionally, the city is served by T-Mobile Home Internet, Viasat, HughesNet, Earthlink, C Spire Fiber, and NOLA Broadband.

Fastest Internet Providers in New Orleans

Currently, AT&T and Cox offer the fastest internet plans in New Orleans. AT&T has advertised download speeds of up to 940 Mbps, while Cox goes all the way up to 1,000 Mbps. AT&T mainly offers DSL internet, branded as AT&T Internet. Its fiber service, AT&T Fiber, is available in Broadmoor, Lakeview, and Gentilly Terrace.

Cox internet plans are faster than AT&T Internet, which offers more availability than AT&T Fiber. If you can get it, AT&T Fiber plans are faster than Cox since it offers upload speeds up to 940 Mbps. However, it’s important to remember that these are just advertised plans; actual results can (and do) vary.

On average, AT&T Fiber users report average speeds of 510 Mbps, while Cox customers report average speeds of 388 Mbps. This means that, even if you choose a high-speed plan, you can expect to get speeds that are significantly less than those advertised. However, if you choose a fiber-optic plan, you can generally expect a faster, more reliable connection than you would get with cable, DSL, or satellite internet.

Cheapest Internet Service in New Orleans

As of 2021, Cox offers the cheapest internet plan in New Orleans at just $19.99 per month. This plan has advertised download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. The second cheapest plan comes from AT&T, which offers 940 Mbps for just $35 per month. On the other end of the spectrum, AT&T offers the cheapest gigabit plan, with pricing starting at $60 per month. Cox’s gigabit plan starts at $99.99 per month.

Comparing AT&T vs. Cox

Whether you’re looking for low-cost plans or top-tier speeds and features, both AT&T and Cox  have something to offer. As mentioned, they cover the vast majority of New Orleans residents, unlike some other ISPs in the area. (Earthlink, for example, only covers about half of the city.) Additionally, both AT&T and Cox have bundling packages to help you save on phone, TV, or streaming services.

AT&T offers in-house phone bundles, as well as partnerships with DIRECTV and HBO Max for entertainment bundles. Alternatively, Cox offers more in the way of in-house bundling options, as you can get phone, internet, and TV bundling packages without having to sign up for a third-party service. In any case, you can expect to pay between $50-$70 more per month for a bundled plan with either Cox or AT&T.

Digital Equity Programs in New Orleans

New Orleans funds a variety of digital equity programs ranging from digital literacy education to building a fiber network to improve the overall internet speeds in the city. Many local restaurants, public parks, libraries, and other points of interest offer free Wi-Fi to residents and visitors alike. Low-income residents in New Orleans can access low-cost internet deals through ISP programs like Cox Connect2Compete and AT&T’s Access Program.

Internet Statistics for New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is home to a diverse population of people—from out-of-state college students to large families that have lived in the city for generations. As such, the city’s internet providers meet the needs of people pursuing all types of careers—a little more than 17 percent of the population have residential fiber internet available to them. New Orleans is the 6th most-connected city in Louisiana, ahead of Gretna, Chalmette, Arabi, Meraux, and Violet. Even still, there are without access to more than one wired internet service. Those with access experience download speeds averaging 178.3 Mbps.