Best DSL Internet Providers of 2024 – CNET [CNET]

Phone line-based DSL internet boasts high availability and low pricing, but speeds and overall value can vary.

Finding the best internet provider can be challenging, especially since having an internet connection has become a necessity to live and work today. Yet much of the service available can be prohibitively expensive and subject to spotty coverage. For more affordable plans with wider coverage, you’ll want DSL internet. DSL is an excellent option for rural areas, and it doesn’t come with a number of the drawbacks and problems of satellite service, such as high latency and strict data caps, for instance. Its price tag is often considerably lower as well.

But if you choose DSL internet service because it’s cheap and readily available, be prepared for underwhelming speeds. While some DSL providers are capable of delivering an internet speed that rivals the low end of cable and fiber-optic connections, less than half of households have access to DSL internet speeds that would actually qualify as broadband internet (25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload). And if you are hoping for high speed internet service, DSL may not be for you. Speeds aren’t likely to improve much in coming years, as many providers are investing in fiber lines or other internet types like 5G or in the case of Starlink, low-orbit satellite internet.

Ultimately, the ISP internet connection quality and value of DSL comes down to your location and which internet service provider is available in your area. We’ve compiled a list of the best DSL providers to give you an idea of what to look for.

Our take – CenturyLink isn’t available to quite as many people as AT&T, but it does have a broader coverage area. A larger coverage area but smaller customer base indicates that CenturyLink operates largely in locations with lower population densities, or rural areas.

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