Texas is big enough that "internet providers in Texas" is really a dozen different answers. A house in a Fort Worth suburb and a house forty minutes outside Lubbock are served by different companies, different wires, and different prices.
This guide uses the FCC's coverage data for all 13.9 million Texas homes and businesses to show you which providers reach the most addresses, how the big cities differ, and what to do in the weeks before you move in.
Which internet providers cover the most homes in Texas?
Here are the providers that reach the largest share of Texas residential locations in the FCC's National Broadband Map data as of December 30, 2025 (we computed these from the state file):
| Provider | Type | Share of Texas homes reachable |
|---|---|---|
| Hughesnet, Viasat, Starlink | Satellite | about 100% each |
| AT&T | Fiber and Internet Air (fixed wireless)[1] | 63.7% |
| T-Mobile | 5G home internet | 62.9% |
| Verizon | 5G home internet and Fios fiber[2] | 60.7% |
| Spectrum | Cable | 48.8% |
| Xfinity | Cable | 21.8% |
| Nextlink Internet | Regional provider (type not specified in FCC file) | 15.0% |
| Rise Broadband | Fixed wireless | 12.4% |
| Optimum | Cable | 10.4% |
Two things to notice if you are coming from another state. First, no single cable company covers Texas; Spectrum reaches about half of homes and Xfinity about a fifth, so the cable brand you had before may simply not exist on your new street. Second, regional companies like Nextlink and Rise Broadband cover a meaningful slice of the state, mostly outside the big metros.
By technology, fiber reaches 64.1% of Texas locations at 100/20 Mbps or better, cable 79.3%, and licensed fixed wireless (5G home internet) 60.1%. Texas is ahead of the national fiber figure of 55.8%.
How different are Houston, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth?
Quite different, even though all four have cable almost everywhere. Fiber is the variable.
| City | Fiber reaches | Cable reaches | Households with no internet subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 55.2% | 94.9% | 7.3% |
| San Antonio | 71.7% | 93.5% | 6.1% |
| Dallas | 62.2% | 92.8% | 6.5% |
| Austin | 68.2% | 91.6% | 3.3% |
| Fort Worth | 75.2% | 80.7% | 5.6% |
| El Paso | 50.2% | 92.0% | 8.1% |
(FCC coverage at 100/20 Mbps or better as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 2020-2024 for subscriptions.)
If you are moving to Fort Worth, three homes in four can get fiber, so ask for it first. In Houston or El Paso, the odds are closer to a coin flip, and cable is the more common wired option. In every one of these cities, the answer still comes down to the exact street.
What if I am moving to a rural part of Texas?
Plan for fewer choices and check early. Our county-level data shows:
- In 86 of 254 Texas counties, fiber reaches fewer than half of homes.
- In 51 counties, neither fiber nor cable reaches half of homes. About 374,000 households live in those counties.
- In 145 counties, licensed fixed wireless reaches at least half of homes, which is why 5G home internet and regional wireless companies matter so much outside the metros.
- Statewide, 12.6% of Texas households get online only through a cellular data plan and 8.5% use satellite, both above the national figures of 11.5% and 6.6%.
If your new address is outside a town, ask specifically about fixed wireless and fiber from local cooperatives, not just the national brands. Satellite reaches every address but is usually the most expensive way to get a fast connection.
How do I set up internet before I arrive in Texas?
Three to four weeks out: check which providers reach the new address and book an install date if you need a wired line. Moving season in Texas is long and installers fill up.
Two weeks out: if you already use 5G home internet, ask whether it transfers. T-Mobile lets existing customers transfer service after checking availability at the new address, and ships the gateway for a 15-minute self setup.[3] Verizon's 5G Home has no annual contract and a 30-day money-back window, which is useful if you want to test the signal at a new house.[4]
Moving week: have self-install equipment shipped to the new address so it is waiting. For a technician install, be there for the window.
When you sign up: ask for the broadband label. Providers must show it at the point of sale with the monthly price, any introductory rate, data allowance, and typical speeds.[5] Write down the date the promotional price ends.
Is there help with the bill in Texas?
The federal Lifeline program takes up to $9.25 per month off a qualifying low-income household's phone or internet bill. Texas is one of two states where you apply through the state's own website rather than the national verifier, so do not be surprised when the federal site sends you there.[6] Once approved, a participating provider applies the discount.
What to do next
- Enter the new Texas ZIP code above or call us with the full street address. We tell you which providers are built to that address, including regional fiber and fixed wireless companies, and today's prices.
- If fiber reaches the address, ask about it first; if not, compare cable and 5G home internet on price after the promotion.
- Book the install or shipping date early, and keep the confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best internet providers in Texas?
There is no single best. In the FCC data, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each reach about 60% or more of Texas homes, and Spectrum about half, but which one serves your street, and with what technology, varies block by block. Fiber is usually the best line where it exists.
Who are the internet providers in Houston, Texas?
In the FCC data, cable reaches about 95% of Houston homes and fiber about 55%, so most addresses have a cable option and roughly half have a fiber option, plus 5G home internet where the signal is strong. An address check tells you which.
Can I keep my internet provider when I move to Texas?
Only if it serves the new address. Xfinity, for example, reaches about 22% of Texas homes, far less than in some other states. 5G home internet can often move with you after an availability check.[3]
How long does it take to get internet in a new house in Texas?
Self-install 5G equipment can be working the day it arrives; wired installs depend on the local schedule, so book three to four weeks ahead.
Is there rural internet in Texas?
Yes, but it varies. In 51 of 254 counties in the FCC data, neither fiber nor cable reaches half of homes, and fixed wireless or satellite fill the gap. Check the exact address rather than the ZIP code.
Sources
- Access from AT&T. Access from AT&T, accessed October 9, 2026 (confirms AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet Air product types). ↩
- Verizon Forward discount. Verizon Forward discount page, accessed October 9, 2026 (confirms Fios and 5G Home product types). ↩
- T-Mobile: Transfer Internet Service When Moving. T-Mobile, Transfer Internet Service When Moving, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
- Verizon 5G Home Internet. Verizon 5G Home Internet, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
- FCC: Broadband Consumer Labels. FCC, Broadband Consumer Labels, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
- USAC: Lifeline Support. USAC Lifeline Support, accessed October 9, 2026. ↩
Written with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed; our data from FCC/Census as dated. FCC data as of December 30, 2025; Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024. Editorial policy