INTERNET GUIDE
Internet Providers in Minnesota
Minnesota’s connectivity is strongest around the Twin Cities and regional hubs, while forests, lakes, and sparse communities make reliable service harder to find in the north and west. For remote work, healthcare, farming, or education, check availability at the exact address rather than relying on a statewide footprint.
Speed Availability in Minnesota
Maximum download speeds available by census block
gigabit speeds available
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection · 154,766 census blocks analyzed
Minnesota Broadband at a Glance
- Minnesota’s BEAD allocation is $651,839,368, funding future broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas. [Source]
- About 99.1% of Minnesota households had 100/20 Mbps access in 2022, leaving roughly 35,000 households facing rural gaps. [Source]
- Minnesota’s Border-to-Border program awarded $99 million in 2023 grants, expanding service to approximately 24,000 locations. [Source]
- RS Fiber Cooperative serves 10 rural Minnesota communities through member-owned fiber, offering an alternative where investor deployment is difficult. [Source]
Minnesota’s Internet Landscape
Minnesota’s internet history grew from university and research networks before reaching households. The University of Minnesota was connected to national academic networking during the 1980s, while the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, founded in 1984, supported high-performance research and data communications. The Minnesota Regional Network (MRNet), established in 1987 by universities and research institutions, provided regional TCP/IP connectivity and linked Minnesota organizations to the emerging national Internet. Commercial access expanded in the 1990s through local providers, including Minneapolis-based US Internet, founded in 1995, as well as dial-up services offered by telephone companies and national firms. Broadband followed through cable-modem networks operated by companies that became MediaOne, AT&T Broadband, and Comcast, and through DSL service from US West, Qwest, and later CenturyLink. These systems initially concentrated investment in the Twin Cities and other population centers, where customer density made upgrades more economical.
Find Your City
Internet by City in Minnesota
Internet availability varies significantly by address. Select your city to see which providers serve your area and compare options.
Major Cities
Minneapolis
Pop. 425,115Minneapolis residents can choose among 18 internet providers, including US Internet and Quantum Fiber, with plans reaching maximum speeds of 10.0 Gbps. Fiber, cable, and fixed wireless services are available across the city, though options vary by location, so check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Rochester
Pop. 122,413Rochester, Minnesota, has 21 internet providers, including Metronet Holdings, Spectrum, and CenturyLink. Service options include fiber, cable, and fixed wireless, with fiber available and maximum speeds reaching 5.1 Gbps. Check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Mid-Size Cities
Duluth
Pop. 87,680Duluth, Minnesota, with 87,680 residents, has 18 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections. CenturyLink and Spectrum serve many areas, with available plans reaching speeds up to 3.0 Gbps; fiber service is available in the city. Check your specific address to confirm providers, technologies, and speeds available at your location.
Lakeville
Pop. 76,243Lakeville, Minnesota, has 20 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service, with speeds reaching up to 7.0 Gbps. Frontier and Metronet Holdings are among the providers with broad coverage, while Spectrum is also available; enter your specific address to check which technologies, providers, and speeds serve your home.
Burnsville
Pop. 64,772Burnsville, Minnesota, with 64,772 residents, has 17 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed-wireless service. Frontier and Xfinity are among the providers with broad coverage, while available plans can reach up to 8.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm which technologies, providers, and speeds are available.
Eden Prairie
Pop. 62,166Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has 13 internet providers serving its 62,166 residents, including Xfinity and CenturyLink. Options include fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service, with maximum available speeds reaching 8.0 Gbps. Compare plans and check which providers and technologies are available at your specific address.
Shakopee
Pop. 47,158Shakopee, Minnesota, has 17 internet providers, including Metronet Holdings, Xfinity, and CenturyLink, with maximum available speeds reaching 5.1 Gbps. Residents can access fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections, including fiber service where available. Check your specific address to confirm providers, technologies, and speeds offered at your location.
Mankato
Pop. 45,742Mankato, Minnesota, has 20 internet providers serving its population of 45,742, with Midco and Fidium Fiber among the top providers by coverage. Residents can choose fiber, cable, or fixed wireless service, with maximum available speeds reaching 5.1 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and plans.
Provider Guide
Minnesota Internet Providers
Statewide Players
T-Mobile
783 citiesT-Mobile internet service is available in approximately 783 Minnesota cities and uses licensed fixed wireless technology, with speeds up to 100 Mbps. It may work well for households seeking a wireless alternative for browsing, streaming, and everyday connectivity, but availability and performance can vary by address; check whether fiber or DSL options are also available. Enter your address on T-Mobile’s website to confirm service and expected speeds.
View T-Mobile detailsVerizon
756 citiesVerizon internet is available in approximately 756 Minnesota cities through licensed fixed wireless technology, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It may work well for households that need high-speed connectivity without a wired connection, but service and speeds can vary by location, so check your address for availability and estimated performance before signing up.
View Verizon detailsCenturyLink
702 citiesCenturyLink internet is available in approximately 702 Minnesota cities, with listed coverage of 7800% of the state, using copper and fiber technologies and speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. It can work well for households needing everyday connectivity or high bandwidth where fiber is available; check your address to confirm whether fiber or copper service is offered and the actual speed before ordering.
View CenturyLink detailsAT&T
539 citiesAT&T offers fiber, licensed fixed wireless internet service across 539 locations with speeds up to 5.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View AT&T detailsFrontier
494 citiesFrontier offers copper, fiber internet service across 494 locations with speeds up to 7.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Frontier detailsMediacom Xtream
456 citiesMediacom Xtream offers cable, fiber internet service across 456 locations with speeds up to 2.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Mediacom Xtream detailsRegional Providers
US Internet
4 citiesUS Internet provides fiber internet service in approximately four Minnesota cities, covering about 44% of the state, with speeds up to 10,000 Mbps. Its fiber connection works well for households with multiple users, streaming, gaming, and other high-bandwidth needs; check your address for availability and current plan options.
US InternetGateway Fiber
4 citiesGateway Fiber provides fiber internet service in approximately four Minnesota cities, covering about 44% of the state, with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. It may suit households that stream, game, work remotely, or connect many devices; check your address for availability and current plan options before signing up.
Gateway FiberValley FiberCom
3 citiesValley FiberCom offers fiber internet service in approximately three Minnesota cities, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Its fiber connection may work well for households with multiple users, streaming, video calls, and online gaming. Check your address for availability and confirm the plan options before signing up.
Valley FiberComStarwire Technologies
3 citiesStarwire Technologies provides internet service in approximately three Minnesota cities, covering about 33% of the state, with copper-based connections offering speeds up to 500 Mbps. It may work well for households that need broadband for browsing, streaming, and remote work, but availability and technology can vary by address, so check with Starwire to confirm whether copper/DSL or another option is available at your location.
Starwire TechnologiesBagleyPublic Utilities
2 citiesBagley Public Utilities offers cable internet in approximately two Minnesota cities, covering about 22% of the state, with maximum speeds of 100 Mbps. It may work well for smaller households and everyday browsing, video calls, and streaming; check with the provider to confirm cable availability and speeds at your address.
BagleyPublic UtilitiesBuffalo Fiber
2 citiesBuffalo Fiber provides fiber internet service in approximately two Minnesota cities, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, making it a fit for households that stream, work from home, game, or connect multiple devices. Since availability and fiber service can vary by location, check your address with Buffalo Fiber to confirm coverage, plans, and installation details.
Buffalo FiberFibernet Monticello
1 citiesFibernet Monticello provides fiber internet service in approximately one Minnesota city, covering about 11% of the state, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It may work well for households that stream, game, work from home, or connect multiple devices and want the consistent performance of fiber. Check whether Fibernet Monticello fiber is available at your specific address before ordering.
Fibernet MonticelloSatellite Options
Available statewide but typically slower and more expensive than wired alternatives. Best for rural areas without other options.
Starlink
Satellite internet is available nearly anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Consider as a backup option or for locations without terrestrial service.
HughesNet
Satellite internet is available nearly anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Consider as a backup option or for locations without terrestrial service.
Viasat Inc
Satellite internet is available nearly anywhere with a clear view of the sky. Consider as a backup option or for locations without terrestrial service.
Popular provider searches
Where to compare internet next in Minnesota
These links are ranked from local provider and speed data, so they point to the city and provider pages most likely to help with real availability questions.
Top city comparisons
- US Internet is generally best in Minneapolis, MN
- Frontier is generally best in Burnsville, MN
- Xfinity is a strong cable fallback in Eden Prairie, MN
- Frontier is generally best in Lakeville, MN
- Metronet Holdings is generally best in Rochester, MN
- Metronet Holdings is generally best in Shakopee, MN
- Midco is a strong cable fallback in Mankato, MN
- CenturyLink is generally best in Duluth, MN
Common Questions
Minnesota Internet FAQs
How is Minnesota expanding broadband through state programs and initiatives?
Minnesota’s Office of Broadband Development administers the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program, which helps fund unserved and underserved projects. The state also participates in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Minnesota’s adopted goals call for universal access to 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload service by 2026 and 1 Gbps/100 Mbps by 2028.
What internet options are available in rural Minnesota communities?
Rural Minnesota residents may find fiber or fixed-wireless service from local telephone companies, cooperatives, or municipal networks. Paul Bunyan Communications and CTC serve portions of greater Minnesota, while electric cooperatives can build or partner on broadband projects supported by Border-to-Border grants. Where wired service is unavailable, fixed wireless and satellite remain alternatives; address-level availability varies significantly.
Which companies provide fiber internet in Minnesota?
Fiber availability depends on the address, but Minnesota fiber providers include CenturyLink (Quantum Fiber in some markets), AT&T, Frontier, Mediacom Xtream, and Midco. Coverage is concentrated in selected neighborhoods and communities rather than statewide. Check each company’s availability tool, because a provider may serve Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, or nearby areas without reaching every street.
What is the fastest internet available in Minnesota, and who offers it?
Service reaching 10 Gbps is available in Minnesota from Albany Mutual Telephone Association. That speed is not statewide and may be limited to portions of Albany or the cooperative’s service territory. Confirm the exact technology, upload speed, installation costs, equipment requirements, and availability at your address before comparing it with other plans.
How can I compare Minnesota internet providers at a specific address?
Enter the complete street address into provider websites and the FCC National Broadband Map, then verify results by phone. Minnesota has 121 providers across nine listed cities, but availability can change block by block. Compare advertised download and upload speeds, monthly price after promotions, data caps, equipment fees, contracts, installation charges, and outage policies.