INTERNET GUIDE
Internet Providers in North Dakota
North Dakota’s internet choices can change dramatically from neighborhoods in larger population centers to farms, tribal lands, and oil-field communities spread across long distances. Because agriculture, energy, healthcare, and remote work all depend on dependable connections, compare service at your exact address—nearby coverage does not guarantee similar performance.
Speed Availability in North Dakota
Maximum download speeds available by census block
gigabit speeds available
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection · 53,161 census blocks analyzed
North Dakota Broadband at a Glance
- North Dakota’s BEAD allocation is $130,177,561.35, supporting high-speed deployment in underserved and unserved locations. [Source]
- In 2022, 89.4% of North Dakota households reported broadband subscriptions, leaving 10.6% without one. [Source]
- North Dakota’s 2023 legislature appropriated $65 million for broadband grants, supplementing federal BEAD funding. [Source]
- SRT Communications, a member-owned cooperative, offers fiber internet across 18,000 square miles of rural North Dakota. [Source]
North Dakota’s Internet Landscape
North Dakota’s internet history began largely through education and research. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University connected to national academic networks that evolved from NSFNET, giving campuses access to email, remote computing and early online services. UND’s Center for Innovation, established in 1984, and NDSU’s Research and Technology Park, established in 1993, helped create technology-oriented communities as commercial internet use expanded. Dial-up providers appeared in the 1990s, while telephone companies and cable operators gradually added Internet service. A significant infrastructure step came in 1996, when independent telephone companies formed Dakota Carrier Network (DCN), a wholesale fiber network linking communities, businesses, schools and public institutions. Its development reflected North Dakota’s cooperative telecommunications tradition and helped extend backbone capacity beyond the largest cities.
Find Your City
Internet by City in North Dakota
Internet availability varies significantly by address. Select your city to see which providers serve your area and compare options.
Mid-Size Cities
Bismarck
Pop. 75,092Bismarck residents can choose among 12 internet providers, including Midco, BEK Communications Cooperative, and CenturyLink. Service options include fiber, cable, and fixed wireless, with fiber available and maximum advertised speeds reaching 5.0 Gbps. Check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Minot
Pop. 47,373Minot, home to 47,373 residents, has nine internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service. Midco and SRT are among the providers with broad coverage, and plans can reach speeds up to 5.0 Gbps where available. Check your specific address to confirm providers, technologies, and speeds.
Provider Guide
North Dakota Internet Providers
Statewide Players
Verizon
367 citiesVerizon internet is available in approximately 367 North Dakota cities, using licensed fixed wireless technology with maximum speeds up to 300 Mbps. It may work well for households seeking wireless broadband, especially where wired options are limited; check your address for exact availability and speed, then compare it with any fiber, cable, or DSL services nearby.
View Verizon detailsT-Mobile
367 citiesT-Mobile Home Internet is available in approximately 367 North Dakota cities through licensed fixed wireless technology, with maximum speeds of up to 100 Mbps. It may work well for households seeking a wireless alternative for everyday browsing, streaming, and remote work; check your address for availability and compare it with fiber or DSL options before signing up.
View T-Mobile detailsMidco
231 citiesMidco internet is available in approximately 231 North Dakota cities and uses cable, fiber, and licensed fixed wireless technologies, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. It can suit households that stream, game, work remotely, or connect many devices, though availability and performance vary by technology and address; check your location to see whether fiber, cable, or fixed wireless service is offered.
View Midco detailsCenturyLink
134 citiesCenturyLink offers copper, fiber internet service across 134 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View CenturyLink detailsPolar Telecommunications Inc
115 citiesPolar Telecommunications Inc offers fiber internet service across 115 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
Polar Telecommunications IncNorth Dakota Telephone Company
106 citiesNorth Dakota Telephone Company offers fiber internet service across 106 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
North Dakota Telephone CompanySatellite 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 North Dakota
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
Provider availability hubs
Common Questions
North Dakota Internet FAQs
How is North Dakota expanding broadband beyond Fargo?
North Dakota’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, administered through the North Dakota Broadband Office, uses federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to extend service to unserved and underserved locations. The state also uses broadband grant initiatives and FCC availability data, so planned coverage can change as projects are awarded.
What rural internet options are available in North Dakota?
Rural residents may find fiber through cooperative providers such as Polar Telecommunications Inc. and West River Telecommunications Cooperative. Fixed wireless, satellite, and electric-cooperative partnerships can also serve areas outside established networks. Check rural telephone and electric cooperatives, provider maps, and BEAD-funded projects by address because service boundaries differ significantly.
Which companies offer fiber internet in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, listed fiber providers include Midco, CenturyLink, Polar Telecommunications Inc., North Dakota Telephone Company, and West River Telecommunications Cooperative. Midco and CenturyLink may appear in Fargo, while cooperative and telephone-company networks often serve rural exchanges. Confirm the technology, upload speed, installation timing, and fees at your address.
Where can a North Dakota resident get 5 Gbps internet?
Midco lists 5 Gbps as the highest available internet speed in the provided North Dakota market data. That does not mean every Midco address qualifies: availability depends on network construction and plan eligibility. Compare upload speeds, equipment charges, data policies, contract terms, and actual installation options before ordering.
How can I compare North Dakota internet providers at a specific address?
Enter the full street address into the North Dakota Broadband Office or provider availability checker, then cross-check the FCC National Broadband Map. Directory data lists 44 providers across three covered cities, including Fargo, but a city-level listing is not a guarantee. Compare fiber, cable, fixed wireless, satellite, speeds, fees, contracts, and installation dates.