INTERNET GUIDE
Internet Providers in South Carolina
South Carolina’s connectivity can change sharply between Upstate manufacturing corridors, fast-growing suburbs, and rural Lowcountry roads where distance and wetlands make network expansion harder. Because ports, aerospace, automotive, and military employers drive investment in some areas, checking service at your exact address matters more than relying on nearby neighborhoods.
Speed Availability in South Carolina
Maximum download speeds available by census block
gigabit speeds available
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection · 115,739 census blocks analyzed
South Carolina Broadband at a Glance
- South Carolina received a $551.5-million federal BEAD allocation, supporting statewide last-mile broadband expansion. [Source]
- South Carolina awarded $132 million in grants after identifying 300,000 locations lacking high-speed access. [Source]
- Brightspeed’s 2023 plan committed $2.5 billion to fiber expansion, including South Carolina, reaching 1 million locations by 2026. [Source]
- Established in 2021, MCEC Fiber offers symmetrical 1-gigabit service, demonstrating an electric cooperative’s rural last-mile solution. [Source]
South Carolina’s Internet Landscape
South Carolina’s internet history grew out of higher-education and research networks rather than residential broadband. Clemson University and the University of South Carolina were among institutions connected to national academic networks in the 1980s, as the National Science Foundation expanded NSFNET access beyond federal research sites. The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), created in 1983, helped coordinate technology infrastructure and established the South Carolina Education and Research Network (SCERN) for universities and research organizations. SCRA’s PalmettoNet, launched in the 1990s, became an early statewide internet service, while commercial dial-up providers, cable companies, and telephone carriers gradually brought access to households. During the late 1990s and 2000s, DSL from BellSouth (later AT&T), cable modem service from providers that became Charter Spectrum, and regional companies such as Hargray, Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC), and Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC) shaped the market. Research and technology centers, including Clemson’s International Center for Automotive Research, also encouraged high-capacity connections in selected areas.
Find Your City
Internet by City in South Carolina
Internet availability varies significantly by address. Select your city to see which providers serve your area and compare options.
Major Cities
Charleston
Pop. 155,369Charleston, home to 155,369 residents, has 13 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service. AT&T 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.
Columbia
Pop. 142,416Columbia, South Carolina, has 13 internet providers serving its population of 142,416, with options including fiber, cable, and fixed wireless. AT&T and Spectrum are among the providers with broad coverage, and speeds reach up to 5.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and plans.
North Charleston
Pop. 121,469North Charleston, home to 121,469 people, has 10 internet providers, including AT&T and Xfinity, with plans reaching up to 5.0 Gbps. Fiber, cable, and fixed wireless services are available across the city, but coverage varies by location, so check your specific address to see which providers, technologies, and speeds are available.
Mid-Size Cities
Mount Pleasant
Pop. 95,232Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has 11 internet providers serving its population of 95,232, with AT&T and Xfinity among the providers offering broad coverage. Residents can choose from fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections, with speeds reaching up to 5.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm available plans and technology.
Rock Hill
Pop. 75,654Rock Hill, South Carolina, has nine internet providers serving its 75,654 residents, including Comporium and AT&T, with fiber, cable, and fixed wireless options. Fiber service is available, and plans can reach speeds up to 5.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Greenville
Pop. 72,824Greenville, South Carolina, with 72,824 residents, has 12 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service. AT&T and Spectrum are among the providers with the most coverage, and plans can reach maximum advertised speeds of 8.0 Gbps where available. Check your specific address to confirm providers, technologies, and speeds.
Summerville
Pop. 51,884Summerville, South Carolina, is served by 12 internet providers across a community of 51,884 residents, with AT&T and Xfinity among the providers offering broad coverage. Options include fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service, with maximum available speeds reaching 5.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm availability.
Goose Creek
Pop. 49,249Goose Creek, South Carolina, has 11 providers serving its population of 49,249. Residents can choose fiber, cable, or fixed wireless connections, with AT&T, Xfinity, and Home Telecom among the providers offering coverage and speeds reaching up to 5.0 Gbps. Check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Myrtle Beach
Pop. 39,697Myrtle Beach residents can choose among 10 internet providers, including Frontier and Spectrum, with HTC also serving the area. Fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections are available, with fiber service reaching speeds up to 8.0 Gbps. Check your specific address for current availability and plan options.
Spartanburg
Pop. 39,040Spartanburg, South Carolina, has 10 internet providers serving its population of 39,040, including AT&T and Spectrum. Residents can choose among fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections, with maximum available speeds reaching 5.0 Gbps. Check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Bluffton
Pop. 35,243Bluffton, South Carolina, has 12 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless service, with maximum available speeds reaching 8.0 Gbps. Hargray Telephone Co., Inc. and Spectrum are among the providers with broad coverage, while Verizon is also available; check your specific address to confirm providers, technologies, and speeds.
Fort Mill
Pop. 33,626Fort Mill, South Carolina, has 11 internet providers, including Comporium Fort Mill and Spectrum, with fiber, cable, and fixed wireless options available. Fiber service is offered, and maximum advertised speeds reach 8.0 Gbps; enter your specific address to check which providers, technologies, and speeds are available.
Aiken
Pop. 32,947Aiken, South Carolina, has 14 internet providers offering fiber, cable, and fixed wireless connections, with speeds reaching up to 8.0 Gbps. AT&T and Xfinity are among the providers with broad coverage, and fiber service is available in the city. Check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Simpsonville
Pop. 27,506Simpsonville, South Carolina, has 13 internet providers serving its 27,506 residents, with AT&T and Spectrum among the providers offering coverage. Service options include fiber, cable, and fixed wireless, with maximum available speeds reaching 7.0 Gbps; check your specific address to confirm available providers, technologies, and speeds.
Provider Guide
South Carolina Internet Providers
Statewide Players
AT&T
367 citiesAT&T internet is available in approximately 367 South Carolina cities and uses copper, fiber, and licensed fixed wireless technologies, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps where fiber is available. It can work well for households with everyday connectivity needs or high-bandwidth activities, but performance and availability vary by address, so check whether fiber, copper, or fixed wireless service is offered at your location before signing up.
View AT&T detailsT-Mobile
363 citiesT-Mobile internet service is available in approximately 363 South Carolina cities and uses licensed fixed wireless technology, with maximum speeds up to 100 Mbps. It may work well for households seeking straightforward home connectivity for browsing, streaming, and remote work, but availability and performance vary by address, so check whether fiber, cable, or DSL is also available at your location before choosing a plan.
View T-Mobile detailsVerizon
358 citiesVerizon internet is available in approximately 358 cities across South Carolina through licensed fixed wireless technology, with maximum speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps. It may work well for households that need fast connectivity for streaming, remote work, and multiple devices, but availability and performance can vary by location. Check your address for service availability, expected speeds, and installation requirements.
View Verizon detailsSpectrum
278 citiesSpectrum offers cable, fiber internet service across 278 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Spectrum detailsFrontier
123 citiesFrontier offers copper, fiber internet service across 123 locations with speeds up to 7.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Frontier detailsXfinity
89 citiesXfinity offers cable, fiber internet service across 89 locations with speeds up to 2.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Xfinity detailsRegional Providers
Hargray Telephone Co, Inc.
6 citiesHargray Telephone Co., Inc. provides internet service in approximately six South Carolina cities, covering about 40% of the state, with Cable, Copper, and Fiber technologies and speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It can work well for households needing options for streaming, work, or multiple connected devices, but availability and performance vary by address, so check whether fiber, cable, or copper service is offered at your location before signing up.
Hargray Telephone Co, Inc.Windstream North Carolina, LLC
5 citiesWindstream North Carolina, LLC provides internet service in approximately five South Carolina cities, covering about 33% of the state, with copper and fiber connections offering speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It may work well for households and businesses seeking fiber performance where available, while copper service can support more basic needs; check your address to confirm whether fiber or copper/DSL service is offered.
Windstream North Carolina, LLCMediacom Xtream
5 citiesMediacom Xtream internet is available in approximately five South Carolina cities, covering about 33% of the state, with cable service and download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It can work well for households that stream, game, or connect multiple devices, but cable availability and performance may differ from fiber or DSL options at your address, so check your ZIP code before ordering.
View Mediacom Xtream detailsNTInet Inc
5 citiesNTInet Inc. provides fiber internet service in approximately five South Carolina cities, covering about 33% of the state, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Its fiber connection may suit households, remote workers, and businesses that need fast, reliable bandwidth; check whether fiber is available at your address and confirm the speeds offered before signing up.
NTInet IncComporium Brevard
4 citiesComporium Brevard provides internet service in approximately four South Carolina cities, covering about 27% of the state, with copper and fiber technologies and speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. It can work well for households needing reliable connectivity for streaming, remote work, or multiple devices, but service quality and speed depend on whether fiber or copper is available at your address—check your location with Comporium before signing up.
Comporium BrevardRipple Fiber
3 citiesRipple Fiber offers fiber internet in approximately three South Carolina cities, covering about 20% of the state, with speeds up to 2,000 Mbps. Its service may work well for households with heavy streaming, gaming, remote work, or multiple connected devices; check whether fiber is available at your address and confirm pricing and installation details before ordering.
Ripple FiberComporium Fort Mill
2 citiesComporium offers internet service in Fort Mill and approximately two South Carolina cities, using cable, copper, and fiber technologies with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps. It can work well for households with streaming, gaming, remote work, or multiple connected devices, but performance and speeds depend on whether fiber, cable, or copper service is available at your address—check your location before signing up.
Comporium Fort MillSparklight
2 citiesSparklight offers fiber internet in approximately two South Carolina cities, covering about 13% of the state, with maximum speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It may work well for households that stream, work from home, or connect multiple devices, so check your address for fiber availability and current plan options before signing up.
View Sparklight detailsLocal Options
Google Fiber
1 citiesGoogle Fiber offers fiber-optic internet in approximately one South Carolina city, covering about 7% of the state, with speeds up to 8,000 Mbps. It can work well for households with heavy streaming, gaming, or work-from-home needs; because availability is fiber-only and location-specific, check your address for service and current plans.
View Google Fiber detailsVelofi
1 citiesVelofi offers fiber internet service in approximately one city in South Carolina, covering about 7% of the state, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Its fiber service may suit households that need reliable, high-capacity connectivity for streaming, remote work, gaming, or multiple devices; check whether fiber is available at your address before signing up.
VelofiSatellite Options
Available statewide but typically slower and more expensive than wired alternatives. Best for rural areas without other options.
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.
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.
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 South Carolina
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
- AT&T is generally best in Charleston, SC
- AT&T is generally best in Greenville, SC
- Frontier is generally best in Myrtle Beach, SC
- Hargray Telephone Co, Inc. is a strong cable fallback in Bluffton, SC
- Comporium Fort Mill is generally best in Fort Mill, SC
- AT&T is generally best in Aiken, SC
- AT&T is generally best in Simpsonville, SC
- AT&T is generally best in Columbia, SC
- AT&T is generally best in North Charleston, SC
- AT&T is generally best in Mount Pleasant, SC
Provider availability hubs
Common Questions
South Carolina Internet FAQs
How is South Carolina improving broadband access through state initiatives?
South Carolina has 53 listed providers across 15 covered cities, including Charleston, Columbia, and North Charleston. The South Carolina Broadband Office coordinates planning and funding, including the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and state broadband infrastructure efforts. Check its maps and notices for project status and eligible locations.
What rural internet options should South Carolina residents investigate?
Availability outside major centers can differ considerably. Residents should check fiber projects from rural electric cooperatives and affiliated networks, including CarolinaConnect Cooperative Inc., along with fixed-wireless providers, DSL, and satellite service. An electric co-op’s service territory may offer a fiber route even when Charleston, Columbia, or North Charleston providers do not reach a rural address.
Which companies provide fiber internet in South Carolina, and where is it available?
Fiber availability is address-specific, but South Carolina listings include AT&T, Spectrum, Frontier, Xfinity, and CarolinaConnect Cooperative Inc. These providers may serve different neighborhoods or use different technologies at a given location, including Charleston, Columbia, and North Charleston. Verify the exact address, upload speeds, installation fees, and contract terms before ordering.
What is the fastest internet speed listed as available in South Carolina, and who offers it?
The listed 8 Gbps speed is offered by TDS Telecom. That figure does not mean every South Carolina address can order it: TDS coverage and plan eligibility vary by network buildout. Ask TDS to confirm availability at the service address and whether the quoted speed is symmetrical, plus equipment, installation, and usage terms.
How can I compare South Carolina providers at a specific address?
Enter the complete street address—not just a ZIP code—into the FCC National Broadband Map and South Carolina Broadband Office coverage tools, then confirm results directly with each provider. Compare available technology, download and upload speeds, monthly price after promotions, data caps, equipment charges, installation, contract length, and outage or service guarantees.