INTERNET GUIDE
Internet Providers in South Dakota
South Dakota’s split between growing urban centers, Black Hills terrain, and widely scattered farms means an address—not just a town—often determines which internet plans are practical. Strong connectivity supports precision agriculture, telehealth, schools, and tourism, making reliability and upload capacity especially important.
Speed Availability in South Dakota
Maximum download speeds available by census block
gigabit speeds available
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection · 51,256 census blocks analyzed
South Dakota Broadband at a Glance
- South Dakota’s BEAD allocation is $207,962,754.49, funding broadband deployment to unserved and underserved locations statewide. [Source]
- South Dakota’s broadband office estimates 37,000 locations lack broadband offering at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. [Source]
- Golden West Telecommunications, a South Dakota cooperative, received $150 million to extend fiber service to over 20,000 rural locations. [Source]
- South Dakota’s 77,116 square miles and 11.7 people per square mile make rural fiber construction especially expensive. [Source]
South Dakota’s Internet Landscape
South Dakota’s internet development grew from education, government, and telephone-industry networks rather than from a single metropolitan technology hub. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and other Board of Regents institutions connected through state and national research networks, including the NSFNET and later Internet2. The state’s universities, hospitals, and public agencies gained an important statewide backbone when South Dakota Network, Inc. was formed in 1989 by independent telephone companies. Now known as SDN Communications, the organization built and managed fiber routes that helped connect communities and provided wholesale transport for emerging internet service providers. In the 1990s, dial-up access was supplied by local telephone companies and small independent ISPs, while cable companies such as Midcontinent Communications, later branded Midco, began introducing cable modem service in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and other larger communities. The South Dakota Technology Business Center and similar research and business initiatives supported technology growth, although the state’s dispersed population limited the scale of private investment.
Find Your City
Internet by City in South Dakota
Internet availability varies significantly by address. Select your city to see which providers serve your area and compare options.
Provider Guide
South Dakota Internet Providers
Statewide Players
T-Mobile
338 citiesT-Mobile internet service is available in approximately 338 South Dakota cities through licensed fixed wireless technology, with maximum speeds of up to 100 Mbps. It may work well for households that need broadband for browsing, streaming, and remote work, especially where wired options are limited; check whether fiber or DSL is available at your address, as performance and availability can vary. Enter your address on T-Mobile’s website to confirm service and expected speeds.
View T-Mobile detailsVerizon
331 citiesVerizon internet is available in approximately 331 South Dakota cities through licensed fixed wireless, with download speeds up to 300 Mbps. It may work well for households that need broadband in areas without wired service, so check your address for availability, expected speeds, and equipment requirements before ordering.
View Verizon detailsCenturyLink
225 citiesCenturyLink internet is available in approximately 225 South Dakota cities, using copper and fiber technologies with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. It can work well for households seeking dependable internet for streaming, work, and everyday use, but availability and performance vary by address, so check whether fiber or copper service is offered at your location before signing up.
View CenturyLink detailsGolden West Telecommunications
183 citiesGolden West Telecommunications offers cable, copper, fiber internet service across 183 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
Golden West TelecommunicationsMidco
150 citiesMidco offers cable, fiber, licensed fixed wireless internet service across 150 locations with speeds up to 5.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
View Midco detailsVenture Communications Cooperative Inc
105 citiesVenture Communications Cooperative Inc offers fiber internet service across 105 locations with speeds up to 1.0 Gbps. Check availability at your address to see specific plans and pricing.
Venture Communications Cooperative IncSatellite 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 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
South Dakota Internet FAQs
How are South Dakota programs addressing broadband gaps outside Sioux Falls?
South Dakota uses federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding and state broadband-grant efforts to expand reliable service to unserved and underserved locations. Availability varies by address, so residents should check the state’s broadband map and current project announcements, especially in smaller communities beyond Sioux Falls.
What internet options can rural South Dakota households consider?
Rural residents may find fiber from cooperative providers such as Golden West Telecommunications, Venture Communications Cooperative, or Alliance Communications Cooperative. Electric cooperatives may also participate in broadband construction or partnerships, while fixed wireless, satellite, and mobile broadband can serve harder-to-reach locations. Check line-of-sight, data allowances, installation charges, and reliability.
Which companies provide fiber internet in South Dakota?
Fiber availability is address-specific, but South Dakota’s listed fiber providers include CenturyLink, Golden West Telecommunications, Midco, Venture Communications Cooperative Inc., and Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. Their footprints differ by community; a provider may serve one town, neighborhood, or rural route without serving nearby addresses. Verify service directly before choosing.
What is the fastest internet speed currently available in South Dakota, and who offers it?
Midco lists service reaching 5 Gbps in South Dakota, the fastest speed identified in the supplied statewide data. That speed may not be offered at every Midco address and may require particular equipment or a qualifying plan. Confirm upload speed, installation fees, availability in Sioux Falls or your community, and actual terms.
How can I compare South Dakota internet providers at my exact address?
Enter the complete street address, including apartment or unit number, on each provider’s availability checker; coverage maps alone can be too broad. Compare advertised download and upload speeds, monthly price after promotions, contract terms, data caps, equipment fees, installation timing, and outage support. Check multiple providers, including local cooperatives.