Best Internet Providers in Bakersfield, California - CNET
- Prices: $55 – $180 per month
- Speeds: 300 – 5,000Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Prices: $50 – $90 per month
- Speeds: 300 – 940Mbps
- Unlimited data
- Prices: $50 per month
- Speeds: 72 – 245Mbps
- Unlimited data
Internet in Bakersfield is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, 97% of residents have access to a plan with at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds — the FCC’s proposed minimum for broadband — and it’s one of the top 50 cities in the country by median speed.
But most Bakersfield residents still don’t have much of a choice when it comes to high-speed internet. While AT&T Fiber is now available to around one in five households, Spectrum is the only option in many neighborhoods. Wireless providers like T-Mobile and Verizon also offer home internet plans now, but their speeds tend to fluctuate more than wired connections.
On the bright side, the Bakersfield City Council recently approved a deal with SiFi Networks to build and maintain a fiber network along every street in the city at no cost to taxpayers. SiFi would then sell network access to private internet providers. According to a presentation given to the Board of Supervisors, residents would pay about $60 each month for 10,000Mbps. For comparison, AT&T currently charges $180 for 5,000Mbps. The project is currently in the design phase, with no clear timetable yet for construction.
Best internet options in Bakersfield
CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. For a long time, Spectrum was essentially the only option for high-speed internet in Bakersfield. Then, in 2015, AT&T agreed to expand its fiber-optic network to 20 new metro areas within four years as a part of its deal to buy DirecTV. In 2017, AT&T Fiber officially launched in Bakersfield, immediately becoming the city’s best internet option. The only catch? It’s currently only available to 21% of Bakersfield households.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options — including prices and speeds — depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
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Product details
AT&T Fiber isn’t just the best internet provider in Bakersfield — it has a good argument for the best internet provider in the entire country. Unfortunately, it’s only available to a quarter of Bakersfield residents. It uses a 100% fiber-optic network, meaning you’ll get the same download and upload speeds (ideal for gamers and remote workers) and you won’t have to worry about network congestion slowing your connection down. If you can get AT&T Fiber at your address, it’s a no-brainer.
That said, most of Bakersfield is serviced by AT&T’s slower DSL service, called AT&T High Speed Internet. If this is the only AT&T service you can get, we recommend going with Spectrum or T-Mobile.
Availability: AT&T Fiber is currently available to 21% of households, with service clustered around downtown and the Old River and Westdale North neighborhoods.
Plans and pricing: There are three AT&T Fiber plans available in Bakersfield: $55 per month for 300Mbps, $65 for 500Mbps and 940Mbps for $80. Some residents may also have access to AT&T’s ultrafast 2,000Mbps and 5,000Mbps plans for $110 and $180 a month respectively.
Fees and service details: The price of equipment is included with AT&T Fiber, and there are no contracts or data caps.
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Product details
For Bakersfield residents who don’t have access to AT&T Fiber, Spectrum is a decent runner-up. It runs on a cable network, which means slower upload speeds and more congestion issues than fiber, and prices increase by $30 in the second year. But for most people, Spectrum’s plans offer plenty of speed, and it’s available almost everywhere in the city.
Availability: Spectrum is available to 94% of households in Bakersfield.
Plans and pricing: There are three Spectrum internet plans available in Bakersfield. You can get 300Mbps download and 10Mbps upload for $50 a month, 500/20Mbps for $70 and 940/35Mbps for $90.
Fees and service details: You’ll have to pay an extra $5 a month if you rent a router through Spectrum, but there are no data caps or contract requirements.