Dave Johnson on July 3, 2020
They say that everyone in Los Angeles comes from somewhere else, so if you’re new to the city, you’re well on your way to becoming a genuine Los Angeleno. One of the first things you’ll want to do when setting up your digs is to research internet providers in Los Angeles to find one that meets your home networking needs. The good news is that getting connected in LA is easy.
Like other cities, Los Angeles has a lot of internet providers to choose from, so there’s a healthy amount of competition. However, it can be hard to know exactly what kind of service or internet speed you need because plans vary by neighborhood.
If you work from home or do a lot of large file transfers, you’ll also want a faster internet speed, but think carefully before you pay extra for more than 200 Mbps.
The majority of LA residents choose cable internet from Spectrum. Cable internet in LA commonly offers speeds between 200 Mbps and 400 Mbps. Other options include DSL service from AT&T and Frontier. DSL, or a Digital Subscriber Line, this service uses phone lines. It’s slower than cable, usually closer to 50-100 Mbps. AT&T also offers fiber optic service in some areas with connections up to 1000 Mbps.
There’s also a new internet provider called Starry, which uses 5G fixed wireless. The company beams internet to your home through the air via a high-speed wireless network using the newest generation of wireless technology. Starry is only operating in limited parts of LA, but they offer 200 Mbps without any wires.
Now that you know your options, how do you choose? Not all providers will offer service in your neighborhood; therefore, you should start your research by entering your address into each provider’s website to see if they’re available where you live. Different providers offer different packages and speeds, and you might get a price cut if you bundle your internet with television and phone service. Providers sometimes offer “triple play” deals that include internet, landline, and TV.
While it may feel less convenient than signing up online, be sure to call the internet provider and see what kind of deals they can offer. If one provider offers an attractive price, call another provider that services your neighborhood and see if they can meet or beat the deal. You can save a lot of money this way, and most providers are willing to give you discounts, even if just for the first few months. Don’t forget, some internet providers—like Spectrum—offer free access to WiFi hot spots. If you spend a lot of time in coffee shops and other public locations, that could be an important consideration.
Don’t get stuck paying for speed you’re not using. As a general rule of thumb, broadband internet is so fast that even basic plans work well enough for most people. If you’re not streaming your favorite TV shows, even a very slow connection—like 5 Mbps—is enough to surf the web, check email, and stream quality music. On the other hand, if you use a streaming service like Netflix, you should have at least 20 Mbps—and multiply that number by however many people in the house might watch their own screen at once. Are you into gaming as well? 100 Mbps is a good starting place.
If you work from home or do a lot of large file transfers, you’ll also want a faster internet speed, but think carefully before you pay extra for more than 200 Mbps, which is often more than enough.
If you’ve always had a cable TV subscription and landline phone service, moving to the City of Angels is a good time to ask yourself if you really need to keep them.
These days, you can stream almost anything, which could save you $50 or more each month on a cable bill. If you want local access to news, sports, or a network show that hasn’t started streaming yet, you can stream a service like YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV to build a package that rivals cable. Best of all, you can cancel and restart anytime without penalty.
Likewise, landline phones are becoming less common. If your address has rock-solid cellular coverage, you can just use your mobile phone at home. Otherwise, you can get a Voice Over IP (VoIP) line from your internet provider, which plugs into ordinary telephones but relies on the internet to work.
You’ll be in Los Angeles soon, kicking off a new chapter—don’t get caught without a connection. Check out the best options for internet providers in Los Angeles that are available in your new neighborhood.
Want to avoid the hassle and wasted time spent individually going online or calling each internet provider available in your area? Use the free FindYourInternet shop-and-compare tool to easily search available offers at your home address.
Dave Johnson has been writing about tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. He’s the author of three dozen books about digital photography, tech, and robots, and he even authored an interactive children’s storybook. Dave started out in the Air Force, where he spent a few years flying satellites and teaching space operations. Dave has co-hosted a number of podcasts and in what little spare time he has left, he scuba dives and plays drums.
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