In Tar Heel there are 10 residential internet providers covering 97.47% of the city. The average home can get speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. Note that we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers below. This does not influence rankings, and helps us provide high-quality detailed information for free.
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10 Internet Service Providers in Tar Heel
Data updated 11/14/2025, based on FCC data from 12/31/2024. This is the most current data available as of .
To avoid wasting your time, providers with less than 1% coverage in Tar Heel are not shown.
Tar Heel Satellite TV & Internet Providers
DISH Satellite TV
DIRECTV Satellite TV
Not sure whether to choose Dish or DIRECTV? For most people most of the time we recommend DISH. But click here to learn more.
Viasat Satellite Internet
Availability maps for all providers in Tar Heel
Using the dropdown below, please select a provider. Green indicates nearly all homes have service, red indicates few homes have service, and blank indicates no service.
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Internet service is available in 97.47% of Tar Heel. Using our interactive availability map, you can compare service areas for different providers, we include fiber, cable, DSL, or fixed wireless internet service for all providers who offer it. You will notice that some providers might be listed multiple times for each service. If you find no providers cover the location you're looking at, you can opt for satellite service. The most widely available provider is Spectrum. Now you can call companies in Tar Heel with more confidence that they might be available.
How fast are internet speeds in Tar Heel?
The map below shows maximum internet speeds by area in Tar Heel.
Internet Speed Key
The average Tar Heel home can get up to 1,000 Mbps on their internet plan. For most people, the fastest download speed in the city is 1,000 Mbps, which 97.47% of residents can get.
What type of internet should I choose in Tar Heel?
The fastest internet for you may vary based on where in Tar Heel you live. If speed is your main concern, fiber will be the fastest internet in the city.
- Fiber is the fastest internet type for 97.47% of Tar Heel homes.
- Cable is fastest for less than 1% of the city.
- DSL is fastest for less than 1%.
- Fixed wireless is fastest for less than 1%.
- Satellite internet may be the only option for 2.53% of Tar Heel homes.
Internet Market Health in Tar Heel
Internet Competition Key
The map shows how competitive the Tar Heel internet service market is. Areas in green have more alternatives, areas in yellow have a few choices, and areas in red may have only one provider. More competition usually means faster speeds and better prices for you, the customer.
Below are quick facts on internet competition and market health in Tar Heel based on what connections the average home has availabile:
- Average number of internet service providers to a home: 5.1 (healthy)
- Average types of service (fiber, cable, DSL, etc): 2.6 (healthy)
- Average providers with broadband (25 Mbps+) speeds: 4.3 (healthy)
Overall, competition is healthy.
Tar Heel internet customers have the ability to buy internet service from 1 to 8 different providers, depending on where they live. For different types of service, Tar Heel homes have between 1 and 4 options. The type(s) of service available are fiber, fixed wireless, dsl, and cable, though these may vary depending on the region within the city.
When it comes to broadband download speeds faster than 25 Mbps, the situation is worse. Tar Heel internet customers who want faster speeds have between 1 and 8 choices of companies offering speeds up to or over 25 Mbps.
More internet companies with faster speeds means fewer monopolies and better prices for customers. In promoting a free market for internet, Tar Heel is doing better than most.
TV & Internet Providers in Depth
Below you'll find which TV and internet providers offer service in Tar Heel, along with details on where in Tar Heel and at what speeds.
Spectrum Fiber in Tar Heel, NC
Spectrum fiber coverage
About 76.53%, or 1,089 people, have Spectrum fiber internet available to them in the city. The company covers the southeast, west, northwest, southwest, south, central, east, and north Tar Heel area. Spectrum is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in much of Tar Heel.
Spectrum fiber download speeds
Spectrum is one of the fastest when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fiber providers in the area, Spectrum fiber is one of the fastest. There are no different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Spectrum goes up to 1,000 Mbps, and all Tar Heel customers can get this speed.
Show all download speeds
- 100.0% up to 1,000.0 Mbps
Spectrum fiber upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for Spectrum fiber. Compared to other ISPs, Spectrum is above average where upload speeds are concerned, and one of the slowest compared to other Tar Heel fiber providers. Spectrum offers no different upload speeds across the city. The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 500 Mbps, which is available to everyone covered.
Show all upload speeds
- 100.0% up to 500.0 Mbps
Brightspeed DSL in Tar Heel, NC
Brightspeed DSL coverage
About 55.66%, or 792 people, have Brightspeed DSL internet available to them in the city. The company covers the southeast, northwest, west, central, east, south, southwest, and north Tar Heel area. Brightspeed is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a majority of Tar Heel.
Brightspeed DSL download speeds
Brightspeed is below average when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other DSL providers in the area, Brightspeed DSL is the fastest. There are 5 different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Brightspeed goes up to 100 Mbps, the slowest package only goes up to 10 Mbps, and the city-wide average maximum speed for Tar Heel customers is up to 56 Mbps.
Show all download speeds
- 40.4% up to 100.0 Mbps
- 10.2% up to 80.0 Mbps
- 1.5% up to 60.0 Mbps
- 6.1% up to 40.0 Mbps
- 41.8% up to 10.0 Mbps
Brightspeed DSL upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for Brightspeed DSL. Compared to other ISPs, Brightspeed is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and the fastest compared to other Tar Heel DSL providers. Brightspeed offers 4 different upload speeds across the city, so your internet plan's upload speed may vary by neighborhood . The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 10 Mbps. Some customers have slower plan choices, which only go up to 1.0 Mbps. On average, Brightspeed customers can get speeds up to 5.7 Mbps.
Show all upload speeds
- 50.6% up to 10.0 Mbps
- 1.5% up to 5.0 Mbps
- 6.1% up to 3.0 Mbps
- 41.8% up to 1.0 Mbps
Focus Broadband Fiber in Tar Heel, NC
Focus fiber coverage
About 53.55%, or 762 people, have Focus fiber internet available to them in the city. The company covers the west, southwest, northwest, south, central, east, southeast, and north Tar Heel area. Focus is a large internet service provider internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a majority of Tar Heel.
Focus Broadband fiber download speeds
Focus is one of the fastest when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fiber providers in the area, Focus fiber is one of the fastest. There are no different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Focus goes up to 1,000 Mbps, and all Tar Heel customers can get this speed.
Show all download speeds
- 100.0% up to 1,000.0 Mbps
Focus Broadband fiber upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be equal to than upload speeds for Focus fiber. Compared to other ISPs, Focus is the fastest where upload speeds are concerned, and the fastest compared to other Tar Heel fiber providers. Focus offers no different upload speeds across the city. The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 1,000 Mbps, which is available to everyone covered.
Show all upload speeds
- 100.0% up to 1,000.0 Mbps
Star Communications Fiber in Tar Heel, NC
Star Communications fiber coverage
About 37.10%, or 528 people, have Star Communications fiber internet available to them in the city. The company covers the southeast, northeast, north, central, and east Tar Heel area. Star Communications is a large internet service provider internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in some of Tar Heel.
Star Communications fiber download speeds
Star Communications is one of the fastest when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fiber providers in the area, Star Communications fiber is one of the fastest. There are no different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Star Communications goes up to 1,000 Mbps, and all Tar Heel customers can get this speed.
Show all download speeds
- 100.0% up to 1,000.0 Mbps
Star Communications fiber upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for Star Communications fiber. Compared to other ISPs, Star Communications is above average where upload speeds are concerned, and one of the slowest compared to other Tar Heel fiber providers. Star Communications offers no different upload speeds across the city. The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 500 Mbps, which is available to everyone covered.
Show all upload speeds
- 100.0% up to 500.0 Mbps
Star Communications DSL in Tar Heel, NC
Star Communications DSL coverage
About 17.08%, or 243 people, have Star Communications DSL internet available to them in the city. The company covers the southeast, north, and northeast Tar Heel area. Star Communications is a large internet service provider internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a small portion of Tar Heel.
Star Communications DSL download speeds
Star Communications is the slowest when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other DSL providers in the area, Star Communications DSL is the slowest. There are no different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Star Communications goes up to 10 Mbps, and all Tar Heel customers can get this speed.
Show all download speeds
- 100.0% up to 10.0 Mbps
Star Communications DSL upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for Star Communications DSL. Compared to other ISPs, Star Communications is the slowest where upload speeds are concerned, and the slowest compared to other Tar Heel DSL providers. Star Communications offers no different upload speeds across the city. The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 1.0 Mbps, which is available to everyone covered.
Show all upload speeds
- 100.0% up to 1.0 Mbps
Spectrum Cable in Tar Heel, NC
Spectrum cable coverage
About 8.36%, or 119 people, have Spectrum cable internet available to them in the city. The company covers the northwest, south, west, southeast, and central Tar Heel area. Spectrum is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a very small piece of Tar Heel.
Spectrum cable download speeds
Spectrum is one of the fastest when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other cable providers in the area, Spectrum cable is the fastest. There are no different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from Spectrum goes up to 1,000 Mbps, and all Tar Heel customers can get this speed.
Show all download speeds
- 100.0% up to 1,000.0 Mbps
Spectrum cable upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for Spectrum cable. Compared to other ISPs, Spectrum is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and the fastest compared to other Tar Heel cable providers. Spectrum offers no different upload speeds across the city. The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 35 Mbps, which is available to everyone covered.
Show all upload speeds
- 100.0% up to 35.0 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Tar Heel, NC
T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless coverage
About 79.69%, or 1,134 people, have T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless internet available to them in the city. The company covers the entire Tar Heel area. T-Mobile Home Internet is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in much of Tar Heel.
T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless download speeds
T-Mobile Home Internet is below average when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fixed wireless providers in the area, T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless is the fastest. There are 2 different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from T-Mobile Home Internet goes up to 100 Mbps, the slowest package only goes up to 25 Mbps, and the city-wide average maximum speed for Tar Heel customers is up to 59 Mbps.
Show all download speeds
- 45.0% up to 100.0 Mbps
- 55.0% up to 25.0 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for T-Mobile Home Internet fixed wireless. Compared to other ISPs, T-Mobile Home Internet is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and the fastest compared to other Tar Heel fixed wireless providers. T-Mobile Home Internet offers 2 different upload speeds across the city, so your internet plan's upload speed may vary by neighborhood . The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 20 Mbps. Some customers have slower plan choices, which only go up to 3.0 Mbps. On average, T-Mobile Home Internet customers can get speeds up to 11 Mbps.
Show all upload speeds
- 45.0% up to 20.0 Mbps
- 55.0% up to 3.0 Mbps
US Cellular Fixed Wireless in Tar Heel, NC
US Cellular fixed wireless coverage
About 72.73%, or 1,035 people, have US Cellular fixed wireless internet available to them in the city. The company covers the entire Tar Heel area. US Cellular is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in much of Tar Heel.
US Cellular fixed wireless download speeds
US Cellular is below average when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fixed wireless providers in the area, US Cellular fixed wireless is the slowest. There are 2 different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from US Cellular goes up to 25 Mbps, the slowest package only goes up to 10 Mbps, and the city-wide average maximum speed for Tar Heel customers is up to 17 Mbps.
Show all download speeds
- 46.3% up to 25.0 Mbps
- 53.7% up to 10.0 Mbps
US Cellular fixed wireless upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for US Cellular fixed wireless. Compared to other ISPs, US Cellular is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and the slowest compared to other Tar Heel fixed wireless providers. US Cellular offers 2 different upload speeds across the city, so your internet plan's upload speed may vary by neighborhood . The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 3.0 Mbps. Some customers have slower plan choices, which only go up to 1.0 Mbps. On average, US Cellular customers can get speeds up to 1.9 Mbps.
Show all upload speeds
- 46.3% up to 3.0 Mbps
- 53.7% up to 1.0 Mbps
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Tar Heel, NC
EarthLink fixed wireless coverage
About 50.04%, or 712 people, have EarthLink fixed wireless internet available to them in the city. The company covers the entire Tar Heel area. EarthLink is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a majority of Tar Heel.
EarthLink fixed wireless download speeds
EarthLink is below average when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fixed wireless providers in the area, EarthLink fixed wireless is average. There are 2 different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from EarthLink goes up to 100 Mbps, the slowest package only goes up to 25 Mbps, and the city-wide average maximum speed for Tar Heel customers is up to 32 Mbps.
Show all download speeds
- 9.6% up to 100.0 Mbps
- 90.4% up to 25.0 Mbps
EarthLink fixed wireless upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for EarthLink fixed wireless. Compared to other ISPs, EarthLink is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and average compared to other Tar Heel fixed wireless providers. EarthLink offers 2 different upload speeds across the city, so your internet plan's upload speed may vary by neighborhood . The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 20 Mbps. Some customers have slower plan choices, which only go up to 3.0 Mbps. On average, EarthLink customers can get speeds up to 4.6 Mbps.
Show all upload speeds
- 9.6% up to 20.0 Mbps
- 90.4% up to 3.0 Mbps
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Tar Heel, NC
AT&T fixed wireless coverage
About 50.04%, or 712 people, have AT&T fixed wireless internet available to them in the city. The company covers the entire Tar Heel area. AT&T is one of the largest internet service providers internet service providers in the US, with internet service available in a majority of Tar Heel.
AT&T fixed wireless download speeds
AT&T is below average when comparing download speeds to all other internet providers in Tar Heel. Versus other fixed wireless providers in the area, AT&T fixed wireless is average. There are 2 different maximum speeds throughout Tar Heel. The fastest plan anyone in Tar Heel can order from AT&T goes up to 100 Mbps, the slowest package only goes up to 25 Mbps, and the city-wide average maximum speed for Tar Heel customers is up to 32 Mbps.
Show all download speeds
- 9.6% up to 100.0 Mbps
- 90.4% up to 25.0 Mbps
AT&T fixed wireless upload speeds
In Tar Heel download speeds tend to be faster than than upload speeds for AT&T fixed wireless. Compared to other ISPs, AT&T is below average where upload speeds are concerned, and average compared to other Tar Heel fixed wireless providers. AT&T offers 2 different upload speeds across the city, so your internet plan's upload speed may vary by neighborhood . The fastest upload speed available to anyone from this ISP in Tar Heel is up to 20 Mbps. Some customers have slower plan choices, which only go up to 3.0 Mbps. On average, AT&T customers can get speeds up to 4.6 Mbps.
Show all upload speeds
- 9.6% up to 20.0 Mbps
- 90.4% up to 3.0 Mbps
Tar Heel Internet by Area
This information is most helpful to those looking for homes or considering moving to Tar Heel or any of the areas nearby.
How does internet in Tar Heel compare to the rest of North Carolina?
Internet speeds in Tar Heel are much slower versus the average speeds in North Carolina: 3,368 Mbps in North Carolina versus 1,000 Mbps in the city. The state has similar internet availability compared to the city. Average internet coverage in North Carolina is 98.38% versus 97.47% in Tar Heel.
What zip codes have widespread internet?
Internet coverage varies by zip code and neighborhood. Some examples in or around Tar Heel are shown below. You can enter any zip code here to see TV and internet providers by zip code.
What does internet service look like in other cities?
Below are cities nearby and with similar populations. This comparison can be useful if living somewhere with fast internet is important to you.
Nearby Cities
- Tolarsville, NC: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- Dublin, NC: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- White Oak, NC: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- St. Pauls, NC: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- Elizabethtown, NC: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- Lumberton, NC: less internet coverage, faster speeds
- Rex, NC: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- Rennert, NC: more internet coverage, similar speeds
- Buie, NC: more internet coverage, similar speeds
- White Lake, NC: more internet coverage, slower speeds
Cities with Similar Populations
- Salisbury, VT: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- Canada, KY: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- Castle Creek, NY: more internet coverage, similar speeds
- Clinchco, VA: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- Cornish, ME: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- Crawford, CO: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- Culloden, GA: more internet coverage, faster speeds
- DeSmet, SD: more internet coverage, slower speeds
- Dunes City, OR: more internet coverage, similar speeds
- Key Center, WA: more internet coverage, faster speeds