Internet Providers in Chicago, IL

Fiber, cable and fixed wireless compared for Chicago — using FCC availability data, not marketing claims. Then check what actually reaches your address.

By , Editor · Updated August 15, 2026 · Availability figures from the FCC Broadband Data Collection, as of December 31, 2025

Internet in Chicago at a glance

Chicago, Illinois has 1,316,431 residential broadband-serviceable locations. Fiber reaches 33.3% of them at 100/20 Mbps or faster; cable reaches 99.2%. Gigabit service is available to 54.5% across all technologies.

33.3% Fiber available100/20 Mbps or better
33.3% Fiber gigabit1 Gbps or better
99.2% Cable available100/20 Mbps or better
54.5% Gigabit, any tech1 Gbps or better
  • Chicago has 1,316,431 residential broadband-serviceable locations, per FCC filings as of December 31, 2025.
  • It ranks #27 of 29 markets FiberNear tracks for fiber availability, against a median of 64.2%.
  • Cable reaches 65.9% more of Chicago than fiber does — the gap most people are surprised by.
  • Over fiber specifically, gigabit reaches 33.3%; across all technologies it reaches 54.5%.
  • FiberNear tracks 1 fiber network operating in Chicago, alongside 2 major non-fiber providers, and coverage varies street by street — a citywide figure will not tell you what reaches a specific address.

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, residential fixed broadband, as of December 31, 2025. Figures are advertised availability self-reported by providers, not measured speeds.

Availability figures: FCC Broadband Data Collection, as of December 31, 2025. Page updated August 15, 2026.

Chicago, Illinois is a huge Midwest market with near-universal cable and one of the widest fiber gaps of any major US city. Because fiber is built out street by street, the useful question isn't "who offers service in Chicago?" — it's "who can actually install it at my address?" That is what FiberNear checks for you.

What's actually available in Chicago

Each figure is the share of Chicago's residential broadband-serviceable locations where at least one provider reports service at that speed or better. Read down a column to compare technologies at the same speed tier.

Broadband availability in Chicago, IL by technology and speed tier
Technology25/3 Mbps100/20 Mbps250/25 Mbps1 Gbps
Fiber to the home33.3%33.3%33.3%33.3%
Cable99.2%99.2%99.2%39.3%
Fixed wireless90.1%63.7%13.6%1.5%
DSL / copper44.4%23.8%0.0%0.0%
Any technology100.0%100.0%100.0%54.5%

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, residential fixed broadband, as of December 31, 2025. Figures are advertised availability self-reported by providers, not measured speeds.

How Chicago compares

Across the 29 metros FiberNear tracks, the median fiber availability is 64.2% at 100/20 Mbps. Chicago sits at 33.3%, which ranks #27 of 29 — Chicago has thinner fiber coverage than a typical market in this set, which makes checking your specific address more worthwhile, not less.

Internet providers in Chicago

These are the major networks active in and around Chicago — fiber first, plus the cable and wireless operators that reach a large share of the market. Each card names the connection type, because that is the difference that actually matters. Coverage varies by neighborhood and address, so use the checker to confirm which of them reach your home.

Which providers operate in each market is FiberNear's own editorial assessment, not an FCC figure. The FCC's public filings report how much fiber reaches a city, but not which brand it belongs to.

AT&T Fiber

100% fiber-optic; plans commonly range from 300 Mbps up to 5 Gbps where available. Known for symmetrical speeds and no annual contract on most fiber plans.

Xfinity

Hybrid fiber-coaxial cable, with fiber to a limited set of addresses; plans commonly range from 150 Mbps up to 2 Gbps where available. Known for the widest gigabit-capable cable footprint in the US.

Astound Broadband

Hybrid fiber-coaxial cable, with fiber across part of its footprint; plans commonly range from 300 Mbps up to gigabit-plus tiers where available. Known for overbuilding incumbents in dense urban markets.

See if fiber is available at your address

Enter your address and we'll compare the fiber providers that actually serve your home — free and no obligation.

Check My Chicago Address →

Fiber vs cable in Chicago

Cable currently reaches more of Chicago than fiber does — 99.2% of locations versus 33.3% at 100/20 Mbps. But coverage and quality are different questions. The gap shows up at the top of the range: 33.3% of Chicago can get gigabit over fiber, compared with 39.3% over cable.

Where it is available, fiber generally outperforms cable and DSL on speed consistency, upload performance and latency — which matters most for video calls, cloud backups, and a household with several people online at once. Actual speeds, pricing and availability are set and confirmed by each provider. How fiber availability works →

Looking for business internet in Chicago?

Everything above is the residential figure. The FCC reports business availability separately, and in Chicago fiber reaches 33.7% of business locations against 33.3% of homes — so a street with fiber in it does not settle the question for a commercial premises. Business fiber in Chicago →

Common questions about internet in Chicago

Is fiber internet available in Chicago?
Yes. Fiber is available to 33.3% of residential broadband-serviceable locations in Chicago at 100/20 Mbps or faster, according to FCC Broadband Data Collection filings as of December 31, 2025. Availability is built street by street, so the only way to know about a specific home is to check that exact address.
What percentage of Chicago can get gigabit internet?
Gigabit service (1 Gbps down / 100 Mbps up or better) is reported as available to 54.5% of residential locations in Chicago across all technologies, and to 33.3% specifically over fiber. Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, as of December 31, 2025.
Is cable or fiber more widely available in Chicago?
Cable reaches more of Chicago than fiber does — 99.2% of residential locations versus 33.3% for fiber, at 100/20 Mbps or better. Fiber generally performs better where it is available, particularly on upload speed and latency, but cable still covers more ground in this market.
How do I find out which internet providers serve my exact address in Chicago?
Enter your street address in the checker on this page. Coverage in Chicago varies block to block, so a citywide provider list will not tell you what you can actually order. FiberNear compares the providers that reach your specific location and is free to use.
Is FiberNear an internet provider?
No. FiberNear is an independent comparison and referral service. We are not an internet service provider and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any carrier. Availability, speeds and pricing are set and confirmed by the providers themselves.

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Compare providers: AT&T Fiber  ·  Frontier Fiber  ·  Google Fiber  ·  Verizon Fios  ·  Quantum Fiber  ·  Metronet  ·  Ziply Fiber  ·  Brightspeed  ·  Kinetic  ·  T-Mobile Fiber  ·  Hotwire Communications  ·  Ting Internet  ·  Point Broadband  ·  Conexon Connect  ·  TDS Fiber  ·  Spectrum  ·  Xfinity  ·  Cox Communications  ·  Optimum  ·  WOW! Internet  ·  Astound Broadband  ·  CenturyLink  ·  T-Mobile 5G Home Internet  ·  Verizon 5G Home Internet  ·  Starlink  ·  EarthLink