Fiber internet in Washington, DC comes through Verizon Fios, the one fiber network FiberNear tracks in the city. Verizon says Fios is widely available across the District, though coverage varies by building and street. A citywide provider list cannot tell you what reaches your home.
Start with your exact address. Below, see how to read the FCC map for a single location and how to compare the plans offered there. Whatever a map or list shows, confirm the offer with the provider before you order.
Fiber internet availability in Washington at a glance
Washington, District of Columbia has 385,672 residential broadband-serviceable locations. Fiber reaches 62.4% of them at 100/20 Mbps or faster; cable reaches 97.6%. Gigabit service is available to 79.7% across all technologies.
- Washington has 385,672 residential broadband-serviceable locations, per FCC filings as of December 31, 2025.
- It ranks #16 of 29 markets FiberNear tracks for fiber availability, against a median of 64.2%.
- Cable reaches 35.2% more of Washington than fiber does — the gap most people are surprised by.
- Over fiber specifically, gigabit reaches 15.5%; across all technologies it reaches 79.7%.
- FiberNear tracks 1 fiber network operating in Washington, 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 October 14, 2026.
Washington, District of Columbia is a compact, densely built market where fiber and cable overlap across most of the city. Because fiber is built out street by street, the useful question isn't "who offers service in Washington?" — it's "who can actually install it at my address?" That is what FiberNear checks for you.
Who actually serves Washington
In Washington, the networks we track as present are Verizon Fios, Xfinity, Astound Broadband. Fiber is 62.4% of homes here; cable is 97.6%. Coverage still stops at the address — check below.
What's actually available in Washington
Each figure is the share of Washington'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.
| Technology | 25/3 Mbps | 100/20 Mbps | 250/25 Mbps | 1 Gbps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber to the home | 62.5% | 62.4% | 62.4% | 15.5% |
| Cable | 97.6% | 97.6% | 97.6% | 75.4% |
| Fixed wireless | 91.9% | 74.4% | 37.9% | 0.4% |
| DSL / copper | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Any technology | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 79.7% |
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 Washington compares
Across the 29 metros FiberNear tracks, the median fiber availability is 64.2% at 100/20 Mbps. Washington sits at 62.4%, which ranks #16 of 29 — Washington has thinner fiber coverage than a typical market in this set, which makes checking your specific address more worthwhile, not less.
Internet providers in Washington
These are the major networks active in and around Washington — 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.
Verizon Fios
100% fiber-optic; plans commonly range from 300 Mbps up to 2 Gbps where available. Known for consistently strong reliability scores and symmetrical upload speeds.
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 Washington Address →How to find fiber internet providers in your area
Start with your street address. On the FCC National Broadband Map, search the address and select your home. The map lists each provider that reports service at that location, the technology it uses (fiber, cable, DSL, satellite or fixed wireless) and the maximum advertised download and upload speeds.
- Type your address in the Search by Address bar. If the FCC has the location on file, it appears in capital letters.
- Open Service Filters and choose fiber to set cable and fixed wireless aside. You can also limit the map to residential locations.
- Check your address with each provider on your shortlist. Verizon says Fios coverage in the DC area varies by building and street, so its own checker is the final word for Fios.
The map shows reported availability, not network performance or affordability. If a provider listed at your address will not connect you, or does not sell the technology or speed the map shows, you can file an Availability Challenge from the map. The provider must concede or respond, and the FCC decides any case the two sides cannot settle.
Sources: FCC, How to Use the FCC's National Broadband Map, read Oct 7, 2026; FCC, How to Submit an Availability Challenge, read Oct 7, 2026; Verizon, Home Internet in the Washington, DC Area, read Oct 7, 2026
How to compare internet packages in Washington, DC
Ask each provider for the plans offered at your address, not a citywide ad. Verizon's DC page sends you to its availability checker, which shows whether your address can get Fios, 5G Home Internet or both.
Then confirm the connection type. Verizon describes Fios as a 100% fiber-optic service. Astound says its internet reaches the premises over coaxial cable, or over fiber where available. Xfinity runs a hybrid fiber-coaxial cable network, as its provider card above notes.
- Ask which connection the provider will install at your address.
- Find the broadband label for each plan. The FCC requires one for every standalone home internet plan, shown at the point of sale online and in stores.
- Use the labels to compare speeds and data allowances across the offers you received.
If Fios and Xfinity both reach your address, our Verizon Fios vs Xfinity comparison covers how the two networks differ.
Sources: Verizon, Home Internet in the Washington, DC Area, read Oct 7, 2026; Astound, Check Service Availability, read Oct 7, 2026; FCC, Broadband Consumer Labels, updated Jul 23, 2026
Fiber vs cable in Washington
Cable currently reaches more of Washington than fiber does — 97.6% of locations versus 62.4% at 100/20 Mbps. But coverage and quality are different questions. The gap shows up at the top of the range: 15.5% of Washington can get gigabit over fiber, compared with 75.4% 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 Washington?
Everything above is the residential figure. The FCC reports business availability separately, and in Washington fiber reaches 79.4% of business locations against 62.4% of homes — so a street with fiber in it does not settle the question for a commercial premises. Business fiber in Washington →
Common questions about fiber internet in Washington
Is fiber internet available in Washington?
What percentage of Washington can get gigabit internet?
Is cable or fiber more widely available in Washington?
How do I find out which internet providers serve my exact address in Washington?
Is FiberNear an internet provider?
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Compare providers in Washington: Verizon Fios · Xfinity · Astound Broadband