Optimum Internet Deals is an independent comparison service. We are not Optimum Communications, Inc. and are not affiliated with it. “Optimum” in our name means the best plan for you. We compare Optimum alongside other providers.
Who runs Optimum
Optimum started as the internet brand of Cablevision, the cable company that wired much of Long Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester, northern New Jersey and southwestern Connecticut. Altice USA bought Suddenlink in 2015 and Cablevision in 2016, and in 2022 it moved Suddenlink customers to the Optimum brand. In November 2025, Altice USA changed its company name to Optimum Communications, so the company and the brand now share the same name.
That history explains Optimum’s unusual map: a large, dense network around New York City, plus many smaller systems in towns that Suddenlink served across the South, Midwest and West.
Where Optimum serves
Optimum serves parts of 21 states. It does not cover any state completely, and in most places it serves only certain cities, towns or neighborhoods.
| Region | States and examples of areas served* |
|---|---|
| New York tri-state area | New York (Long Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester, parts of the Hudson Valley), New Jersey (Newark, Elizabeth, Bayonne, many Bergen County towns and other areas), Connecticut (mainly Fairfield County and other western towns), small parts of Pennsylvania |
| Appalachia & Ohio Valley | West Virginia (Charleston, Parkersburg, Beckley and many towns), Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina |
| South Central | Texas (East Texas, West Texas, Bryan–College Station), Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas |
| West | Arizona (including the Flagstaff area), California (Eureka and Humboldt County), Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho |
*Optimum serves only parts of each state and area listed. Availability depends on your exact street address.
Fiber and cable upgrades
Optimum runs two kinds of networks:
- Optimum Fiber. In February 2025, the company said fiber was available at about 3 million homes and businesses, nearly a third of its footprint, mostly in the New York tri-state area. Fiber offers upload speeds that match download speeds.
- Cable (hybrid fiber-coax). Most former Suddenlink areas, and parts of the New York area, use cable. Optimum has said it is upgrading this network to support download speeds of up to 2 Gbps, with a goal of multi-gig speeds in 65% of its footprint by 2028.
So two Optimum customers can have very different options depending on whether their street has fiber or cable. Ask which one serves your address before you compare plans. Our fiber vs cable guide explains the difference.
How to check if Optimum serves your address
- Use your full street address. ZIP codes are not enough. Optimum may serve one side of a ZIP code and not the other, especially in suburban and rural areas.
- Include your apartment number. In apartment buildings, service depends on which providers have wiring in the building.
- Ask whether it’s fiber or cable. This tells you what speeds and upload speeds you can expect.
- Check the other providers at the same address. Most Optimum areas have at least one alternative, and comparing them is the best way to get a fair price.
Or let us do it: share your address and a specialist will check Optimum and every other provider that serves it.
What to compare Optimum with
Your alternatives depend on where you live:
- New York and New Jersey: Verizon Fios is the main fiber alternative in much of the area, and Spectrum or Xfinity serve some neighborhoods.
- Connecticut: Frontier (now part of Verizon) offers fiber across much of the state. Read Frontier is now Verizon.
- Former Suddenlink towns: the local phone company (such as Frontier, AT&T, Kinetic or Brightspeed), 5G home internet and, in rural areas, Starlink. See our Starlink guide.
Not sure what speed you need? Our speed guide helps you avoid paying for more than you use.
Before you order
- Ask for the FCC broadband label. It shows the regular monthly price after any promotion, typical speeds and fees.
- Check what happens when a promotional price ends, and write down the date.
- Ask about equipment fees and whether you can use your own modem or router.
- If you live in New York, ask about the state’s required low-cost plan if your household qualifies.
- Moving? Our moving internet checklist covers the timeline.
You can also read our Optimum provider page or browse internet providers by state.
Compare Optimum with other providers
Most Optimum areas also have at least one other option, such as fiber from the local phone company, another cable company, 5G home internet or Starlink. Tap a provider to learn more, or check your address and we’ll compare them all.
