Providers we compare in New York
Each of these companies serves parts of New York. None of them covers the whole state, so the right choice depends on your street.
The largest cable provider in New York State. Spectrum serves much of Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, plus most large upstate cities, including Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, and many smaller towns. Spectrum details
Optimum (formerly Cablevision; the parent company, once Altice USA, is now Optimum Communications) serves much of Long Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn, Westchester and parts of the lower Hudson Valley, with fiber in some areas. Optimum details
Frontier, now a Verizon company, has deep roots in New York: it began as Rochester Telephone. It serves the Rochester area and many smaller upstate communities with fiber in some areas and DSL in others. Frontier details
Kinetic by Windstream serves a handful of New York communities, including the Jamestown area, suburban Syracuse and some small towns in central New York. Kinetic (Windstream) details
Sells internet over partner fiber and 5G networks at many New York addresses, with its own plans and customer service. EarthLink details
Satellite internet for the Adirondacks, Catskills, North Country, Southern Tier and other rural areas where wired service doesn’t reach, as long as there is a clear view of the sky. Starlink details
Verizon Fios and other New York providers
Verizon is the traditional phone company across much of New York City, Long Island, Westchester and parts of upstate New York, and its Fios fiber service is available in many of those areas. In January 2026, Verizon also bought Frontier, so two of New York’s phone companies now belong to the same parent. Read Frontier is now Verizon to see what that means for Frontier customers.
New York also has strong local and regional companies. Greenlight Networks, which started in Rochester, offers fiber in parts of the Rochester area and has expanded toward Buffalo. Mid-Hudson Cablevision serves parts of the Hudson Valley, Starry offers fixed wireless service in some New York City apartment buildings, and T-Mobile and Verizon sell 5G home internet at many addresses.
How New York internet differs by region
| Region | Providers often found there* |
|---|---|
| New York City | Spectrum (much of Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island), Optimum (much of the Bronx and Brooklyn), Verizon Fios, 5G home internet, Starry in some buildings |
| Long Island | Optimum, Verizon Fios, 5G home internet |
| Westchester & lower Hudson Valley | Optimum, Verizon Fios, Spectrum (some areas), 5G home internet |
| Mid-Hudson & Capital Region (Albany) | Spectrum, Verizon, Frontier, Mid-Hudson Cablevision (some areas), fixed wireless |
| Western NY (Buffalo, Rochester) | Spectrum, Verizon (Buffalo area), Frontier (Rochester area), Greenlight Networks fiber (some areas) |
| Central NY (Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton) | Spectrum, Verizon, Frontier, Kinetic (some Syracuse suburbs) |
| Rural areas (North Country, Adirondacks, Catskills, Southern Tier) | Spectrum and Frontier in many towns, Kinetic near Jamestown, fixed wireless, satellite |
*Every provider serves only parts of each region. Your exact options depend on your street address.
New York’s $15 low-cost internet law
New York’s Affordable Broadband Act took effect on January 15, 2025. It requires internet providers in the state to offer eligible low-income households either a plan of at least 25 Mbps for $15 a month or a plan of at least 200 Mbps for $20 a month, including recurring taxes and fees. Small providers with 20,000 or fewer subscribers can ask the state for an exemption. If you think you qualify, ask each provider at your address about its low-cost plan, or let our specialist help you compare. Note that AT&T stopped offering its Internet Air service in New York when the law took effect.
New York City apartments
In New York City, the building often decides your options. Many apartment buildings are wired for only one cable company plus Verizon, and some have deals with a single provider or a building-wide service like Starry. Before you sign a lease, ask the management company or super which providers are wired into the building and whether fiber runs to your unit. Install appointments can take longer if a building needs new wiring, so book early. Our moving internet checklist covers the timeline.
Rural New York and new broadband funding
New York’s ConnectALL office manages the state’s $664.6 million federal BEAD allocation. NTIA approved New York’s final BEAD proposal on December 4, 2025. NTIA’s summary lists about 53,000 eligible homes and businesses, with roughly 27% planned for fiber, 45% for fixed wireless and 28% for low-Earth-orbit satellite. If you live in a rural area, check your address again over the next few years, as new options may arrive.
Plan for storms and power outages
Nor’easters, lake-effect snow near Buffalo and Rochester, ice storms and coastal storms like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 can all knock out power, and your modem and router stop when the power does. A battery backup (UPS), a phone plan with hotspot data, and a second connection such as 5G home internet or satellite can help if you work from home.
Choosing the right plan
If you work from home or upload large files, fiber’s matching upload speeds are a big plus. Read our fiber vs cable guide and how much internet speed do I need to size your plan. You can also learn more about Optimum, Spectrum and Frontier, or share your address and a specialist will compare every provider that serves it, for free.
