9 Best Internet Providers in 28438, NC
Find internet availability by address in 28438, NC
Jump to: Best Internet Provider | Availability Maps | Customer Reviews | 28438 ISP Report Card | Business Internet in 28438
| 28438 ISP Report Card | C+ | |
| Download Speed for Most Households | 1,173 Mbps | |
| Number of Internet Service Providers | 9 | |
| Real 28438 Customer Ratings | 0 |
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
28438 has 9 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the zip. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in 28438.
▼
28438 has 9 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, DSL, and Fixed Wireless internet are available in the zip. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in 28438.
Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings
Focus
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
Brightspeed
Connection
Customer Rating
DSL
Star Communications
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Above are the top 4 providers in 28438, NC for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your zip.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local 28438 ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in 28438, NC?
Star Communications is the highest-rated internet provider in 28438 based on 267 North Carolina customer reviews, and Star Communications has the highest rating nationwide. The provider information above and the information immediately below can help you decide. Compare provider ratings and review counts above. The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in 28438, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
Top Rated Internet Providers in 28438
Local, State, and National Ratings for all 28438 Internet Providers
| ISP / Tech Type | 28438 Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Star Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| Focus | (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (49) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (9) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (186) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (14) | (64) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans |
Based on 267 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Star Communications is the best internet service provider for 28438 residents. Star Communications was rated at an average of 4.00 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Focus Broadband wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 4.00 out of 5 stars and 69.7% coverage in 28438.
At a national level, based on 3075 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, Star Communications is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.57 out of 5.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in 28438?
a different provider.

Internet Availability Key
Speeds and coverage vary within the zip, and sometimes even from block to block. The map shows speeds per provider and where each provider is available.
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in 28438?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers in the zip, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Star Communications. On the other hand, based on data provided by the internet providers to the FCC, Focus Broadband should have faster speeds at a local level. While we typically put more weight on real-world customer ratings, we display both satisfaction and technical maximum information for customers to decide for themselves.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in 28438
| ISP / Tech Type | Max Advertised Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus Broadband | 5,000 Mbps | ||
| River Street Networks | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Star Communications | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Spectrum | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 Mbps | ||
| Brightspeed | 100 Mbps | ||
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | ||
| AT&T | 25 Mbps | ||
| EarthLink | 25 Mbps | ||
| US Cellular | 25 Mbps | ||
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in 28438
| ISP / Tech Type | 28438 Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (49) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Focus | (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (186) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (9) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (14) | (64) | View Plans | ||
| Star Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans |
Based on data reported by 28438 ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the zip are available through Focus Broadband. The company offers speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in 28438. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 1,418 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
Additionally, actual customers in the zip rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Star Communications. This indicates Star Communications reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in 28438?
North Carolina customers rate Star Communications as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
Star Communications received a local rating of 5.00 out of 5, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. T-Mobile Home Internet is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s 28438 customers with an average price rating of 4.11 out of 5.
The chart and graph below show how customers in 28438, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in 28438
| ISP / Tech Type | 28438 Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Communications | (0) | (2) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (9) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| Focus | (0) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| Brightspeed | (0) | (14) | (64) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (49) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (0) | (186) | (1738) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| River Street | (0) | (1) | (2) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (0) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans |
28438 Internet Health Assessment
ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the zip and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for 28438 below, including the metrics used and how 28438 compares to the rest of North Carolina and nation.
| Metric
(hover for details)
|
28438 | North Carolina | USA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in 28438 that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home. | 80.18% | 72.63% | 67.25% | ||
| Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area. | 1,173 Mbps | 3,368 Mbps | 3,293 Mbps | ||
| Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for 28438. | 4.4 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| Average Household SizeA larger household size in a zip indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion. | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.7 | ||
| Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city. | 4% | 15% | 14% | ||
| Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households. | 86% | 94% | 95% | ||
| Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives. | 81% | 89% | 90% | ||
| Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households. | 60% | 76% | 75% | ||
| Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service. | 66% | 77% | 76% |
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
28438 ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index
The ISP Report Card in 28438 is C+, which is comparable to other zip codes. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in 28438 is high with a score of 43 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in 28438 have done a average job meeting the needs of its residents.
The 28438 ISP Report Card evaluates the zip on availability and speed metrics compared to other zip codes in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a zip needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.
81% of 28438 households have an internet connection despite having 99.62% availability. 60% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 1% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 0% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.
As you can see in the table above, while 60% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 66% subscribe to it. A moderate amount of 28438 residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.
For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.
How do Neighboring Zip Codes Compare to 28438?
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 12 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 7 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 27 / 100
How Much Speed does a 28438 Household Need?
Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in 28438 is 3.0, which is larger than the North Carolina average of 2.5 and larger than the national average of 2.7. 28438's average household income is $54,097 which is lower than the North Carolina average of $80,144 and much lower than the national average of $90,606. Homes with more people living in them and with lower incomes tend to indicate a fairly average device usage pattern.
28438 also has 13% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is lower than the North Carolina average of 16%. Additionally, 4% of residents work from home, which is lower than the 15% of residents in North Carolina who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of 28438 has an average need for internet connectivity and speeds.
Compared to the rest of the country, 28438 households are much more technology-disengaged. 86% of households have some sort of computing device, 68% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 86% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in 28438?
Focus Fiber in 28438, NC
Focus Broadband offers Fiber service to 69.7% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Focus Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,418 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 5,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Focus Fiber.
Spectrum Fiber in 28438, NC
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 61.0% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Star Communications Fiber in 28438, NC
Star Communications offers Fiber service to 9.6% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Star Communications Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
River Street Fiber in 28438, NC
River Street Networks offers Fiber service to 1.5% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, River Street Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in 28438?
Spectrum Cable in 28438, NC
Spectrum offers Cable service to 50.1% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in 28438?
Brightspeed DSL in 28438, NC
Brightspeed offers DSL service to 50.7% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Brightspeed DSL is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 65 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 7.0 Mbps throughout the zip.
Star Communications DSL in 28438, NC
Star Communications offers DSL service to 23.2% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, Star Communications DSL has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in 28438?
US Cellular Fixed Wireless in 28438, NC
US Cellular offers Fixed Wireless service to 56.0% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, US Cellular Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 11 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 25 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 3.0, with an average of 1.1 Mbps throughout the zip.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in 28438, NC
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 42.2% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
AT&T Fixed Wireless in 28438, NC
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 42.2% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 25 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in 28438, NC
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 32.2% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 31 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 4.5 Mbps throughout the zip.
River Street Fixed Wireless in 28438, NC
River Street Networks offers Fixed Wireless service to 2.2% of 28438 homes. Across the zip, River Street Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Which ISP Should You Choose in 28438?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in 28438 is Star Communications.
- The fastest internet provider should be Focus Broadband. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Star Communications may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in 28438 is Star Communications.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in 28438, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.
How does 28438 compare to other cities with a similar population?
To see how 28438 stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to 28438's C+ ISP Report Card and 43 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 59 / 100
- ISP Report Card: D
- Digital Connectivity Index: 36 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 35 / 100