Best Internet Providers in Southport, NC
All 6 providers, ranked by coverage, speed and customer ratings
Find internet availability by address in Southport, NC
Southport has 6 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Fiber, Cable, Fixed Wireless, and DSL internet are available in the city. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Southport.
Ranks compare Southport with the 15,682 US towns of 1,000 to 9,999 people, the tiers of our fastest-cities rankings.
The Best Internet in Southport, NC at a Glance
Southport Internet Providers, Ranked by Coverage, Speed and Customer Ratings
Spectrum
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Cable
EarthLink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
AT&T
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
Fixed Wireless
Focus
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Providers with less than 1% coverage in this city are excluded from the list. To see if one of these providers is available at your home, please use the address search above.
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 Southport ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Southport, NC?
Spectrum is the highest-rated internet provider in Southport based on 301 North Carolina customer reviews, and T-Mobile Home Internet 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.
or call 1-877-411-1381
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Southport?
Coverage changes block by block. Pick a provider and a technology to see where its service reaches: the darker the area, the larger the share of homes it covers. For your exact address, use the address search above.
Coverage map for each provider in Southport
- AT&T - fiber coverage map
- EarthLink - fiber coverage map
- Focus - fiber coverage map
- Spectrum - cable coverage map
- Spectrum - fiber coverage map
- Verizon - fixed wireless coverage map
- T-Mobile Home Internet - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - fixed wireless coverage map
- EarthLink - fixed wireless coverage map
- AT&T - dsl coverage map
- EarthLink - dsl coverage map
How Southport Compares to Places Its Size
Southport's report card score is in the top 29% and its connectivity index is in the top 17%.
| Measure | Southport | Rank among US towns of 1,000 to 9,999 people | Brunswick County | North Carolina | US | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISP Report Card inputs: what providers offer here | ||||||
| Fiber availability | 69.2% | bottom 46% | 76.1% | 78.0% | 71.5% | 1,056 places at 100.0% |
| Average top speed | 2,726 Mbps | top 23% | 3,626 Mbps | 3,577 Mbps | 3,486 Mbps | Collegedale, TN and Lakesite, TN and 2 more (25,000 Mbps) |
| Providers at a typical address | 6.9 | top 21% | 5.8 | 7.3 | 7.1 | McLendon-Chisholm, TX (14.2) |
| Connectivity index inputs: how much households need and use the internet | ||||||
| People per household | 2.1 | bottom 10% | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | St. George, GA (6.2) |
| Workers who work from home | 22% | top 8% | 17% | 16% | 15% | Indian Springs, NV (76%) |
| Homes with a computer, tablet or phone | 97% | top 19% | 97% | 95% | 96% | 515 places at 100% |
| Homes with internet | 94% | top 17% | 94% | 91% | 91% | 115 places at 100% |
| Homes on fiber, cable or DSL | 86% | top 7% | 83% | 77% | 76% | Bunkerville, NV and Fort Myer, VA and 3 more (100%) |
| More about the households here | ||||||
| Homes with a desktop or laptop | 89% | top 11% | 84% | 80% | 81% | 12 places at 100% |
| Median household income | $78,980 | top 42% | $81,754 | $83,207 | $93,246 | 16 places at $250,001 |
| Residents in school (6th grade to college) | 8% | bottom 11% | 9% | 16% | 16% | University Park, PA (95%) |
Fiber reaches 69.2% of homes in Southport, against 76.1% across Brunswick County and 78.0% across North Carolina. Households in Southport are smaller than the US average (2.1 people against 2.7); 22% of workers work from home (US 15%); and the median household income is $78,980 (US $93,246).
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Fiber, 5G, Cable and DSL Internet in Southport
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Southport?
EarthLink Fiber in Southport, NC
Availability:
58.7%
Customer Rating:
(6)
Avg. Download Speed
2,561 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fiber service to 58.7% of Southport homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fiber has speeds up to 2,561 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 EarthLink Fiber. EarthLink Fiber is rated about the same as other types of internet service available in Southport from EarthLink in terms of customer satisfaction.
AT&T Fiber in Southport, NC
Availability:
58.7%
Customer Rating:
(542)
Avg. Download Speed
2,561 Mbps
AT&T offers Fiber service to 58.7% of Southport homes. Across the city, AT&T Fiber has speeds up to 2,561 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 AT&T Fiber. AT&T Fiber is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Southport from AT&T in terms of customer satisfaction.
Focus Fiber in Southport, NC
Availability:
29.6%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
4,823 Mbps
Focus Broadband offers Fiber service to 29.6% of Southport homes. Across the city, Focus Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 4,823 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 Southport, NC
Availability:
17.0%
Customer Rating:
(207)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Fiber service to 17.0% of Southport homes. Across the city, Spectrum Fiber has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Southport?
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Southport, NC
Availability:
93.8%
Customer Rating:
(342)
Avg. Download Speed
59 Mbps
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 93.8% of Southport homes. Across the city, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 59 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 11 Mbps throughout the city.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Southport, NC
Availability:
85.2%
Customer Rating:
(4)
Avg. Download Speed
28 Mbps
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 85.2% of Southport homes. Across the city, EarthLink Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 28 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 3.7 Mbps throughout the city.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Southport, NC
Availability:
85.2%
Customer Rating:
(205)
Avg. Download Speed
28 Mbps
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 85.2% of Southport homes. Across the city, AT&T Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 28 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 3.7 Mbps throughout the city.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Southport, NC
Availability:
67.8%
Customer Rating:
(362)
Avg. Download Speed
212 Mbps
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 67.8% of Southport homes. Across the city, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 212 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 300 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 6.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 15 Mbps throughout the city.
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Southport?
Spectrum Cable in Southport, NC
Availability:
99.3%
Customer Rating:
(1739)
Avg. Download Speed
1,000 Mbps
Spectrum offers Cable service to 99.3% of Southport homes. Across the city, Spectrum Cable has speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Southport?
EarthLink DSL in Southport, NC
Availability:
45.3%
Customer Rating:
(5)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
EarthLink offers DSL service to 45.3% of Southport homes. Across the city, EarthLink DSL has speeds up to 10 Mbps
AT&T DSL in Southport, NC
Availability:
45.3%
Customer Rating:
(304)
Avg. Download Speed
10 Mbps
AT&T offers DSL service to 45.3% of Southport homes. Across the city, AT&T DSL has speeds up to 10 Mbps
Internet in Southport by Neighborhood and ZIP Code
Southport has 1 ZIP code with its own page. Each row links to that place’s page.
Neighborhoods in Southport
| Neighborhood | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|
ZIP codes in Southport
| ZIP code | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28461 | 22,052 | 85.1% | 3,941 Mbps | 5.9 | B | 70/100 |
How Southport Compares to Nearby Places
The 10 places nearest to Southport that have their own pages are all within 11 miles. Among them, St. James has the most homes with fiber (99.8%) and Varnamtown the fewest (36.8%); Southport has 69.2%.
| Place | People | Homes with fiber | Average top speed | Providers at a typical address | Report card | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southport (this page) | 8,959 | 69.2% | 2,726 Mbps | 6.9 | B | 71/100 |
| Oak Island | 8,000 | 96.1% | 4,772 Mbps | 6.7 | B+ | 73/100 |
| St. James | 6,537 | 99.8% | 5,000 Mbps | 5.4 | B+ | 72/100 |
| Carolina Beach | 6,481 | 73.3% | 3,862 Mbps | 7.9 | B+ | 80/100 |
| Bolivia | 6,269 | 53.4% | 2,734 Mbps | 4.4 | C | 59/100 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 5,862 | 98.8% | 4,960 Mbps | 4.9 | B+ | 61/100 |
| Kure Beach | 2,287 | 98.9% | 4,908 Mbps | 7.7 | A- | 84/100 |
| Varnamtown | 1,280 | 36.8% | 2,472 Mbps | 3.4 | C- | 66/100 |
| Caswell Beach | 481 | 100.0% | 5,000 Mbps | 5.2 | B+ | 59/100 |
| Varnum | 312 | 45.2% | 2,849 Mbps | 4.4 | C | 45/100 |
| Bald Head Island | 268 | 38.8% | 1,000 Mbps | 5.2 | C- | 79/100 |
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Southport?
According to unbiased feedback from real internet customers, they reported being happiest with speeds provided by Spectrum. 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 Southport
| AT&T | 5,000 |
|---|---|
| EarthLink | 5,000 |
| Focus Broadband | 5,000 |
| Spectrum | 1,000 |
| Verizon | 300 |
| Viasat | 100 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 |
| HughesNet | 25 |
How fast is your internet?
Test your connection here and see it next to the speeds providers advertise in Southport. It takes about 20 seconds and, on a fast line, can move a few hundred MB of data.
Customer Ratings for Southport Internet Providers
Based on 301 reviews from North Carolina internet customers, Spectrum is the best internet service provider for Southport residents. Spectrum was rated at an average of 3.35 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. AT&T wins for second-place in North Carolina, with 3.73 out of 5 stars and 95.5% coverage in Southport.
At a national level, based on 4178 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, T-Mobile Home Internet is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 4.02 out of 5.
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Southport Internet Providers
The table below shows average customer ratings from customers in Southport, North Carolina, and customers throughout the country.
| ISP / Tech Type | Southport Overall | North Carolina Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | (1) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T |  (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) |  (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) |  (12) | View Plans |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Southport
Based on data reported by Southport ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the city are available through Focus Broadband. The company offers speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in Southport. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 4,823 Mbps if they’re willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with Spectrum. This indicates Spectrum reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
| ISP / Tech Type | Southport Speed | North Carolina Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | (1) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Southport?
Of the providers in Southport, customers rate AT&T the best for price. Data comes from customers rating their satisfaction with pricing: in Southport where enough of them have reviewed a provider, otherwise across North Carolina or the country. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
AT&T is rated 3.46 out of 5 for price, which is lower than the average across all internet providers in the country. EarthLink is rated second for affordability, with an average price rating of 3.00 out of 5.
The table below shows how customers in Southport, North Carolina, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Southport
| ISP / Tech Type | Southport Affordability | North Carolina Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | (1) | (5) | (5) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (59) | (1051) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (1) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (13) | (342) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (0) | (9) | (816) | View Plans | ||
| Spectrum | (1) | (214) | (1949) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (0) | (25) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans |
Customer Reviews for Internet Service Providers in North Carolina
Customer Reviews
A Boiling Spring Lakes, NC Customer
Focus Fiber
August 10, 2024 Lanny
Spectrum Cable
March 12, 2023 I have a package with cable, internet, and phone. I was going to drop cable and phone, and just get internet but we're grandfathered in with our current service (over 20 years ago). I would end up paying the same so I'll just keep it.
ISPReports User
Spectrum Cable
November 05, 2026 Service during the day has gotten a little better. However, Spectrum does a lot of maintenance late at night and therefore the TV and Internet go out. Not happy with that since I stay up late.
ISPReports User
Ripple Fiber
November 01, 2026 Constant outages with customer service associates that barely know anything about the product
M.L.
AT&T Fiber
October 26, 2026 Price keeps going up, for the same service. Terrible internet service: 6 outages in the past month (Sept-Oct 2026) Very unreliable. If you have a problem: Customer Service is an AI bot.
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Which ISP Should You Choose in Southport?
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 Southport is Spectrum.
- The fastest internet provider should be Focus Broadband. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, Spectrum may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Southport is AT&T.
- Viasat, Spectrum, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Southport, available to 99.4% of homes, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what’s available at your home, please use our address search tool.