Hello friend! As a long-time resident of Fort Worth and technology enthusiast, I‘d like to take you on a journey through the history of how this city has gotten online over the years. Whether you‘re looking for the fastest internet speeds to binge watch shows, need reliable access for work, or just want to understand the options in your neighborhood, this guide will break it all down for you.
Overview
- Early days of sluggish dial-up internet in the 90s eventually gave way to cable and DSL broadband
- Fiber optic networks brought next era of gigabit speeds to some neighborhoods starting in the 2000s
- Recent expansions of fiber and new 5G home internet expanding options for more Fort Worth households
- Choosing the right provider depends on location, speeds needed and budget
The Painfully Slow Early Days
It may be hard to remember a time before instant access to cat videos and food delivery via app, but rewind just 30 years and the internet barely existed in Fort Worth. Most households didn‘t even own a computer. Businesses began using data services from early commercial ISPs like Metro Access Networks, Data Search Inc. and Telenet in the mid 1990s, but home internet remained rare.
That started to change late in the decade when companies like RoadRunner introduced cable internet service. While speeds were still glacial by today‘s standards at just 1-3 Mbps, it didn‘t rely on dial-up phone lines. This meant you could actually talk on the phone and use the internet at the same time – revolutionary!
By 2000, over 50% of households in Fort Worth had access to cable internet according to FCC records. Prices were steep though, often $50 or more per month for that slow connection.
The Broadband Era Arrives
Just as many Fort Worth families were finally getting accustomed to nascent cable internet in the early 2000s, even better connections started reaching some neighborhoods in the form of DSL and Fiber broadband.
Verizon led the charge on the fiber front, installing a network it branded FiOS that delivered unheard of speeds up to 50 Mbps by 2005. But the high cost of running fiber lines directly to homes meant availability was extremely limited.
| Year | Top Download Speed | Companies/Services |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 Mbps | RoadRunner Cable |
| 2005 | 50 Mbps | Verizon FiOS Fiber |
Meanwhile, familiar companies likes AT&T and new faces including Frontier Communications offered DSL internet that utilized existing copper phone lines already installed across the city. This allowed for cheaper and more widespread deployment since it didn‘t require new fiber cables. However, it came with a cost: slower speeds topping out at just 1-10 Mbps through the late 2000s.
The Fiber Revolution Still Growing
A decade ago, Verizon had essentially stopped expanding FiOS fiber service as it proved too costly to continuously install. AT&T mostly sat back and offered modest DSL speeds. However, recognizing that fiber would be critical for future economic growth, Fort Worth city leaders began partnering with companies around 2015 to spur large-scale fiber optic expansion.
The results started taking shape a few years later:
- AT&T Fiber – In a complete 180, AT&T committed to turning Fort Worth into a fiber-enabled city with availability for over 500K households as of 2022
- Frontier FiOS – While lagging AT&T‘s footprint, Frontier now claims 70K Fort Worth households passed for fiber
- Green Light Fiber – This startup plans to bridge gaps and bring another fiber choice to over 100K households
For those lucky enough to live in the shaded areas of the map above, you now have access to blazing fast internet speeds of up to 5 Gbps – that‘s 5000 Mbps!
Fiber download speeds make cable feel downright pokey for modern needs:
| Type | Avg Download Speed | Streaming/Video Conferencing | Online Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable | 200-940 Mbps | Good | Moderate latency/lag |
| Fiber | 500-5000+ Mbps | Flawless | Extremely responsive |
However, it‘s not all rosy on the fiber front:
- Despite progress, still only 70% of households currently served
- Expansion costs mean libraries, schools and lower income areas continue lacking access
The Wireless Revolution: 5G Home Internet
Just as the fiber optic transformation is still underway across Fort Worth, exciting new wireless technology threatens to disrupt things again. 5G home internet leverages cellular towers rather than cables to deliver connectivity.
Both T-Mobile and Verizon offer 5G home internet service in parts of the city, with download speeds ranging from 50-182 Mbps based on location and signal strength. That handily beats legacy DSL and can rival cable.
Pricing also competes favorably, as evidenced by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans shown below:
| Monthly Price | Download Speeds | Data Cap | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | 33-182 Mbps | None | None |
For light home internet needs, going wireless with 5G could save you money compared to wired options. However, fiber remains superior if available to handle data-heavy usage.
Key Takeaways: Choosing Your Best Fort Worth Internet Provider
I hope this journey through the past and present internet providers across Fort Worth has helped showcase just how far connectivity has come in 25 years! Here are my main tips on selecting the ideal service today based on your address:
- Research availability thoroughly, as fiber and 5G coverage remains spotty
- If possible, choose fiber for unmatched speed and reliability
- Cable internet still speeds up to 940 Mbps in most areas
- 5G suits lighter usage if fiber/cable are out of budget
- Carefully compare plans using speed and pricing tables
The 21st century internet landscape continues evolving at breakneck speed. I hope this guide has prepared you to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the best connectivity this impressive city has to offer. Let me know if you have any other questions!
