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What is the best internet provider in Rio Rancho?
Residents of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, have limited coverage to high-speed internet options, but it can still be difficult to choose the best one for your needs. But don’t worry: Our broadband experts are here to help you choose the best internet provider for you. The best provider for your home will likely come down to what you can afford in your area.Sparklight is CNET’s top pick for the best internet service provider for most Rio Rancho residents. This is our top choice because the cable internet provider has the best high-speed coverage in Rio Rancho.
The Sparklight offers speed and versatility, making it a solid choice if you’re in a covered area. Plans start at $40 a month and speeds range from 100 to 940 megabits per second, making Sparklight the cheapest internet provider in Rio Rancho.
If you want the fastest internet in Rio Rancho, Quantum Fiber is the way to go for up to 2,000Mbps download speeds. As a fiber network, it offers symmetrical upload speedsbut availability is very limited. Other brands of Lumen Technologies CenturyLink has better coverage in the area, although it offers lower speeds compared to Sparklight, because it has a DSL-based network.
T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet are the best fixed wireless ISPs in Rio Rancho (starting at $50 a month), but NM Surf can also be a viable option. Some fixed wireless ISPs serve the Rio Rancho area, but the speeds are too slow and the price is too high for the speeds you get to recommend them here.
Best internet in Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Rio Rancho, New Mexico, internet providers compared
| giver | internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | The monthly cost of equipment | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink Read the full review |
DSL | $55 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | nothing | nothing | 6.7 |
| NM Surf | Fixed wireless | $70-$110 | 100-400Mbps | $5 | nothing | 1-2 years | N/A |
| Quantum Fiber | ravelled | $50-$95 | 500-2,000Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 6.7 |
| Sparklight Read the full review |
Cable | $40-$75 | 100-940Mbps | $13 (optional) | 5TB soft cap | nothing | 6.9 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$55 with eligible mobile plans) | 72-245Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
Fixed wireless | $60-$80 ($35-$45 for eligible Verizon Wireless customers) | 50-1,000Mbps | nothing | nothing | nothing | 7.2 |
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Providers of the store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is the cheapest internet plan in Rio Rancho?
| plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Monthly equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparklight Connect Internet 100 Read the full review |
$40 | 100Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 300 Read the full review |
$40 | 300Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | nothing |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | nothing |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 600 Read the full review |
$65 | 600Mbps | $13 (optional) |
| CenturyLink Internet Read the full review |
$55 | 100Mbps | $15 (optional) |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet Read the full review |
$60 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 300Mbps | nothing |
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Providers of the store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Rio Rancho
The best deals on the internet and the top promotions in Rio Rancho depend on what discounts are available at that time. Most deals don’t last, but we’re always on the lookout for the latest offers.
Rio Rancho internet providers, such as Sparklight, may offer lower introductory rates for a limited time. Many providers, including CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber, run the same base price year-round.
For a more extensive list of promos, see our guide to best deals on the internet.
Fastest internet plans in Rio Rancho
| plan | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap | Connection type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber 2 gig | $95 | 2,000Mbps | 1070Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read the full review |
$80 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
| Sparklight 1 Gig Read the full review |
$75 | 940Mbps | 50Mbps | nothing | Cable |
| Quantum Fiber | $75 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
| Sparklight Freedom Connect 600 Read the full review |
$65 | 600Mbps | 30Mbps | nothing | Cable |
| Quantum Fiber 500 | $50 | 500Mbps | 500Mbps | nothing | ravelled |
| T-Mobile Home Internet Read the full review |
$50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans) | 245Mbps | 31Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
| NM Surf Tsunami Wave | $70 | 100Mbps | 25Mbps | nothing | Fixed wireless |
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Providers of the store at my address
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What is a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you are looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you will have a better experience with a stronger connection. Here is an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for different applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and internet speed, service and performance will vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, see our guide to how much internet speed do you need?.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to deal with the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should provide a user with enough bandwidth to satisfy the needs of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities such as videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to participate in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET picks the best internet providers in Rio Rancho
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphones, laptop, router or kitchen utensilsit is not practical to personally test every ISP in a city. What is our approach? We started by researching pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission of FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC website to check our data and make sure we consider every ISP that provides service in one area. We also input local addresses into provider websites to find specific options for residents. We looked at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and JD Power, to assess how happy customers are with ISP service. ISP plans and prices are subject to constant change; All information provided is accurate at the time of publication.
Once we have this local information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Are customers getting decent value for what they paid for?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to these questions is often layered and complex, providers who are close to “yes” to all three are the ones we recommend. When choosing the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fees, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real world speed data from sources such as Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
Internet providers in Rio Rancho FAQs
What is the best internet service provider in Rio Rancho, New Mexico?
Sparklight is the best internet service provider in Rio Rancho. High speed availability is Sparklight’s main selling point in the area. However, the ISP also stands out among the competition for its low introductory price and choice of speeds from 100 to 940Mbps.
Is fiber internet available in Rio Rancho?
Fiber internet is available in select homes in Rio Rancho. According to the latest FCC data (December 2023), only about 3% of Rio Rancho residences qualify for fiber internet service. 2, an encouraging sign that fiber availability is increasing in the area. Quantum Fiber is the leading fiber internet provider in the Rio Rancho area.
Who is the cheapest internet provider in Rio Rancho?
Sparklight has the lowest introductory broadband rates in Rio Rancho, with service starting at $40 per month for download speeds of up to 300Mbps. Sparklight’s other plans, 600 and 940Mbps, are also competitively priced (starting at $65 and $75 per month, respectively). Sparklight rates are good for 18 months, after which prices increase by $15 to $25, depending on the plan you choose. Keep in mind that renting equipment from Sparklight will add $13 to your monthly bill.
Which internet provider in Rio Rancho offers the fastest plan?
Sparklight and Quantum Fiber offer the fastest internet plans in Rio Rancho, with speeds of up to 940Mbps and 2,000Mbps respectively. Quantum Fiber has the advantage of symmetrical upload and download speeds, but Sparklight has much more available in the area.
Verizon 5G Home Internet offers a speed of 1,000Mbps, but the actual speeds are likely to be lower because its Home Plus plan advertises a range between 85 and 1,000Mbps.
