Here’s Where Smaller ISPs Are Blazing Ahead in the United States

While six large internet service providers (ISPs) dominate the United States fixed broadband market, Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence reveals smaller providers are sometimes the fastest ISPs in a given state in the Midwest, South and West. This analysis examines US states in which smaller ISPs were the fastest fixed broadband providers during Q3 2021. Major findings include:

• Smaller providers are fast in the Midwest. nine out of 12 Midwestern states had a fast fixed broadband provider that wasn’t one of the big six national ISPs.
• Internet cooperatives and municipal broadband providers in the South stood out during Q3 2021 by offering Southerners fast, accessible and affordable fixed broadband internet alternatives.
• Smaller ISPs in the West had a tougher time competing with national ISPs
• Smaller ISPs can be competitive locally, but face uphill battles across the country, especially the Northeast

[Josh Fomon is a content specialist at Ookla.]