Finding a reliable internet connection can be a real challenge for rural areas. Without the options found in urban centers, smaller communities are limited in their ability to game, stream, work and learn from the comfort of home.
At Mercury Broadband, we aim to bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed, unlimited fixed wireless and fiber internet access to communities often overlooked by other providers. Learn more about the different types of services available to you so you can choose the best connection.
Most Common Rural Internet Options
The most widely available options for rural residents are fixed wireless, satellite, mobile hotspots and, more recently, fiber-optic.
Fixed Wireless
This affordable option uses radio waves from nearby towers to transmit internet signals to your home. While weather and other obstructions like trees and hills can cause slower speeds, its extended coverage provides faster, more affordable connections to remote areas.
Satellite Internet
While available virtually everywhere, it takes some time for signals to travel from a satellite in space to a dish on your roof or in your yard, causing significantly slower speeds than other options. It’s also the most expensive option.
Mobile Hotspots
If broadband isn’t available, mobile hotspots are a great alternative. It’s also a great backup option if your primary service is unreliable. However, using a hotspot requires a strong cellular connection and has strict data limits that can be costly and impact performance if you go over them.
Fiber-Optic Internet
Fiber is a newer technology that uses light to transmit data through fiber optic cables, which is much faster than electric currents through copper wires found in traditional cable internet. Since this is a new service requiring more costly infrastructure, it has limited availability outside of larger cities.
Pros and Cons of Different Internet Options
| Connection Type | Pros | Cons |
| Fixed Wireless | Consistently fast and affordable | Interruptions from weather and terrain |
| Satellite | Widely available | Slower speeds and expensive |
| Mobile Hotspot | Great backup if broadband isn’t available | Requires strong mobile network and has data limits |
| Fiber-Optic | Superior speed and reliability | More expensive than wireless and limited availability in rural areas |
How to Choose the Best Rural Internet Provider
When shopping for a new rural internet provider, first see what services are available in your area. Then, take into consideration your online activities to find the speed you need and match a plan that best fits your monthly budget.
- Coverage: Use an online tool like Mercury Broadband’s service finder to see what types of internet connections are available to you.
- Speed Requirements: Based on how you use the internet, determine how much speed you need. Shopping, surfing the web and checking email won’t require as much speed as streaming, gaming or working from home.
- Cost: Find a plan that offers the bandwidth you need at a price you can afford. Look for installation, activation, data overage and other hidden fees that may drive up the total cost.
Why Fixed Wireless Internet is the Best Option for Rural Areas
When options are limited, it’s important to get the most well-rounded service. Fixed wireless internet offers fast, consistent connections with no data limits, all at an affordable price—and its widespread availability makes it the best choice for small communities. Even though fiber is the fastest, most reliable option, it’s not widely available just yet, making fixed wireless your best alternative.
- Faster Speeds: Compared to other rural options, fixed wireless offers speeds that can handle streaming, gaming, remote work and more without buffering or lagging.
- Affordable Plans: Competitive pricing ensures that homes and businesses alike get the best value out of their internet plans.
- No Data Caps: Our unlimited internet is truly unlimited, so the cost and connection remain the same no matter how much time you spend online.
Get the Best Internet Options for Rural Areas with Mercury Broadband
Ready for faster, more reliable home internet? With high-speed internet from Mercury, you can stream, game, videoconference and surf the web faster than ever. And we’re committed to bringing high-speed rural internet access to underserved communities across the Midwest.
See what services are available in your area and discover how Mercury can keep you and your devices connected like never before.