Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs What is the best internet provider in West Des Moines?Covering almost 98% of households in West Des Moines, according to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission, Mediacom has the widest coverage and some of the best broadband internet plans in the city. With speeds of up to 1,000 megabits per second and affordable pricing, Mediacom is CNET’s top pick for the best internet service provider in West Des Moines. This cable internet provider offers download speeds between 100 megabits per second to 1,000Mbps. Some areas can expect faster speeds, depending on your location. Plans start at just $20 for the 250Mbps plan and go up to $85 a month.On the flashy side, Google Fiber’s swift multi-gigabit plans may knock you off your feet. Its symmetrical speeds reach up to 8,000Mbps in some areas. Residents with the most coverage will be along Valley Junction and the neighboring areas near Ashworth Park and Western Hills Greenway. Google Fiber won’t win any prizes for having the cheapest plan — the lowest monthly price is $70 for its 1-gigabit plan — but you can expect excellent value. The cost per Mbps of its gigabit plan is a really cheap 7 cents per Mbps, but its most expensive tier (the 8 Gig plan at $150 per month) is an outstanding 2 cents per Mbps, one of the best rates you’ll find anywhere in the country. Besides Mediacom, if you’re looking for more affordable plans, one of the cheapest plans in West Des Moines is US Cellular’s $60-a-month fixed wireless plan for 300Mbps in download speeds. However, expect additional fees and possible equipment installation charges included in your plans. T-Mobile and Verizon are also available as alternatives if the above options don’t service your location. The prices of plans offered by both providers are quite similar, and you can get a further discount by pairing them with an eligible mobile plan.Best internet in West Des Moines, IowaWest Des Moines internet providers compared ProviderInternet technologyMonthly price rangeSpeed rangeMonthly equipment costData capContractCNET review score CenturyLink Read full review DSL$55 10-100Mbps$15 modemNoneNone6.7 Google Fiber Read full review Fiber$70-$1501,000-8,000MbpsNoneNoneNone7.5 Mediacom Read full review Cable$20-$65250-1,000Mbps$14 VariesNone6.4Quantum Fiber Fiber$50-$165500-8,000MbpsNoneNoneNone6.7 T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$60 ($35-$45 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) 87-415MbpsNoneNoneNone7.4US Cellular Fixed wireless$50 Up to 300MbpsVaries600-900GBEquipment installation plan may applyN/A Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review Fixed wireless$50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)50-1,000Mbps (varies by location)NoneNoneNone7.2 Show more (2 items)
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.What’s the cheapest internet plan in West Des Moines? ProviderStarting priceMax download speedMonthly equipment fee Mediacom Read full review $20250Mbps$14 US Cellular $50300MbpsVaries Verizon 5G Home Internet Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)300MbpsNoneQuantum Fiber $50500MbpsNone T-Mobile Home Internet Read full review $50 ($35 with eligible mobile plans)318MbpsNone Show more (0 item)
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Sunrise at a West Des Moines, Iowa pond Larry Reynolds/Getty ImagesHow to find internet deals and promotions in West Des MoinesThe best internet deals and top promotions in West Des Moines depend on what discounts are available during a given time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
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West Des Moines internet providers, such as Mediacom and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Others, however, including CenturyLink and Google Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals. Fastest internet plans in West Des Moines ProviderStarting priceMax download speedMax upload speedData capConnection type Google Fiber 8 Gig Read full review $150 8,000Mbps8,000MbpsNoneFiberQuantum Fiber 8 Gig $165 8,000Mbps8,000MbpsNoneFiber Google Fiber 5 Gig Read full review $125 5,000Mbps5,000MbpsNoneFiber Quantum Fiber 3 Gig $100 3,000Mbps3,000MbpsNone Fiber Google Fiber 2 Gig Read full review $100 2,000Mbps2,000MbpsNoneFiber Google Fiber 1 Gig Read full review $70 1,000Mbps1,000MbpsNoneFiber Verizon 5G Home Plus Internet Read full review $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans)1,000Mbps (varies by location)75MbpsNoneFixed wireless Mediacom Xtream 1 Gig Read full review $65 ($130 after 12 months)1,000Mbps50MbpsUnlimitedCableQuantum Fiber 1 Gig $75 940Mbps940MbpsNoneFiber Show more (4 items)
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Source: CNET analysis of provider data.What’s a good internet speed? Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines — and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics — browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming. 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.How CNET chose the best internet providers in West Des MoinesInternet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. So what’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from FCC.gov.But it doesn’t end there. We use the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?Are customers happy with their service?While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though 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 like 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.West Des Moines internet provider FAQs
What’s the best internet service provider in West Des Moines?
Mediacom’s Xtream is the best internet service provider in West Des Moines. This cable internet provider has the widest coverage of all providers in the area. According to data from the FCC, Xtream covers 98% of West Des Moines households.
Is fiber internet available in West Des Moines?
Yes, fiber is available, but to less than half (47%) of West Des Moines residents, per the latest data from the FCC. Google Fiber, which covers about 32% of West Des Moines households, is our choice for the best fiber internet provider in the area, but you can also get fiber-optic service from Quantum Fiber.
What is the cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines?
The cheapest internet provider in West Des Moines is Mediacom’s $20-a-month plan for speeds of 250Mbps. After your promo period, expect a hike in the price by an additional $30 monthly. Another cheap alternative is US Cellular’s fixed wireless plans, starting at $50 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. Verizon 5G Home Internet is around that price point, but if you’re an eligible mobile customer, you can bump down that monthly cost to $35.
Which internet provider in West Des Moines offers the fastest plan?
Two internet providers in the area offer the fastest speeds: Quantum Fiber and Google Fiber. Both providers offer multi-gigabit plans and symmetrical speeds ranging from 1,000Mbps to 8,000Mbps. The difference is the speed tiers. Quantum Fiber offers 1-, 3- and 8-gigabit plan tiers. Google Fiber offers four tiers at 1, 2, 5 and 8 gigabits.
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