Those who live in Bakersfield, California, have a mixed bag when it comes to the internet. The good? It appears that 100% of residents have access to a plan with at least 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds -- the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed minimum for broadband -- and it’s one of the top 50 cities in the country by median speed.
Then what's the bad? The options for high-speed internet in Bakersfield are still very limited. While AT&T Fiber is now available to around one in five households (with prices starting at $55), Spectrum is the only option in many neighborhoods. Wireless providers like T-Mobile and Verizon also offer home internet plans now, but their speeds tend to fluctuate more than wired connections. Plans offered by both providers start at $50 and go up to $70.
On the bright side, in 2022 the Bakersfield City Council approved a deal with SiFi Networks to build and maintain a fiber network along every street in the city at no cost to taxpayers. SiFi will then sell network access to private internet providers. According to a presentation given to the Board of Supervisors, residents would pay about $60 each month for 10,000Mbps. For comparison, AT&T currently charges $245 for 5,000Mbps. But the project is currently in the design phase, with no clear timetable for construction.
Best internet options in Bakersfield
CNET examines customer service, speed, pricing and overall value before recommending the best broadband in your area. For a long time, Spectrum was essentially the only option for high-speed internet in Bakersfield. Then, in 2015, AT&T agreed to expand its fiber-optic network to 20 new metro areas within four years as a part of its deal to buy DirecTV. In 2017, AT&T Fiber officially launched in Bakersfield, immediately becoming the city's best internet option. However, fiber networks are only available to about 25% of Bakersfield households.
Note: The prices, speeds and features detailed in the article text may differ from those listed in the product detail cards, which represent providers’ national offerings. Your particular internet service options -- including prices and speeds -- depend on your address and may differ from those detailed here.
Top Bakersfield internet providers Provider Internet technology Monthly price range Speed range Monthly equipment costs Data cap Contract CNET review score AT&T Fiber
Read full review Fiber $55-$245 300-5,000Mbps None None None 7.4 AT&T Internet Air
Read full review Fixed Wireless $60 768Kbps-100Mbps None 1.5TB (no data cap for 100Mbps plan) None 7.4 Spectrum
Read full review Cable $30-$70 100-1,000Mbps $10 None None 7.2 T-Mobile Home Internet
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