What is the best internet provider in Rio Rancho?

Looking for internet options in Rio Rancho, New Mexico? It might be harder than you think but our broadband experts are here to help you choose the best internet provider for you. High-speed internet options are limited in Rio Rancho, so the best provider for your home will likely come down to what’s available in your area. CNET has selected Sparklight as the best internet service provider for most Rio Rancho residents, as it’s the cable internet provider with the best high-speed coverage in the area. 

Sparklight stands out for its speed and affordability, making it a solid choice if it’s available at your address. With service starting at $40 a month and speeds ranging from 100 to 940 megabits per second, Sparklight is the cheapest internet provider in Rio Rancho.

Quantum Fiber is the fastest provider in the area, offering up to 2,000Mbps download speed, and has the advantage of symmetrical upload speeds, but availability is highly limited. Fellow Lumen Technologies brand CenturyLink has better coverage in the area, although speeds on its DSL-based network are much slower than Sparklight.

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 could be a practical option, as well. Other fixed wireless ISPs serve the Rio Rancho area, but speeds are too slow and pricing is too high for the speeds you get to recommend them here.

Best internet in Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Rio Rancho

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Rio Rancho depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Rio Rancho internet providers, such as Sparklight, may offer lower introductory pricing for a limited time. Many providers, including CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

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 and 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 Rio Rancho

Internet 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. 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 the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to 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 the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. 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, 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 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.

Internet providers in Rio Rancho FAQs