Data Study
Texas Internet Speed Report 2026
Published 2026-03-27 · Pablo Mendoza · Sources: FCC BDC Q3 2025, Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, M-Lab
Executive Summary
Texas's statewide median download speed reached 285 Mbps in Q1 2026, a 19% increase year-over-year fueled by aggressive fiber deployments from AT&T, Google Fiber, and Frontier. Fiber-to-the-home is now available to 57% of Texas households, up from 49% in 2025. However, the urban-rural speed gap remains stark: metro areas average 385 Mbps while rural counties average just 45 Mbps — an 8.6× disparity.
Austin leads the state at 412 Mbps average download, driven by Google Fiber and AT&T Fiber competition. At the other extreme, Loving County averages just 12 Mbps, relying entirely on satellite connectivity. The state's $3.3 billion BEAD allocation is expected to bring broadband to 1.2 million currently unserved locations by 2028.
Key Statistics
285 Mbps
TX Avg Download
statewide median speed
57%
Fiber Adoption
of TX households with fiber access
385 Mbps
Urban Avg Speed
metro area average
45 Mbps
Rural Avg Speed
non-metro average
8.6×
Speed Gap
urban-to-rural speed ratio
Top 10 Fastest Cities in Texas
Ranked by average measured download speed from Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (Jan–Mar 2026). Cities with fiber competition consistently outperform cable-only markets.
| # | City | Avg Down | Avg Up | Top Provider | Fiber % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | 412 Mbps | 245 Mbps | Google Fiber | 78% |
| 2 | Plano | 395 Mbps | 232 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 75% |
| 3 | Frisco | 388 Mbps | 228 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 74% |
| 4 | Round Rock | 380 Mbps | 220 Mbps | Google Fiber | 72% |
| 5 | McKinney | 372 Mbps | 215 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 70% |
| 6 | Dallas | 365 Mbps | 208 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 72% |
| 7 | San Antonio | 356 Mbps | 198 Mbps | Google Fiber | 68% |
| 8 | Fort Worth | 345 Mbps | 190 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 66% |
| 9 | Houston | 342 Mbps | 188 Mbps | AT&T Fiber | 65% |
| 10 | Cedar Park | 325 Mbps | 182 Mbps | Google Fiber | 71% |
Top 10 Slowest Counties in Texas
These rural and frontier counties have the lowest average download speeds in the state. Most rely on satellite or limited fixed wireless as their primary broadband technology.
| # | County | Avg Down | Avg Up | Primary Tech | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loving County | 12 Mbps | 2 Mbps | Satellite | 64 |
| 2 | Terrell County | 15 Mbps | 3 Mbps | Satellite | 862 |
| 3 | Hudspeth County | 18 Mbps | 3 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 4,886 |
| 4 | Culberson County | 20 Mbps | 4 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 2,241 |
| 5 | Presidio County | 22 Mbps | 4 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 6,131 |
| 6 | Jeff Davis County | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 2,274 |
| 7 | Brewster County | 28 Mbps | 6 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 9,546 |
| 8 | Real County | 30 Mbps | 5 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 3,389 |
| 9 | Kenedy County | 32 Mbps | 6 Mbps | Satellite | 404 |
| 10 | McMullen County | 33 Mbps | 7 Mbps | Fixed Wireless | 662 |
Technology Breakdown: Coverage & Speed
Fiber delivers 2× the speed of cable and 13× the speed of DSL. LEO satellite (Starlink) has emerged as the fastest option in areas where wired broadband is unavailable.
| Technology | TX Coverage | Avg Speed | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber (FTTH) | 57% | 680 Mbps | +8% YoY |
| Cable (DOCSIS 3.1) | 72% | 320 Mbps | +2% YoY |
| DSL / Copper | 45% | 52 Mbps | -6% YoY |
| Fixed Wireless (5G/CBRS) | 38% | 115 Mbps | +15% YoY |
| Satellite (LEO) | 99% | 85 Mbps | +22% YoY |
| Satellite (GEO) | 99% | 25 Mbps | -10% YoY |
Urban vs Rural: The Digital Divide
The gap between urban and rural internet access in Texas remains one of the widest in the nation. Rural Texans pay 28% more per month for internet that is 8.6× slower, with fewer than half having access to speeds above 100 Mbps.
| Metric | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Download Speed | 385 Mbps | 45 Mbps |
| Avg Upload Speed | 218 Mbps | 12 Mbps |
| Fiber Availability | 72% | 11% |
| Avg Providers per Address | 3.8 | 1.4 |
| Avg Monthly Cost | $64/mo | $82/mo |
| Avg Latency | 8 ms | 42 ms |
| 100+ Mbps Access | 96% | 38% |
Sources & Methodology
Speed data is derived from three complementary sources: Ookla Speedtest Intelligence (consumer-initiated tests, Jan–Mar 2026), M-Lab Network Diagnostic Tool (passive measurement), and the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) Q3 2025 provider-reported availability filings. City-level averages are population-weighted and filtered to tests on wired connections (excluding mobile/cellular).
Fiber adoption percentages reflect addresses where at least one fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) provider reports service availability in the FCC BDC. Provider market share is estimated from subscriber counts reported in SEC filings, FCC Form 477 data, and Leichtman Research Group's broadband subscriber reports.
"Rural" is defined as counties with population density below 50 persons per square mile, consistent with the FCC's rural classification. Urban/metro figures use the Census Bureau's Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) definitions.
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Cite This Report
Government agencies, academic researchers, journalists, and policy analysts are welcome to cite this data with attribution. No permission required for non-commercial use.
Mendoza, Pablo. "Texas Internet Speed Report 2026: County-by-County Rankings." InternetNearMe.ai, 2026-03-27. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/texas-internet-speed-2026APA format: Mendoza, P. (2026, March 27). Texas Internet Speed Report 2026. InternetNearMe.ai. https://internetnearme.ai/reports/texas-internet-speed-2026