What is the best internet provider in Rio Rancho?
Sparklight is CNET's top pick of the best internet service provider for most Rio Rancho residents. The cable internet provider has the best high-speed coverage in the area and is generously affordable, with plans starting at $35 a month and speeds up to 100 to 1000 mps. No matter how you look at it, it's hard not to see the benefits of Sparklight.
Unfortunately, residents of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, have limited options for high-speed internet. But worry not, our broadband experts are here to guide you to the best internet provider in your area. While Sparklight is certainly the best for most Rio Rancho residents, that doesn't mean it's the case for everyone.
Quantum Fiber offers up to 2,000 Mbps for the fastest internet in Rio Rancho, but its availability is limited. CenturyLink, another Lumen Technologies brand, has better coverage but lower speeds due to its DSL-based network. Sparklight also provides higher speeds than CenturyLink, so that's something to be aware of before you commit.
For residents looking for fixed wireless ISPs in Rio Rancho, you can't go wrong with options like T-Mobile Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet, or even NM Surf. Although there are fixed wireless ISPs in the Rio Rancho area, their speeds are too slow and their pricing is too high to recommend them.
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.
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:
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