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Imagine landing that “dream” job – getting paid for something you have always loved doing, but then it hits you: It is a remote job position, demanding a high-speed internet connection.
It could have been a perfect opportunity for someone living anywhere but in Beaumont and across East Texas, where finding fast, reliable internet isn’t always so simple. The digital divide is real – noticeable and significant.
You’re here because you’re among the 7 million Texans who lack broadband, and only limited options turn up when you search for “satellite internet providers near me.”
It’s a sad reality.
The Digital Divide in Texas
The internet – especially high-speed internet – is an essential component of our lives in the modern day. A high-speed connection means you’ll have quick access to everything you need:
- The latest news and updates
- Virtual health care and telemedicine
- School assignments and online learning
- Remote job opportunities and flexible careers.
It’s like the world opens up when you are connected – thanks to the internet.
However, as the country progresses and embraces the latest tech, parts of it remain deprived of this very commodity.
Much of East Texas – including Beaumont and the surrounding rural areas – lacks a broadband connection. Here, one out of every four Texans doesn’t have access to the internet – meaning almost 3 million households remain without this basic component of modern life.
Students are forced to use their campus parking lots as classrooms, struggling to complete their assignments and submit them before the deadlines.
Remote workers have to leave the comfort of their home and find spaces where they can have an uninterrupted and fast internet connection.
The digital divide isn’t shrinking fast enough, and for many, finding rural internet in Beaumont still feels like a challenge with no clear solutions.
What Are Your Options for Internet in Beaumont?
Living in Beaumont or the surrounding East Texas communities, that’s an excellent question – because the options are quite limited. The options you have depend significantly on where you live: urban neighborhoods or rural areas.
Options for City Residents
In cities such as Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, and other surrounding suburbs, Spectrum’s cable and fiber internet are the most reliable options. This provider offers excellent services in Beaumont’s urban and suburban areas. It’s the speediest internet available; however, fiber’s availability is a bit limited.
Suitable for Semi-Rural Areas
If we are talking about Lumberton, Winnie, Silsbee, and other surrounding semi-rural areas, AT&T is the most common internet provider. The coverage they offer is somewhat mixed – fiber and DSL. Fiber is the faster option, offering a speed of up to 5 Gbps; DSL, however, is a bit slower, 10-100 Mbps.
Some of these areas also might have fixed wireless options, including Rise Broadband and T-Mobile 5G Home Internet.
Best Choice for Rural Areas
If you reside in any of the areas outside Hardin County, mainly the deep East Texas towns, farms, and ranches, your search query, “satellite internet providers near me,” will actually give a few results: Viasat, Starlink, and HughesNet.
Viasat, offering a speed of up to 100 Mbps, is a widely available rural internet option in Beaumont.
So What’s the Best Option?
Many Texans take the availability of an internet connection – especially one that’s fast – for granted. It is the people living in East Texas who truly understand the value of having internet connections in the first place.
A lack of opportunities, limited access to Telehealth, and challenges in studying – these are realities that are just too difficult to live with. The best part is, you don’t have to!
Simply connect with the experts at SmarterHome.ai. Not only do we help you locate the best internet providers and plans, but we also provide an easy-to-understand comparison to help you make the right decision.
Because every Texan deserves a stable internet connection in this era filled with digital and online opportunities.
