Internet Providers in North Dakota

North Dakota has a highly concentrated broadband market (HHI: 103,641) where EchoStar dominates with 100% coverage reach — 0 percentage points ahead of the next-largest provider, Starlink at 100%. In highly concentrated markets, consumers typically see fewer promotional offers and less pressure on the leading provider to invest in network upgrades. The remaining 13 providers in North Dakota cover a fraction of addresses, limiting their competitive impact. Research from the FCC shows that markets with one dominant provider average higher monthly costs compared to markets with two or more meaningfully overlapping competitors.

Fiber availability at 62% is modestly ahead of the national average of 57%, putting North Dakota slightly ahead of the nationwide fiber buildout curve. Nationally, fiber coverage is expanding by roughly 8 percentage points per year, driven by BEAD infrastructure grants and private carrier investment from AT&T, Frontier, and Google Fiber.

Fiber-optic coverage here is above average and growing. Nationally, fiber availability has expanded by roughly 8 percentage points per year since 2022, with ISPs like AT&T, Frontier, and Google Fiber leading the rollout of high-speed internet.

North Dakota received $130 million in federal BEAD funding. The North Dakota Broadband Office is currently in the deployment phase, which means the state has completed its challenge process and is actively awarding grants to ISPs for fiber construction in unserved and underserved areas. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) previously provided up to $30/month subsidies for eligible households, though federal funding expired in 2024. Some providers continue offering voluntary low-income discounts.

Fiber-optic internet is not yet available in North Dakota. The technology mix in North Dakota determines the range of speeds and prices residents can access for home internet service.

Despite having 15 providers, North Dakota's broadband market is highly concentrated — EchoStar controls 100% of available coverage. In concentrated markets like this, consumers often see fewer promotional offers and slower infrastructure investment compared to competitive metro areas.