Anchorage offers some internet options you won’t see in the Lower 48, starting with Alaska Communications. Alaska Communications requires no contracts and offers two plans: One with 10Mbps and one with 25Mbps. The 10Mbps plan is slow, but the higher-speed plan meets casual internet needs.
Each plan comes with a subscription to HomePass, a service that shows you if foreign devices tap into your Wi-Fi network (particularly helpful in keeping tourists from using it). The plans also include an option for a mesh network, which increases your Wi-Fi coverage in your home.
Alaska Communications has limited network coverage in Anchorage, so check whether you live in its service area before moving forward.
Best Alaska Communications internet plan for most people: [Unlimited Internet 25Mbps, 25Mbps for $94.99/mo.]
This is the fastest Alaska Communications plan in Anchorage, and we recommend aiming for max speeds if you can get it. That sounds like a glacial pace for Wi-Fi, but 25Mbps is still high-speed internet. It won’t work if you have a home office or are an avid gamer, but it works for just about everything else.
Borealis Broadband offers customers its colorful name, multiple plan options, a sky-high terabit data cap, and symmetrical speeds. The 1 TB data cap is generous—to exceed the limit, you have to watch all Alaska Daily episodes a ridiculous number of times in 4K. And the symmetrical speeds allow you to upload content at the same rate you download it.
Like Alaska Communications, Borealis Broadband has yet to make it to all of Anchorage, so double-check that this service is available where you live.
Best Borealis Broadband internet plan for most people: [Diamond, 30Mbps for $170.00/mo.]
If Alaska Communications’ 25Mbps plan isn’t doing it for you, Borealis Broadband offers a faster option with its 30Mbps Diamond plan. That 5Mbps difference isn’t a lot, but it matters if you need just a little more speed to de-lag your FaceTime calls with family in Canada. And while this plan is jaw-clenchingly expensive at $170 per month, if you need it, you need it.
Matanuska Telecom Association offers several different plans for various internet needs. The exact speeds of its internet service plans are behind a contact information wall. (You have to give a bunch of personal info to receive details about the plan you want.) The lack of info makes it hard to cross-compare MTA plans to other providers, though the website does feature descriptions of each plan's internet usage level.
Almost every plan comes with unlimited data for maximum streaming and gaming. If you pay an extra $9.99 each month, you can even double your upload speed (particularly handy if you’re a videographer). For additional fees, you can also increase your Wi-Fi coverage, enroll in a VPN, receive identity theft protection, and more.
Best Matanuska Telecom Association internet plan for most people: [Plus Unlimited for $139.99/mo.]
Based on the description, the best plan for a typical household is the most popular plan, Plus Unlimited. Plus Unlimited is for “multiple devices, home office, and remote learning.” It’s $139.99, but based on the description, we suspect it’s a better bang for your buck than Borealis Broadband’s $170 plan.
