Internet in Chesapeake, Virginia
Fiber is available at 88.2% of the 80,541 homes and businesses the FCC counts in Chesapeake, and wired broadband of at least 100/20 Mbps at 97.0%. 84.1% of locations have a choice of two or more wired providers at that speed; at 13.0% there is only one.1
FCC National Broadband Map, availability as of June 30, 2026 (data revised November 10, 2026), as reported by providers.
Chesapeake in Virginia
Chesapeake gained fiber faster than most large cities after the first national broadband map: at least one fiber provider now reports service at 88.2% of its homes and businesses, up from 61.9% in June 2022. Cox cable still reaches almost every address, so the change shows up as choice: the share of locations with only one fast wired provider fell from 37.7%2 to 13.0%1.
Cox, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, four networks
As of June 30, 2026 (FCC revision of November 10, 2026), the FCC counts 80,5411 homes and businesses inside Chesapeake's 2020 city limits. Four providers report service at most of them, each with a different network:
- Cox at 94.7%, nearly all cable, with fiber at 4.0% and downloads advertised up to 2 Gbps;
- Verizon at 89.8%: fiber at 74.4%, fixed wireless at most of the rest;
- T-Mobile at 85.8%: fiber at 21.8%, advertised up to 5 Gbps, and 5G home internet elsewhere;
- AT&T at 56.4%, with fixed wireless only and an advertised maximum of 100 Mbps1.
| Cox | Fiber Cable | 94.7% | 94.7% | 2 Gbps | 10.7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | Fiber Licensed wireless | 89.8% | 81.0% | 1 Gbps | 2.3% |
| T-Mobile | Fiber DSL Licensed wireless | 85.8% | 47.0% | 5 Gbps | 0.0% |
| AT&T | Licensed wireless | 56.4% | 3.4% | 100 Mbps | – |
| Mediacom | Cable Licensed wireless | 0.3% | 0.1% | 1 Gbps | – |
| Spectrum | Fiber Cable | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 Gbps | – |
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Share of the area's broadband serviceable locations where the provider reports service as of June 30, 2026. "Only wired option" is the share of locations where it is the single wired provider at 100/20 Mbps. Provider-reported and challengeable; speeds are advertised maximums, not measured; no prices. Satellite providers (HughesNet, Viasat, Starlink) report service at nearly every location and are left out of the table.
Each share is the part of the city's locations where the company told the FCC it serves or could connect a customer within ten business days. Reports can be challenged on the FCC National Broadband Map, which is also the place to check a single address. The FCC collects no prices.
Fiber arrived after 2022
In June 2022, 2 companies reported fiber in Chesapeake and fiber reached 61.9%2 of locations. Four years later 4 report it and the share is 88.2%, a rise of 26.3 percentage points that ranks tied for 122nd highest1 among the 343 cities of 100,000 or more. Most of it came before the latest release: the share was already 87.0%3 in December 2025.
Over the same four years the telephone network's DSL left the filings. It was reported at 28.7% of locations in 2022 and at 0.0% in 2026, one of the lowest DSL shares of any large city (tied for the lowest). Cable slipped from 96.2%2 to 90.7%1 while Cox now reports part of its footprint as fiber.
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2022; FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of December 31, 2025; FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Shares of broadband serviceable locations in each FCC release (latest revision of each); the small number is the change in percentage points since June 30, 2022. The FCC's count of locations is updated with each release, so shares are compared rather than counts.
Show the numbers
| Measure | June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | Change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber available | 61.9% | 87.0% | 88.2% | 26.3 pts |
| DSL available | 28.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% | −28.7 pts |
| One wired choice | 37.7% | 13.8% | 13.0% | −24.8 pts |
| Two or more fiber networks | 0.9% | 11.6% | 12.0% | 11.1 pts |
Fiber overlap is still limited. Two or more fiber networks reach 12.0%1 of locations, up from 0.9%2 in 2022; at most fiber addresses there is one fiber company, usually Verizon.
From one wire to two
The practical result is choice. Wired service of at least 100/20 Mbps is reported at 97.0% of locations. In June 2022, 37.7%2 of locations had exactly one wired provider at that speed; in June 2026, 13.0% do, against 33.0% across Virginia. Two or more wired providers are now reported at 84.1%, up 23.4 percentage points1.
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Different wired providers (fiber, cable or DSL; FCC provider IDs) reporting 100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up or more at the same location. Fixed wireless and satellite are not counted.
Show the numbers
| Area | None | One | Two | Three or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake | 3.0% | 13.0% | 74.2% | 9.9% |
| Virginia | 8.1% | 33.0% | 55.8% | 3.2% |
| United States | 7.8% | 36.6% | 44.6% | 11.1% |
The usual pair is Cox and Verizon: exactly two wired providers offer 100/20 Mbps at 74.2% of locations, the 68th highest share among large cities. Three or more are reported at 9.9%, up from 0.2%2 in 2022. Where a single wire remains, it is almost always Cox's: Cox is the only wired option at 100/20 for 10.7% of locations, Verizon for 2.3%1.
How the Hampton Roads cities differ
Chesapeake's neighbors started from very different places. Virginia Beach and Newport News had fiber at most addresses in 2022; Norfolk and Suffolk had almost none and gained it later. The chart compares the fiber share in June 2026.
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.
Show the numbers
| Area | Fiber available |
|---|---|
| Newport News | 92.9% |
| Norfolk | 89.6% |
| Chesapeake | 88.2% |
| Virginia Beach | 84.8% |
| Suffolk | 74.9% |
| Hampton | 70.8% |
| Virginia | 70.3% |
| United States | 62.6% |
Chesapeake started below Virginia Beach, at 61.9% against 68.2%, and now reports a higher share: 88.2% against 84.8%. It sits above Suffolk's 74.9%, which rose from 0.1% in 2022. Newport News reports the highest share in the group, 92.9%1, almost unchanged from 92.3%2.
Speeds advertised to the FCC
Every Chesapeake speed here is a provider's advertised maximum, not a measurement. In June 2022 the fastest advertised download at 98.4% of locations was between 940 Mbps and just under 2 Gbps, and almost none had 2 Gbps or more (0.0%2). In June 2026, 94.4% of locations have an advertised top download of 2 Gbps or more, with Cox advertising up to 2 Gbps and T-Mobile's fiber up to 5 Gbps1.
Uploads tell a different story from downloads. The FCC's gigabit tier, 1,000 Mbps down with at least 100 Mbps up, went from 0.0%2 of locations in 2022 to 67.5%; 7.7 percentage points of that rise came after December 2025. Even so, Chesapeake's gigabit share ranks 63rd lowest among large cities. Wired service of 100/100 Mbps or more is reported at 93.5%1 of locations.
Fixed wireless and AT&T's entry
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Share of broadband serviceable locations where at least one provider reports the technology, at any speed; a location can have several. Satellite is reported almost everywhere and is left out.
Show the numbers
| Technology | Chesapeake | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | 88.2% | 70.3% |
| Cable | 90.7% | 78.0% |
| DSL (copper) | 0.0% | 8.7% |
| Licensed fixed wireless (incl. 5G home) | 91.4% | 79.7% |
| Unlicensed fixed wireless | 0.0% | 4.0% |
AT&T reported no service in Chesapeake in June 2022. In June 2026 it reports fixed wireless at 45,400 locations, 56.4% of the total, with 100/20 Mbps at 3.4%. T-Mobile offers 100/20 or faster, by fiber or wireless, at 47.0% of locations and Verizon at 81.0%1. Wireless capacity is shared on each tower sector, so these figures show where carriers report service, not where every home could connect at once.
The addresses still without a fast wire
For a city where almost every address has cable, Chesapeake has an unusual remainder. No terrestrial provider, wired or wireless, reports 100/20 Mbps at 1,828 locations (2.3%), a share that ranks tied for 57th highest among large cities. Satellite is the only service reported at 123 locations, and 263 count as unserved under the BEAD program's definition (no wired or licensed fixed wireless service at 25/3 Mbps), down from 0.9%2 of locations in 2022 to 0.3%1.
| Measure | Chesapeake | Virginia | United States | Rank among largest cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No wired choice | 3.0% | 8.1% | 7.8% | 83rd of 343 |
| No terrestrial 100/20 | 2.3% | 6.6% | 4.2% | tied 59th of 343 |
| Fixed wireless only at 100/20 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 3.6% | tied 121st of 343 |
| Satellite only | 0.2% | 1.7% | 0.8% | tied 24th of 343 |
| Unserved | 0.3% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 29th of 343 |
| Underserved | 0.2% | 1.9% | 1.6% | tied 41st of 343 |
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. Rank 1 is the highest value. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.
The Virginia page covers the state's BEAD plan for unserved and underserved locations.
Subscriptions in the Census survey
The Census Bureau's 2025 American Community Survey found 80.6% of Chesapeake households subscribing to cable, fiber or DSL (margin of error ±2.8 percentage points). 11.7% (±2.3 percentage points) used only a cellular data plan, and 5.5% (±1.6 percentage points4) had no internet subscription. These are survey estimates for households, while the FCC counts locations on a single date, so the two measures do not subtract.
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year detailed tables. Availability is a share of locations as of June 30, 2026 (FCC); subscriptions are a share of households from the American Community Survey, 2025 (whiskers: 90% margin of error). Different units and dates: read the gap as a sign, not an exact number.
Show the numbers
| Measure | Share | MOE |
|---|---|---|
| Wired 100/20 Mbps available (FCC, share of locations) | 97.0% | |
| Households subscribing to cable, fiber or DSL (Census) | 80.6% | ±2.8 |
| Households relying only on a cellular data plan | 11.7% | ±2.3 |
| Households with no internet subscription | 5.5% | ±1.6 |
Cities of similar size, compared on the same FCC release:
| Area | Fiber available | Gigabit (1,000/100) | Two or more wired choices | Fiber networks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garland, Texas | 91.6% | 96.5% | 89.7% | 5 |
| Chesapeake, Virginia | 88.2% | 67.5% | 84.1% | 4 |
| Irving, Texas | 82.8% | 95.9% | 82.4% | 6 |
| Port St. Lucie, Florida | 82.1% | 92.3% | 81.8% | 7 |
| St. Petersburg, Florida | 69.9% | 69.9% | 92.8% | 5 |
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 67.2% | 67.2% | 67.4% | 6 |
| Toledo, Ohio | 52.8% | 52.8% | 45.6% | 6 |
| Glendale, Arizona | 50.9% | 91.2% | 45.7% | 4 |
Source: FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026. FCC file revision of November 10, 2026. Shares are of broadband serviceable locations (homes and businesses), not people.
Chesapeake internet questions
What internet providers serve Chesapeake, Virginia?
Four companies report service across most of the city as of June 30, 2026: Cox at 94.7% of locations (cable, some fiber), Verizon at 89.8% (fiber and fixed wireless), T-Mobile at 85.8% (fiber and 5G home internet) and AT&T at 56.4%1 (fixed wireless only). Mediacom and Spectrum report a few hundred locations between them. HughesNet, Viasat and Starlink report satellite service everywhere.
Does Chesapeake have fiber internet?
At 88.2% of locations, against 70.3% for Virginia and 62.6% for the US. Verizon reports fiber at 74.4% of the city's locations, T-Mobile at 21.8% and Cox at 4.0%. Two or more fiber networks overlap at 12.0%1.
How many internet providers are in Chesapeake?
5 wired providers report service somewhere in the city, up from 42 in June 2022, and 4 of them report fiber. At one address the number that matters is smaller: 74.2% of locations have exactly two wired providers at 100/20 Mbps and 9.9%1 have three or more.
Is 5G home internet available in Chesapeake?
Licensed fixed wireless, the category that includes 5G home internet, is reported at 91.4% of locations by T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and Mediacom. It reaches 100/20 Mbps at 37.3%1. The carrier decides whether a given address can sign up.
Checking one address in Chesapeake
The figures on this page describe the whole area. Which providers report service at a single home or apartment is shown only on the FCC's own map: search the address at broadbandmap.fcc.gov. If a provider is listed there but cannot actually connect you within ten business days, or the location is missing or misplaced, the map has a button to file a challenge; providers must respond, and corrections flow into later releases. Prices and plans are not part of the FCC data: each provider must show them on its broadband facts label at the point of sale.
More on internet in Virginia
The state picture, county by county: internet in Virginia. Other large cities in the state: Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Alexandria, Hampton and Suffolk. Compare Chesapeake with any other city or state in the comparison tool.
Sources
- FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2026; Availability as of June 30, 2026; released November 10, 2026. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
- FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of June 30, 2022; Availability as of June 30, 2022; released May 10, 2024. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
- FCC, National Broadband Map, data as of December 31, 2025; Availability as of December 31, 2025; released November 3, 2026. broadbandmap.fcc.gov
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year detailed tables; 2025 (calendar-year sample); released October 29, 2026. api.census.gov
Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.