The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Business Internet Provider in the Des Moines Metro

Selecting the right internet service provider (ISP) for your business can be a dizzying experience. Things are changing fast and more options are becoming available every day.

In the past 15+ years, we’ve interacted with every internet provider in the Des Moines area. To help you find your way through this jungle of options, we decided to put together a straightforward guide that will hopefully help you make the right decision for your business.

Why Fiber Internet is Our Top Choice

When it comes to speed, reliability, and future-proofing your business, fiber internet is the gold standard. Fiber offers fast upload and download speeds, low latency, and greater reliability compared to other types of connections. The only downside is that it’s the newest technology, so it’s not available everywhere in the metro yet.

Our Favorite

If Metronet is available at your address, it’s hands down the best option. They’re a newer player in the area but have already earned a reputation for great service and reliability. They aren’t perfect, but overall we’ve had positive experiences while working with them. To find out if your location can connect, visit their website or contact them directly. If service isn’t available at your address yet, contact us and we’ll keep you up-to-date as they expand.

Strong Contender

Google Fiber arrived in West Des Moines in 2023 and is expanding to Norwalk and Des Moines. While we haven’t worked with them extensively, feedback from clients has been positive. Google’s reputation for simplicity and performance makes them a solid choice if Metronet isn’t an option.

For Suburbs and Smaller Communities

For businesses located in Waukee, Grimes, Polk City, Bondurant, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill should consider Mi-Fiber. This small but growing company provides an alternative to the bigger ISPs and has been gaining traction with local businesses.

Proceed With Caution

While Quantum Fiber (Formerly CenturyLink) may be your only option in certain areas, our experiences with them haven’t been the best. If possible, explore other choices first.

When Fiber Isn’t Available

Mediacom is the dominant cable provider in Des Moines. While our experiences with them haven’t always been pleasant, we’ve worked with them long enough to understand their processes and know how to troubleshoot issues effectively. Cable internet can still be a reliable solution when fiber isn’t an option.

Backup Internet Options

If you are already using one of these providers, but would like to avoid downtime at all costs. You may want to consider a backup internet solution. Here are two options that we’d like to recommend.

T-Mobile for Business uses mobile networks, just like your cell phone. It’s affordable and easy to install, but performance does degrade when the network is busy. We even have a few clients using T-Mobile for Business for their primary internet connection. 

Because Starlink relies on satellites instead of traditional wires and cables, it can be accessed in remote or underserved areas. They offer comparable speeds to the traditional providers, but Starlink does come with a few downsides. The hardware can be expensive and weather can affect performance.

Not sure what to do?

The internet landscape is constantly shifting and can change from day to day. All of these companies are expanding their service area and offering new products. We can help you navigate what’s available now and what might be available in the near future. Lean on us and our years of expertise to help you choose the best option for your business. 

Contact us today.