Home internet in Tennessee
In Tennessee, 75.3% of households have cable, fiber or DSL, 12% get by on a phone plan alone and 8.9% have no internet subscription. Here is what that means when you order, and which Tennessee ZIP codes our call line covers.
- 91.1% of Tennessee households have an internet subscription; 8.9% have none (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).
- Wired broadband reaches 75.3% of households, 1 point below the national figure of 76.3%.
- Our call line covers 96 ZIP codes in Tennessee, including Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis.
How homes in Tennessee get online
| Households, 2023 | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|
| With an internet subscription | 91.1% | 92.2% |
| Wired broadband (cable, fiber or DSL) | 75.3% | 76.3% |
| Cellular data plan only | 12% | 11.9% |
| Satellite internet | 6.1% | 6.6% |
| No internet subscription | 8.9% | 7.8% |
| No computer in the home | 4.9% | 3.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 1-year estimates, table S2801. Tennessee: 2,889,226 households. United States figure is the household-weighted average of the 50 states and DC. Shares overlap because a home can have more than one type of subscription.
Put against the other states, Tennessee is 30th of 51 for wired broadband, 32nd for the fewest phone-only households, and 36th for the share of homes on satellite.
What usually reaches a Tennessee address
75.3% of homes in Tennessee use cable, fiber or DSL, 1 point below the national figure of 76.3%. It is a middle-of-the-table state: good wired choice in the cities, thinner once you leave the county seat.
12% of households get online only through a cellular data plan, about the same as the national figure. If that is you and the phone signal at home is decent, 5G home internet or fixed wireless is worth pricing against a wired plan.
Satellite serves 6.1% of Tennessee households, about the same as the national figure: enough to matter at the edges of the map, not enough to be the default anywhere. Check the land-based options first.
About 8.9% of homes in Tennessee have no internet subscription, 1.1 points above the national figure of 7.8%. If price is the barrier, start with the low-income help guide, then the lower your bill guide for the plan you do order.
For what each type is like to live with, see fiber, cable, 5G home, fixed wireless, DSL and satellite, or the side-by-side table.
Where our call line covers in Tennessee
Our call line covers 96 ZIP codes in Tennessee, including addresses in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Franklin, Maryville and Cordova. Enter your ZIP below: if it is on the list, the call button stays live and the agent checks the lines on your street; if it is not, the guides on this site still tell you what to ask any provider.
96 ZIP codes in Tennessee are on the call list.
| City | ZIP codes on the list |
|---|---|
| Nashville | 23 |
| Knoxville | 14 |
| Memphis | 13 |
| Murfreesboro | 4 |
| Clarksville | 3 |
| Franklin | 3 |
| Maryville | 3 |
| Cordova | 2 |
| Hendersonville | 2 |
| Madison | 2 |
| Cleveland | 2 |
| Arlington | 1 |
| Collierville | 1 |
| Oakland | 1 |
| Jackson | 1 |
Covered ZIP codes by city, from the call partner's list; the list changes over time.
How to order internet in Tennessee
- Check the address, not the ZIP alone. Availability is decided street by street, so give the agent the full address.
- Compare the types first, prices second: a fiber line at the same price as cable is the better buy because of upload speed and steadier evening speeds.
- Read the broadband label. Every plan now comes with one; the label guide shows what to look for.
- Line up the install date with your move-in date if you are moving. The moving checklist has the timing.
Common questions
What share of Tennessee households are offline?
In the 2023 American Community Survey, 8.9% of Tennessee households reported no internet subscription of any kind (257,141 homes), which ranks the state 37th of 51 for the fewest unconnected homes. Another 12% rely on a phone plan alone.
Can I get fiber in Tennessee?
On some streets, yes. The Census counts cable, fiber and DSL together (75.3% of Tennessee homes), so the fiber share is smaller than that number and changes block by block as providers build. Ask for the exact address; if fiber is not there, cable is usually the next fastest, then 5G home.
Does the call line cover all of Tennessee?
No. It covers 96 ZIP codes in Tennessee. Enter your ZIP on this page: if it is covered the call button stays on, and if not the button switches off and the guides still apply. Coverage changes over time, so check again in a few months if your ZIP is not listed today.
Is satellite internet common in Tennessee?
6.1% of Tennessee households have a satellite subscription, about the same as the national figure. It is mainly used where no wired line reaches. Newer low-orbit satellite services have far lower delay than the old geostationary ones, but check the data limits before you order.