DSL Internet Service Providers in California

There are 40 DSL internet service providers in California as of our last data update in 2024.

Our count is based on FCC provider filings, updated manually to account for mergers, closures, and new company formations. ¹

Of the 40 DSL internet providers in California, 19 offer residential services, and 39 offer business services. 18 providers in the state offer both residential and business service.

California DSL internet providers summary

What is DSL?

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, and it refers to internet services provided over twisted-copper telephone lines. In California, the largest providers are AT&T and Frontier, as they are the incumbent telephone providers with infrastructure built out across California.

Since the early 2000s, both of these providers have been building out fiber to support the increased use of their networks for interest services. In major cities like Los Angeles, DSL providers have moved over to “IPBB” or “fiber to the node” network structures, where fiber lines are run from the provider centeral office (CO) and switches over to copper lines for a shorter distance between local nodes in neighborhoods and customer residences.

In rural parts of California, service is often still traditional DSL, which runs a copper line all the way from the provider’s CO to the customer — which results in signal fade and lower performance. It is commonly considered as a wired alternative to satellite internet for rural locations.

DSL speeds rarely exceed 100 Mbps, even when using fiber to the node in urban areas.