Ting Internet: Beginner’s Guide to Gigabit Fiber Service

✦ Edited and fact-checked by Eric Chiu, our Tech Editor with more than 11 years covering broadband infrastructure and fiber deployment.

What’s your internet need?

Are you looking for the fastest gigabit fiber option in your area? Trying to understand Ting’s pricing and whether there are hidden fees?

Ting is a regional internet service provider (ISP) that offers fast internet plans across eight states. Keep on reading to learn more about Ting Internet, including its costs, history, and speeds.

Jump to:

• What is Ting?
• Ting availability
• Ting pricing

Who owns Ting Internet?

Ting Internet is owned and operated by Ting Inc., a subsidiary of Tucows Inc., a Canadian telecom company founded in 1994. Tucows launched Ting in February 2012 as a mobile-first company, but the company has since pivoted to fiber broadband as its core focus.

What changed for Ting and when

In August 2020, Tucows sold most of Ting Mobile to Dish Wireless, separating the company’s phone and internet operations. This split reflects a strategic decision: Tucows focused on fiber infrastructure while Dish took over mobile. The practical upshot? Ting Internet remains independent and fiber-focused; Ting Mobile continues under Dish Wireless ownership but remains available as a bundle with Ting Internet service.

What This Means for You

Two things stand out:

1. Ting isn’t a mega-telecom subsidiary. Unlike Xfinity, Verizon, or Spectrum, Ting isn’t trapped inside a conglomerate chasing cable TV bundling or legacy copper migrations. It’s a company built around fiber, not cable.
2. Mobile bundling still works. Even though Dish owns Ting Mobile, Ting Internet customers can add unlimited talk, text, and data for $10 per month. It’s optional, but it’s a very affordable bundle option.

Where does Ting Internet work?

Ting’s footprint is deliberately regional, not national. The company partners with local governments and community organizations to build fiber in mid-market towns starved for gigabit alternatives. In a nutshell, it’s the opposite of Comcast or Spectrum’s “cable everywhere” approach.

Current Ting coverage

Ting is available to less than 1% of Americans across 66 cities in 8 states:

• California: Carlsbad, Culver City, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Laguna Woods Village (plus others in buildout)
• Colorado: Centennial, Westminster
• Idaho: Greater Sandpoint (the original 2018 launch market)
• Maryland: Baltimore metro areas
• North Carolina: Wake Forest, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Rolesville
• Virginia: Charlottesville and Alexandria
• Arizona: Southern Arizona

In the markets where Ting is available, it’s typically one of only two to three gigabit fiber options (a stark contrast to cable monopoly in most U.S. markets). That means if Ting doesn’t measure up for you, you can easily switch to another fiber internet provider.

Ting expansion timeline

Ting plans to expand to four additional cities in 2026. Recent milestones include Laguna Woods Village in California, which is completing a full fiber upgrade in 2026 to serve an entire retirement community. For the most current expansion list, check Ting’s website.

Checking your address: Is Ting available to you?

Before you get excited about gigabit speeds, confirm service availability at your specific address. Availability can vary block by block within a single town.

The price breakdown: What you’ll actually pay for Ting

Ting advertises $89 per month, but that’s just the internet service. Let’s break down the full picture over 24 months, including equipment, installation, and taxes.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The bottom line: Whether you rent or buy equipment, your 24-month all-in cost is between $2,300–$2,500, or roughly $97–$105 per month including tax. No surprises in year two and no promotional cliff.

Hidden fees Ting does not charge

Unlike some providers, Ting does not charge:

• Promotional-rate price hikes (e.g., intro $70, then $100+ in year two)
• Other price increases mid-year
• Early termination fees
• Data overage charges
• Activation or administrative fees
• Equipment gateway fees hidden in fine print

What Ting could charge

1. Installation fee (for non-traditional installs): Standard installations are free for most customers, but you may have to pay up to $200 if your home needs additional preparation done. Call Ting directly to confirm your specific installation cost before signing up.
2. Equipment rental ($9/mo.): Ting supplies the fiber modem for free; the Wi-Fi router costs $9 per month to rent or $199 to buy outright. You can also use your own compatible router.
3. Wi-Fi range extender ($5/mo. rental or $99 purchase): For homes larger than 1,500 square feet, Ting offers an optional dual-band extender to expand Wi-Fi coverage.
4. Taxes and regulatory fees: Maryland and California impose higher telecom surcharges than Colorado or Idaho. Expect $92–$105 rates per month after tax, depending on location.

How Ting compares

For context, here’s what competitors charge for 1 Gbps fiber service:

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Ting’s monthly price sits in the middle, but you won’t experience any promotional price hikes. In other words, other providers might beat Ting’s intro price, but they nail you with a rate jump in year two. Ting’s $89 per month is locked in, year after year, with no surprises.

3 hidden gotchas to know about Ting

Installation window and scheduling

Ting’s installation process takes three to four weeks from order to activation. A Ting technician will conduct a site survey, determine the fiber route, schedule the drop installation, set up the modem, and activate service. If your area has a backlog or weather delays, the timeline could extend longer.

Friction point: If you need internet for a move-in date or work deadline, Ting’s timeline may not work. Reach out to Ting support early to confirm expected service availability for your address.

Equipment return and cancellation costs

If you rent Ting’s Wi-Fi router and cancel service, you must return the router and other rental equipment within 14 days or face a non-return fee. That said, the fiber ONT modem is owned by Ting and must remain installed even if you switch providers because it belongs to the network.

Pro tip: If you’re unsure about long-term commitment, buy the equipment upfront ($199) instead of renting. You’ll own it outright and avoid return logistics.

Cancellation process and billing timing

You can’t cancel Ting Internet via app or website. Cancellation requires a phone call to Ting support. While there’s no contract, there are no early termination fees, and you can cancel anytime, but you’ll owe through the end of your billing cycle.

Timing matters: If you’re billed on the fifteenth and call to cancel on the twentieth, you’ll owe a full month (through the fifteenth of next month). Plan your cancellation call around your billing date to minimize overlap.

Bundling Ting Internet with mobile

Ting offers a unique value stack: fiber internet plus mobile on one bill.

Pricing

• Ting Internet (gigabit fiber): $89/mo.
• Ting Mobile (unlimited talk, text, 5G data): $10/mo. when bundled with Ting Internet
• Total All-In: $99/mo. for home fiber + unlimited mobile

The $10 per month rate is exclusive to Ting Internet customers. Standalone Ting Mobile users pay significantly more, making the bundle a legitimate value play.

Why bundling Ting Mobile and Internet makes sense

• Consolidated billing: One invoice, one login, one support number that results in simpler account management than paying separate ISP and mobile bills.
• Price transparency: Both services share Ting’s philosophy of transparent pricing, no contracts, and responsive support.
• Work-from-home resilience: Gigabit fiber for home; unlimited mobile for backup connectivity, video calls on the go, or remote work outside the house.

Comparing Ting to other fiber ISPs

If you live in a Ting service area, you might also have access to Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber, or local builders. Here’s how Ting stacks up.

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Key takeaway: Ting competes on transparency and independence, not lowest price. If Frontier or AT&T is available, they might beat Ting’s intro price. But Ting service means no surprise rate hikes, responsive support, and a fiber provider that isn’t beholden to a mega-telecom.

The bottom line: Is Ting Internet worth it?

Ting Internet is worth considering if you:

✓ Live in one of Ting’s 66 service areas

✓ Value transparent pricing with no surprise price hikes

✓ Need gigabit speeds for work, streaming, or gaming

✓ Prefer independent ISPs over mega-telecom subsidiaries

✓ Want responsive customer support without corporate bureaucracy

Ting is not for you if:

✗ You live outside Ting’s eight-state footprint

✗ You need cable TV bundled with internet

✗ You have a move-in deadline requiring immediate internet installation

✗ You prefer self-service cancellation and 24/7 chat support

Check CableTV.com’s reviews of the best internet providers in customer satisfaction to learn more about our top internet providers, or visit our home internet guide to explore all available options in your area.

Ting Internet FAQ

CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.