Internet speed: 20.7 Mbps downlink; 6.8 Mbps uplink

Population: 2.72 million

Internet coverage: 95% of the population

Main Types of Internet services: Cable, DSL, Fiber, Satellite

Main ISPs: Xfinity, AT&T, Comcast, RCN

Colocation datacenters: Colocation America, Digital Realty Trust, Urban Communications

Web Hosting Companies: Netsource, Steadfast, SolVPS, ChicagoVPS

According to Akamai.com, the average downlink speed in Chicago is 20.7 Mbps and the average uplink speed is 6.8 Mbps.

In 2014, the population of Chicago was 2.72 million. According to IWS, over 95% of the population has access to the Internet.

Main Types of Internet Connections

The main types of Internet connections in Chicago are as follows:

– Cable (97.9% availability)
– DSL (94.5% availability)
– Fiber (4.3% availability)
– Satellite Internet (under 2% of residents use it)

Main Internet Service Providers

These Internet services are provided by a total of two major Internet providers, along with some 3 less popular providers. They are as follows:

– Xfinity (Cable Internet) – 97.0% availability
– AT&T (DSL + Fiber for businesses) – 94.5% availability
– Comcast – 85% availability
– RCN (Cable) – 20.5% availability
– WOW! (Cable) – 16.6% availability
– Windstream (DSL) – 2.6% availability

Internet Usage – Figures and Facts

95% of the residents of Chicago have access to broadband Internet, while the remaining 5% are either using outdated technology (i.e. dial-up) or do not have access to the Internet at all.

In August 2016, Comcast announced that it would launch a new DOCSIS 3.1-based service to deliver high-speed Internet over the company’s existing network infrastructure, after successfully deploying this technology in other areas, such as Philadelphia, Atlanta and Nashville. This plan came as a direct response to other companies introducing gigabit Internet services, such as Xfinity and AT&T, but also because Chicago had previously lagged behind other cities in terms of Internet speeds (30^th out of 46 cities – Ookla 2016).

According to broadbandnow.com, prices for Internet packages are less expensive relative to other cities/states. At Xfinity, pricing starts at $19.99 per month for 10 Mbps. At AT&T, pricing starts at $40 per month for 45 Mbps. At Comcast, prices for gigabit Internet start at $70 per month, usually provided as a standalone service.

According to datacentermap.com, there are currently 80 colocation datacenters located in Chicago. Some of the most important facilities are operated by the following companies:

– Colocation America (incumbent)
– Digital Realty
– Urban Communications, Inc.
– First Communications

Chicago’s colocation datacenter market is very advanced. The central location has always made this city an indispensable hub for manufacturing and, as of late, technology.

Chicago ranks as the fifth largest colocation datacenter market in North America, with an estimated 1.96 million square feet in use, and other tens of thousands of vacant square feet.

Most demand comes from large manufacturing, IT and banking companies, as well as Internet Service Providers looking to establish a solid presence in the Midwest.

According to datacenterknowledge.com, Chicago is also home to the world’s largest datacenter, 350 East Cermak. This 1.1 million square foot colocation datacenter is owned and operated by Digital Realty Trust. It is one of the world’s largest carrier hotels and the actual nerve center for Chicago’s commodity markets.  It features four fiber vaults and three electric power feeds, which supply the facility with more than 100 megawatts of power. Grid power is supported by more than 50 generators distributed across the facility, which are fueled by multiple 30,000 gallon tanks of diesel fuel. The facility’s cooling system is also state-of-the-art, being supported by an 8.5 million gallon tank of refrigerated brine-like liquid.

As expected, the web hosting industry in Chicago is very well developed. There is currently a lot of demand for top-notch web hosting services that comes from small-sized companies, as well as multi-million dollar companies, which has led to the emergence of a plethora of web hosting companies that provide great services.

By analyzing the most prominent web hosting companies located in Chicago, we have determined that all provide core hosting services, such as Shared, VPS or Dedicated Hosting, with a strong emphasis on the latter two services. Shared Hosting is usually absent or marketed as Hybrid Hosting, which is a combination of Shared and VPS Hosting.

A very important aspect to bear in mind is that most web hosting companies in Chicago operate their own datacenters, as opposed to turning to colocation services. Reseller companies are also quite rare, if not absent altogether.

With regard to the pricing, all companies offer competitive prices for their hosting services. In general, prices for Shared, VPS, Cloud and Dedicated Hosting start at $5, $15, $20 and $50 per month respectively, with the possibility of scaling them according to your budget and needs.