Technology
Philadelphia Boosts Broadband Access From 70% to 84% Through Federal Programs
City and federal investments in connectivity have pushed household high-speed internet adoption from 70 percent in 2019 to roughly 84 percent today.
How we reported this
Philadelphia households with high-speed internet subscriptions now stand at approximately 84 percent, up from 70 percent in 2019. The increase traces directly to pandemic-era connectivity programs that expanded access through targeted subsidies and infrastructure support.
These gains matter because reliable internet underpins schoolwork, job applications and telehealth services for residents across all neighborhoods. Without it, lower-income households face barriers that widen existing divides in education and employment outcomes. The city’s own tracking shows the jump occurred as programs scaled during and after the pandemic shutdowns.
PHLConnectED and federal discounts drive the numbers
PHLConnectED supplies free internet service to more than 17,500 K-12 households. The federal Affordable Connectivity Program adds monthly discounts of up to $30 for qualifying residents. Together the two initiatives account for the documented rise in subscriptions, according to city records and provider coverage maps. Verizon Fios remains the main fiber option, reaching 83 to 86 percent of the city with symmetric speeds listed up to 2,300 Mbps in select zones.
Median fixed download speeds across Philadelphia reached 278.70 Mbps as of mid-2025, with Verizon posting the highest provider median at 290.96 Mbps. Those figures come from performance data compiled through the same period the subscription rate climbed. The combination of public funding and private network buildout produced measurable speed improvements alongside the subscription growth.
Fourteen-point-seven percent still lack any connection
Despite the progress, 14.7 percent of households hold no internet subscription at all. The shortfall concentrates in lower-income neighborhoods and among Black or Hispanic residents, where some census tracts show roughly half the households without service. City equity reports flag these persistent shortfalls even as overall numbers improved.
Residents who meet income guidelines can still apply for the remaining federal discounts or PHLConnectED slots through the city’s listed portals. Checking eligibility at the addresses provided on phila.gov remains the direct next step for households that have not yet connected.