New Mexico had the highest percentage increase in residents receiving high-speed broadband — defined as at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload — of any state, according to Connect New Mexico.
The organization points to Ookla research that found that, during the last six months of 2023 and the first six of 2024, there was a 20.52% increase in addresses with broadband access across New Mexico. Colorado was second with an increase of 19.13%.
Connect New Mexico says that the speed increases are expected to continue. The reasons, they say, are that fiber and its superior speed and latency characteristics are being prioritized for new developments and New Mexicans increasingly understand that greater speeds are available.
Highlights of progress made recently in the state:
- South Santa Fe saw a 73% boost likely due to new development, with service provided by cable (via Comcast’s Xfinity) and fixed wireless access (from NMSurf).
- Rural Chaparral in Dona Aña and Otero counties experienced a 52% increase with five providers offering licensed fixed wireless, cable, and fiber broadband.
- Navajo Nation areas north of Gallup around Coyote Canyon saw a 40% increase, while Navajo/Ramah south of Gallup saw 33% improvement, served by Choice Broadband, Ethos, and Oso Internet Solutions.
“The boost shows that more New Mexicans are achieving higher, more reliable broadband speeds,” Jeff Lopez, the director of New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE), said in a press release. “This is a great sign of progress in our mission for wider and faster connectivity.”
The progress being made in The Land of Enchantment is evident during the past few months. Earlier this month, the OBAE provided broadband planning grants of $100,000 each to Valencia County, the Pueblo of Laguna, and the Pueblo of Acoma.
Also this month, OBAE awarded a $1.5 million grant to Transworld Network LLC to provide broadband to 484 unserved or underserved rural students and faculty of the Silver Consolidated School District, which serves the students of Silver City. The funding is from the $25 million Student Connect program.
In May, Santa Fe-based NM Surf got a grant of $2,395,072 to deploy broadband access to connect 250 rural New Mexico schools. The award was also made through the Student Connect program.
Additional information about New Mexico broadband, including links to state funding resources, previous awards made, state specific Telecompetitor coverage, BEAD news, and more can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.
