Whether you’re getting some work done or streaming a TV show to pass the time, a good wi-fi connection can make all the difference when you’re unexpectedly stuck at the airport.
According to new data released by internet speed analysis firm Ookla, 20 airports across the country currently have free wireless networks that hit download speeds of 100 megabits per second—powerful enough to handle most online activities.
The best place for a layover with a side of web browsing? Of the 50 busiest US airports that offer free wi-fi, the winner is California’s Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, which clocked in with blazing median download speeds of 259.37 Mbps, according to Ookla.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Oakland International Airport ranked second and third with respective download speeds of 210.09 Mbps and 206.25 Mbps, Ookla’s data shows. That’s enough juice to multitask while streaming a bandwidth-hogging multiplayer video game like Fortnite or Overwatch.
But there are a few places you don’t want to be stranded without a mobile hotspot, according to Ookla. North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and one of Philadelphia International Airport’s two wi-fi networks are among the travel hubs with wi-fi that barely reached download speeds of 25-Mbps, the FCC’s current threshold for broadband service, the blog post notes.
One practical tip from Ookla? “If you’re in Philadelphia, you definitely want to choose ‘Free PHL Airport WiFi’ when possible, rather than ‘Free PHL Airport WiFi-24’” for maximum browsing speed, according to the company’s blog.
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