If you’re choosing between Race Communications vs unWired Broadband, you’re likely weighing the difference between reliable fiber internet and fixed wireless service. And with NextGen Fiber (unWired’s new fiber-optic spin-off) entering the market, the competition is heating up in several California communities.

Which Californian ISP Is the Best Fit For You

In this blog, we’ll break down how Race stacks up against both unWired Broadband and NextGen Fiber in 2025. You’ll find side-by-side comparisons of internet plans, pricing, speed tiers, promotional offers, data policies, and contract terms. We’ll also highlight key differences in technology, availability, and customer experience, so you can decide which provider best fits your needs.

Whether you’re in a rural area comparing options, or just want to understand what’s behind the marketing claims, this guide will give you the full picture.

Overview of Race Communications vs. unWired Broadband

Race Communications provides ultra-fast fiber-optic internet across California, with a mission to expand connectivity to rural and underserved communities. Race’s all-fiber infrastructure allows for symmetrical speeds (equal upload and download), ultra-low latency, and outstanding reliability.

With plans offering symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps, Race is positioned as a top-tier internet provider for households demanding high performance for work, streaming, and gaming. Their pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees, no data caps, and no throttling.

unWired Broadband is a Fresno-based provider that offers fixed wireless internet to rural areas across Central and Northern California. Service is delivered via radio signals from over 200 towers, requiring a line-of-sight connection and an antenna installed at the customer’s location.

Their wireless plans typically offer download speeds from 100 to 400 Mbps, with upload speeds significantly lower, and pricing varies by location. While they promote unlimited data with no throttling, performance can vary depending on signal quality, terrain, weather, and tower congestion. Latency tends to be higher than fiber, which may impact gaming and real-time applications.

The company recently launched NextGen Fiber, a separate brand offering fiber-to-the-home service in select cities like Coalinga, Parlier, Gustine, and Wasco. These areas have access to faster speeds (up to 5 Gbps) with no data caps or contracts. However, NextGen availability is limited, and most of unWired’s service area remains reliant on fixed wireless.

Plans & Pricing

Below is a side-by-side comparison of residential internet plans from Race Communications, unWired Broadband, and NextGen Fiber (a spin-off brand from unWired). While Race and NextGen offer fiber-optic service, unWired relies on fixed wireless, which can impact both performance and consistency.

Use the chart below to compare internet speeds and pricing tiers across all three providers:

Speed Tier
250 Mbps	—	—	$69.99
300 Mbps	$44.95	—	—
400 Mbps	—	$149.99	—
500 Mbps	$59.90	—	$89.99
1 Gbps	$69.90	—	$99.99
2 Gbps	—	—	$149.99
5 Gbps	$129.95	—	$249.99
10 Gbps	$129.95	—	—

Race Communications offers simple, transparent terms across all residential internet plans: no contracts, no data caps, free professional installation, and an included Wi-Fi router. Customers can cancel at any time without penalty, and all plans include unlimited data with no throttling or usage caps. Race is also currently offering one month free on its Internet 500, Gigabit Internet, and 10 Gigabit Internet plans.

By contrast, unWired Broadband promotes a $25/month discount for the first three months, but offers less consistency in pricing and terms. While they advertise no contract requirements, customers who enroll in their optional 2-year price lock may be subject to early termination fees, the details of which are only disclosed after signup.

Their service contract also outlines penalties such as a $170 technician roll-out charge if a scheduled install is missed or the site is unprepared. Router rental is optional, but comes with a monthly fee ($5–8 per month extra).

NextGen Fiber, unWired’s fiber brand, shares similar terms: no contracts, $25/month promotional discount for three months, and unlimited data. However, availability is currently limited to a few cities, and pricing is higher than Race at most speed tiers.

Compare their broadband labels below:

Race Communications vs UnWired Broadband Broadband Labels

The Importance of Low Latency

When comparing internet providers, most people focus on speed, but latency is just as important, especially if you game, video chat, or work from home.

Latency is the delay between sending a request and getting a response, and it can make a fast connection feel slow if the delay is too high.

There are two types:

Download latency: How long it takes to receive data (e.g., loading websites, streaming video)
Upload latency: How long it takes to send data (e.g., video conferencing, sending files, gaming commands)

Race Communications delivers fiber-to-the-home with an average latency of just 13 milliseconds (ms), which is low enough that interactions feel instant. Whether you’re in a Zoom call, streaming in 4K, or gaming competitively, latency stays consistently low in both directions.

By comparison, unWired Broadband’s fixed wireless service typically sees latency in the 20–30 ms range, and sometimes much higher depending on weather, tower congestion, or distance. In customer forums, some users have reported spikes into the 100–500 ms range, which can lead to lag in games, dropped calls, or buffering during busy hours.

Why it matters:

In video calls, high latency causes delays, frozen faces, or audio that talks over itself.
In online gaming, latency (or “ping”) is the difference between hitting your target and rubberbanding across the map.
For remote workers, low upload latency keeps screen sharing, cloud sync, and VPN sessions smooth and responsive.

If your household depends on real-time communication or competitive online tasks, Race’s fiber network gives you a clear advantage in responsiveness.

Race Communications vs. unWired Broadband: Which Is Right for You?

When it comes to choosing between Race Communications vs unWired Broadband, the difference ultimately comes down to technology, performance, and long-term value.

Race Communications offers a future-proof fiber network with symmetrical speeds, low latency, unlimited data, and no hidden fees — all backed by contract-free plans and free professional installation. Whether you’re a heavy streamer, remote worker, gamer, or part of a busy household, Race delivers consistent, high-performance internet with no surprises on your bill.

unWired Broadband, while widely available in rural areas, still relies primarily on fixed wireless technology. While it offers decent speeds and unlimited data, performance can fluctuate depending on your location, signal quality, and tower congestion. Their new NextGen Fiber brand brings faster, more reliable service. However, it’s only available in a few cities as of 2025, and pricing is notably higher than Race for similar tiers.

For those who live within Race’s service areas, the choice is clear: faster speeds, lower latency, better value, and no long-term commitment; all from a provider that’s built for where the internet is going, not where it’s been.

Which Californian ISP Is the Best Fit For You