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Winston-Salem Sees Huge Drop, Then Rebound In Internet Speed

Many people forced to work from home experienced slower internet speeds in March. (AP File Photo/Elaine Thompson)

As more people work from home because of the coronavirus pandemic, internet speeds across North Carolina slowed down last month. Winston-Salem experienced one of the largest drops in the nation.

According to research by BroadbandNow, median internet speed in Winston-Salem fell 41 percent in mid-March. It has since bounced back with a nearly 40 percent jump.

The News and Observer reports that Raleigh and Charlotte saw their median speed drop about 20 percent. The capital city returned to a normal range, while in Charlotte it continued to slow down.

The research shows that most cities in North Carolina are now seeing their speeds rebound. Local internet providers say their networks are handling the increase in demand well and will continue to monitor their networks for issues.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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