Home internet in Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick: Census numbers before GTA VI
Georgetown County has the highest share of Grand Strand households with no internet, 9.6%, about twice the 4.5% in Horry County and the 4.8% in Brunswick County, N.C., according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates for 2020-2024. Brunswick has the highest share of homes on cable, fiber or DSL, 82.7%, followed by Horry at 78.6% and Georgetown at 71.8%. Horry has the most homes that rely only on a cellphone data plan, 11.4%.
That matters for big downloads such as Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches Nov. 19, 2026, with preloading from Nov. 12, per Rockstar Games.
Which Grand Strand county has the best home internet?
| County | Households | Any broadband | Cable, fiber or DSL | Cellular only | Satellite | No internet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry County | 158,779 | 92.5% | 78.6% | 11.4% | 4.3% | 4.5% |
| Georgetown County | 27,129 | 87.3% | 71.8% | 10.9% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Brunswick County | 69,124 | 93.3% | 82.7% | 8.8% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates 2020-2024, table B28002.
Where do homes rely on cellphone data or satellite?
Horry County leads in cellular-only homes at 11.4%, followed by Georgetown at 10.9% and Brunswick at 8.8%. Satellite is most common in Georgetown County, at 6.6% of households, per the Census estimates. Satellite and cellphone plans often carry data limits, which matter for game downloads.
How long does a big game download take?
Rockstar Games launches Grand Theft Auto VI on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, and opens preloading Nov. 12, according to the Rockstar Store, which sells the boxed copy as a Code-in-Box with a download code instead of a disc. Rockstar had not published the download size as of Nov. 3, 2026.
At full speed, every 100 gigabytes takes:
| Speed | Time per 100 GB |
|---|---|
| 25 Mbps | about 8 hours 53 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | about 2 hours 13 minutes |
| 300 Mbps | about 44 minutes |
| 1,000 Mbps | about 13 minutes |
The math is size in gigabytes times 8,000, divided by speed in megabits per second, which gives seconds. Real downloads are usually slower, because Wi-Fi, other devices in the house and the store’s servers all take a share. On a cellphone-only plan, check your plan’s data limit first: a download that size can use a month’s data or more.
How were these internet numbers measured?
The figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 5-year estimates for 2020-2024, table B28002, which asks households what kind of internet subscription they have. Five-year estimates average answers collected over those years, so they describe the typical picture, not a single month. A household can have more than one type of service, so the columns do not add up to 100%. The Census Bureau publishes a margin of error with every estimate, and it is wider in small towns than in whole counties.
“Cable, fiber or DSL” means a wired home connection. “Cellular only” means the household’s only subscription is a cellphone data plan. “No internet” means no subscription and no access at home.
Is your internet different from these numbers?
Census estimates cover years of answers, and service changes street by street. If your town’s internet is faster, slower or newly available, tell us your town and provider through the Gaming page’s reader form. We publish what readers report under Reader reports, apart from the official figures, and never with your name or address.
More Outdoors & Recreation guides and local services ›
Live in the Grand Strand? Write for us as a Community Contributor and share what you see in your town.
Questions and answers
- What share of Georgetown County homes have no internet?
- 9.6% of Georgetown County's 27,129 households, according to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020-2024.
- How long does a 100 GB game download take at 100 Mbps?
- About 2 hours 13 minutes at full speed: 100 gigabytes times 8,000, divided by 100 megabits per second, is 8,000 seconds. Real downloads are often slower.
- When can I preload GTA VI?
- Preloading opens Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, a week before the Nov. 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to Rockstar Games.
- Where do these internet numbers come from?
- From the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020-2024, table B28002, which counts households by type of internet subscription.
