We’ll tell you up front what we like most: it’s available where others aren’t, and it has consistent speeds. It doesn’t have the fastest speeds or the lowest prices in the industry, but they’re decent compared to other rural internet options. Now, let’s dive into the details. AT&T also advertises a bundled price when you get AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet and DIRECTV at the same time. The details are below, but we don’t necessarily recommend this “deal.” This bundle is actually just the same price as buying the two services separately. We prefer home internet service to have an unlimited data cap, especially since both Verizon and T-Mobile’s fixed wireless home internet plans don’t come with data caps. That said, AT&T’s 350 GB allowance is nothing to scoff at. 350 GB of internet data is enough to scroll through a social media feed for almost 4,000 hours (not recommended). Or, you could use your data allotment to stream 500 episodes of the Great British Baking Show. In other words, most people who aren’t video conferencing all day or downloading huge files shouldn’t have a major problem with the data cap. But still, the service is often available where there are few other ISPs, especially in the midwest and south. Here’s a complete list of the 18 states where AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet access is available. So, how does AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet compare to these other options? In a word: decent. AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet’s speeds are higher than some other rural providers out there. And AT&T’s prices are definitely cheaper than many satellite internet plans (like Viasat’s). However, as this comparison chart shows, there are rural ISPs that can beat out AT&T in both price and speed. That’s one thing we really appreciate about AT&T’s service: the price is the same, no matter where you are, and it doesn’t go up after a promotional period.
Viasat: Viasat’s prices tend to be a lot higher than AT&T’s, but the company does offer some plans with higher speeds. Rise Broadband: Rise Broadband beats out AT&T’s prices pretty much everywhere. Windstream: Windstream’s prices may look way better than AT&T’s at first glance, but it depends on where you’re located. And beware the price hikes after 12 months. T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile’s home internet is just $50 a month (and comes with 5G service in certain areas), beating out AT&T’s price by a good margin.
What does that mean for you? Well, that really depends on how much speed you need to live your day to day life. For example, 25 Mbps is plenty of speed to power a couple of computers (or TVs) streaming a show in standard definition. In general, it should be just enough for single people or small families that don’t work from home or run more than one device at once. However, AT&T’s data speeds probably won’t cut it if you need internet for modern gaming, video conferencing, watching movies in 4K, or if you have five, six, or more connected devices on the same network. With AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet, there are a couple of important things you’ll want to know that are hidden down there with the asterisk. First of all, let’s talk contracts. But, if you do decide to bundle fixed wireless service with a phone or DIRECTV plan, then you will likely be required to sign up for a contract for the other service (but you’ll also get a discount on your internet). First of all, there’s a wireless antenna that receives the signal from the tower. Then there’s a wireless modem/router that connects to the wireless receiver and your connected devices at home. Both the modem/router and antenna come free from AT&T (but you can’t keep them after your service ends) and seem to work quite well according to customer reviews. AT&T will install everything for you (though there is a $99 installation fee). The installation has three steps:
Installation fees: You may be charged a $99 installation fee, depending on your location. Overage fees: You’ll pay $10 for every 50 GB of data you use over 350 GB. Termination fees: If you cancel your service, then you must return equipment within 21 days or pay a $150 fee. The fee will be refunded if the equipment is received within 90 days of cancellation.
Prices and plans: AT&T only offers one plan, which gives you 350 GB of data at 10–25 Mbps speeds. The price is $69.99 (or $59.99 if you have a qualifying cell phone plan). Speed: At about 25 Mbps, AT&T’s data speeds are respectable. But, depending on where you live, there may be much faster rural ISPs. Data caps: AT&T’s 350 GB data cap is pretty high. If you do happen to go over the cap, you’ll be charged $10 for every 50 GB. Contracts, equipment, and fees: You’ll need some special equipment for fixed internet service, but it’s free (after a $99 installation fee). Customer service: AT&T leads the industry when it comes to customer service. That might not be saying much, given the industry, but it means they’ll at least answer the phone and try to fix your problem.
Here are some of the features we focused on when evaluating AT&T’s service: Thank you for reading our review and trusting us to help you find the very best internet service!
