Even in areas where you can already get high-speed internet service, T-Mobile's expansion, announced this week, creates competition and gives millions of customers another option for home internet.
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T-Mobile High-Speed Internet Coming With 5G Expansion
This new service should interest internet customers for two reasons. First, it will give millions of households in rural areas an avenue to high-speed internet. According to the FCC's 2020 Broadband Deployment Report, 22.3% of rural Americans don't have access to internet download speeds of at least 25 Mbps.
Second, depending on speed needs and competitors’ prices, T-Mobile’s new home internet could satisfy many customers in urban areas as well.
Here’s how it works:
- T-Mobile high-speed home internet costs $60 per month with autopay. The price will remain fixed with no annual contracts or hidden costs for as long as you stay in the plan according to the company's contact support line. Included in the cost is a WiFi gateway device, and there are no data caps.
- T-Mobile offers just one home internet service plan, which it says has average download speeds of about 50 Mbps but in some locations may be 100Mbps or more.
T-Mobile is in the process of expanding its 5G network. To see whether your address is already covered, check the coverage map.
As of the company's announcement on Wednesday, 30 million American homes are eligible with about 10 million of those homes in rural areas and small towns.
You don’t have to be an existing T-Mobile customer to get this internet service.
5G Home Internet Coming to Rural America
Even in 2021, it can be difficult to get high-speed internet in less populated areas of the country. T-Mobile estimates that more than a quarter of Americans in rural areas have no access to broadband internet, and about 38% who do have access don't have a choice of providers.
Team Clark member Christa has been testing this service at her home, and she says, "It works very well. I use the 5G to work, and it's very reliable."
If you're interested in getting this service, you can click here to see if the new service is available where you live.
How T-Mobile’s New Home Internet Service Will Work
T-Mobile says it connects homes with internet using cell phone data networks.
Customers will be able to connect to the T-Mobile 5G network via a gateway the company will provide. You’ll just connect all of your home’s WiFi-enabled devices to that gateway for high-speed access.
T-Mobile customers also have access to purchasing some streaming services for discounted prices.
If you find out, through the eligibility page on T-Mobile's website, that coverage isn't yet up and running for your address, you can get on a waiting list. T-Mobile says it will contact you in 1-2 weeks to let you know when the service might be available in your area.
How Switching to T-Mobile Could Be Beneficial
Even if you already have several home internet options where you live, you might find T-Mobile’s plan to be a deal at $60 per month (with autopay).
I recently signed up for high-speed internet from Xfinity in my new home, and the price is comparable to this new plan from T-Mobile. But to get that price at Xfinity, you're locked in to a contract for at least a year.
T-Mobile lets you try the service for a month and then leave without a penalty if you don’t like it.
There are also additional fees with Xfinity, as the gateway it provides is not included in the quoted monthly rate. The gateway offered by AT&T also comes with an extra fee. But you can buy your own to save money over the long term.
Also, after the yearly contract expires at Xfinity, the price for high-speed internet increases. T-Mobile says it expects to hold the line on price, as long as you stay on the plan, for the foreseeable future.
If you’re considering switching to this T-Mobile plan, make sure you evaluate whether it will provide enough speed for how you use the internet. There’s no guarantee this plan will get you anything faster than 50 Mbps.
Final Thoughts
There’s no downside to checking the availability of T-Mobile’s expanded home internet service, especially if you live where your options are slim right now.
No matter where you live, if you’re seeing your internet bill steadily rise, you should consider T-Mobile as well. Without a contract, there isn’t much to lose by trying it.
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