AT&T Internet: The Biggest Internet Provider in the US

AT&T Internet: The Biggest Internet Provider in the US
Photo by Rubaitul Azad on Unsplash

According to the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T is the largest internet provider in the United States. It is also the third-largest internet provider in the world. AT&T uses a combination of fiber and hybrid-fiber connections to provide broadband internet, with more than 15.4 million users in the US last 2020. 

Over 100 metro regions are covered by this internet provider in 21 states, most of which are in the South and Midwest, but also California and Nevada. One-fourth of the company’s customer base has access to AT&T’s high-speed fiber network. Now, more than 5.2 million AT&T customers are now able to take advantage of the new 2 Gig and 5 Gig plans.

Last 2022, the digital subscriber line (DSL) service of this internet provider was phased off. An older internet connection, DSL, uses telephone lines and other technology to access the internet. More than 3 million additional households across 90 major metro regions have been targeted for AT&T’s fiber internet service expansion.

If you live in or near a major city in one of AT&T’s internet service areas, you’ll know that they offer high-speed internet plans for reasonable prices. You can also opt for a bundled package if you want to include a TV or phone service with your internet plan. 

AT&T Service Areas

AT&T covers 21 states in the US, but its fiber internet service is only offered in select areas. As with every other wireless provider, don’t assume that a certain location is covered through a ZIP code. Make sure to input your address at AT&T’s website first.

Alabama Arkansas California Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana MichiganMississippi Missouri Nevada North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Wisconsin

AT&T Internet Plans & Prices

Like most internet service providers, AT&T offers promotional pricing that expires after a year. The $10 monthly charge to rent AT&T’s needed router is provided by AT&T as well as most other carriers, and customers can’t opt out by purchasing their own equipment. Fiber options from this internet provider, on the other hand, no longer include a 1 TB data cap, meaning users will not be charged $10 for every additional 50 GB of data.

If AT&T’s hybrid-fiber service is the only one available in your area, the second-year fee increase is to $10 per month, and the equipment fee is the same. It also comes with a 1TB data cap, but you can remove it by paying the $30 surcharge.

PlanMonthly FeeDownload SpeedUpload SpeedData CapContract
Internet 300$55300Mbps100Mbps1TB12 mos.
Internet 500$65500Mbps300Mbps1TB12 mos.
Internet 1000$801GB1GBUnlimited12 mos.

Choosing the Best AT&T Internet Plan for You

If you are planning to find the best AT&T internet plan for your home, you will need to consider several factors to end up with the plan suited for your needs. Here’s how its internet plans compare to each other. 

Internet 300

This 300Mbps plan is usually enough for most small to medium-sized households. For only $55 per month plus tax and the $5 automatic payment discount, it is one of the most affordable home internet plans that can deliver decent speeds for browsing, streaming, and other common internet activities without experiencing lags and buffers. 

Internet 500

Internet 500 is a 500Mbps internet plan that costs $65 plus tax and an automatic payment discount. While it delivers half the speed of the fastest fiber internet plan, it is usually more than enough for most US households. But considering the price, it’s not too bad, especially if you have a large family that’s living under one roof. This internet plan works best for most common online activities with fast download and upload speeds.

Internet 1000

This 1000Mbps internet plan is excellent for heavy data users, online gaming, and most online activities. For only $80 per month plus tax and automatic payment discounts, you will significantly notice the difference when it comes to loading web pages, downloading and uploading files, watching HD and ultra-HD movies, and more. 

AT&T Internet vs. Its Major Competitors

AT&T Internet: The Biggest Internet Provider in the US
Photo by Brendan Stephens on Unsplash

AT&T Internet’s biggest competitors are Xfinity Internet and Spectrum Internet. These two major internet providers in the United States also have a wide coverage that connects millions of households to high-speed internet. Let us see how they compare.

AT&T vs. Xfinity

Comcast’s Xfinity Internet is one of the leading internet service providers in the country and is currently the largest provider in Florida, California, and Illinois. Xfinity imposes data caps for its specific internet plans at 1.2TB. For the first two years, the most affordable Xfinity broadband plan costs between $29.99 and $49.99 per month, rising to $60 per month in the following year, including internet speeds of up to 50Mbps.

Xfinity offers 100Mbps, 300Mbps, and up to 3,000Mbps in certain areas. However, that plan can be too much for most households. Your choice should be decided based on your speed requirements as well as the total cost of your plan after the special pricing period.

AT&T vs. Spectrum

Spectrum is also known for its phone, internet, and cable TV packages. As one of the leading telecom providers in the US, it offers some of the most affordable internet plans in the country. 

Spectrum’s cheapest plan starts at $49.99, which is significantly less expensive than AT&T’s cheapest plan, which costs $55 per month. It currently offers three internet plans: Spectrum Internet with 200Mbps, Internet Ultra with 400Mbps, and Internet Gig with 1Gbps/940Mbps. All plans do not come with data caps, unlike AT&T which provides no data caps for its fiber plans only.

Bottom Line

AT&T is the largest internet provider in the United States as stated in the latest report of the Federal Communications Commission, excluding the two satellite internet giants, HughesNet and Viasat, which cover all the entire US states. If you’re looking for a new ISP or planning to switch to AT&T, it will never let you down when it comes to coverage and reliability.