AT&T Fiber Availability, Speeds, and More. As one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, AT&T offers a range of services to customers, including high-speed fiber internet. In this article, we’ll explore the availability, speeds, and other important factors that you need to know about AT&T Fiber.
Table of Contents
- What is AT&T Fiber?
- Availability of AT&T Fiber
- AT&T Fiber Internet Speeds
- How does AT&T Fiber compare to other internet providers?
- AT&T Fiber Plans and Pricing
- Equipment and Installation
- AT&T Fiber Customer Service
- Advantages of AT&T Fiber
- Disadvantages of AT&T Fiber
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet?
- Can I use my own router with AT&T Fiber?
- Does AT&T Fiber have a data cap?
- How long does it take to install AT&T Fiber?
- Is AT&T Fiber available in my area?
1. What is AT&T Fiber?
AT&T Fiber is a high-speed internet service that uses fiber-optic technology to deliver fast and reliable internet to homes and businesses. Fiber-optic technology uses light to transmit data, which allows for much faster speeds than traditional copper or coaxial cables.
2. Availability of AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber is currently available in over 70 cities across the United States, including major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta. However, availability can vary by location, so it’s important to check if it’s available in your area.
3. AT&T Fiber Internet Speeds
AT&T Fiber offers internet speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second). This means that you can download a full-length HD movie in just a few minutes. AT&T Fiber also offers symmetrical speeds, which means that upload speeds are just as fast as download speeds.
4. How does AT&T Fiber compare to other internet providers?
When it comes to internet speeds, AT&T Fiber is one of the fastest options available. It consistently ranks high in speed tests and customer satisfaction surveys. However, it’s important to compare plans and pricing to find the best option for your needs and budget.
5. AT&T Fiber Plans and Pricing
AT&T Fiber offers a variety of plans to fit different needs and budgets. Plans start at $35 per month for 300 Mbps and go up to $60 per month for 1 Gbps. Equipment fees may apply, and prices may vary by location.
6. Equipment and Installation
AT&T provides a modem and router with their Fiber service, but customers also have the option to use their own equipment. Professional installation is required for AT&T Fiber, and installation fees may apply.
7. AT&T Fiber Customer Service
AT&T offers 24/7 customer support for their Fiber service through phone, email, and chat. Customers can also access online resources such as a help center and community forum.
8. Advantages of AT&T Fiber
AT&T Fiber offers several advantages over traditional internet options, including:
- Faster speeds and symmetrical upload/download speeds
- Reliable connection with minimal downtime
- Ability to support multiple devices and heavy usage
- Professional installation and customer support
AT&T fiber has been steadily expanding to more markets. At the start of 2023, the provider announced that it was adding fiber access to 9,000 locations in Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina. According to an older report from Fierce Telecom, the ISP has been focused building up more direct fiber access for customers who have it available in their neighborhoods and expanding access in residential buildings.
You can find out if AT&T fiber plans are available on your block by running a search with our zip check tool above.
Pro tip:
AT&T’s fiber internet offerings are excellent, but cable provider Xfinity has a lot wider availability. Take a look at our AT&T vs. Xfinity review to see how the two internet services compare.
Here are all the states where AT&T has fiber service. It’s available in most large cities and towns, but you’ll want to search your zip code to confirm whether you can get it.
| California Nevada Texas Oklahoma Kansas Missouri Ohio Kentucky Michigan Indiana | Illinois Wisconsin Arkansas Louisiana Tennessee Mississippi Alabama Georgia Florida South Carolina North Carolina |
Fiber is available to only about 40% of the US population, according to the Federal Communications Commission.1 So don’t be sad if you can’t get a fiber plan—it could be available at your house eventually. Keep checking to see if AT&T has expanded its network.
9. Disadvantages of AT&T Fiber
Despite its many advantages, AT&T Fiber also has some disadvantages, including:
- Limited availability in some areas
- Higher cost compared to some other internet options
- Potential for price increases after promotional period ends
Is AT&T fiber faster than regular internet?
| Internet type | Max download speed | Max upload speed |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber internet | 5,000 Mbps | 5,000 Mbps |
| Cable internet | 1,000 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| DSL internet | 100 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
AT&T fiber internet is a lot faster than regular internet, capable of hitting speeds of 5,000 Mbps.
The most common types of internet you encounter are cable and DSL-type connections. Cable internet can hit download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, but it doesn’t have the symmetrical upload and download speeds of a fiber internet connection. DSL internet only reaches max speeds of around 100 Mbps, and often is much slower.
What makes AT&T fiber faster?
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds
- No electromagnetic interference with fiber-optic cabling
- Newer and better-maintained infrastructure
AT&T’s fastest fiber plan can hit speeds of 5,000 Mbps—five times as fast as the fastest cable internet plans. Honestly, most people don’t need a 5,000 Mbps internet plan. But it really goes to show the powerful capacity that AT&T’s fiber network has compared to more common and regular internet types.
You’ll want one of AT&T’s faster fiber plans if you live with a lot of roommates or family members and you’re all sharing the same Wi-Fi connection. Generally speaking, the more Wi-Fi devices you have in the house, the faster Wi-Fi you’ll need. Faster speeds are also necessary to support high-bandwidth internet activities and a lot of smart-home devices.
Advantages to gigabit internet:
- Upload gigabyte- or terabyte-sized files to cloud servers or YouTube
- Host livestreams
- Play multiplayer online games on 5 or more devices
- Regularly stream videos in 4K on 5 or more devices
Pro tip:
Fiber is incredibly fast, but fiber connections aren’t available everywhere. You may want to consider a cable internet plan as a backup, since it comes close to meeting fiber for speed and offers more availability. Read our AT&T vs. Spectrum review for more details.
10. Frequently Asked Questions
AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet are two different types of internet services offered by AT&T. While AT&T Fiber uses fiber-optic technology to provide high-speed internet, AT&T Internet uses traditional copper or coaxial cables. As a result, AT&T Fiber generally offers faster speeds and more reliable connectivity than AT&T Internet.
Yes, customers have the option to use their own router with AT&T Fiber. However, it’s important to ensure that the router is compatible with AT&T’s network and that it can handle the speeds provided by the Fiber service.
No, AT&T Fiber does not have a data cap. This means that you can use as much data as you need without worrying about additional charges or reduced speeds.
Professional installation is required for AT&T Fiber, and the installation process typically takes between 2-4 hours. However, the exact time may vary depending on factors such as the size of your home and the complexity of the installation.
To check if AT&T Fiber is available in your area, you can visit AT&T’s website and enter your address. You can also call AT&T’s customer service line for more information.
Conclusion
AT&T Fiber is a high-speed internet service that offers many advantages over traditional internet options. With fast speeds, symmetrical upload and download speeds, and reliable connectivity, it’s a great choice for households and businesses that require fast and dependable internet. However, it’s important to compare plans and pricing to ensure that it’s the right choice for your needs and budget.
