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The internet is a modern-day essential in this digital age. Not unlike electricity and gas, it has become a basic necessity that sustains the modern lifestyle. Yet, a huge cross-section of the American population, particularly those living in rural areas, remains deprived of this powerful tool.
People living outside the urban infrastructure find it difficult to access high-speed internet mainly because there isn’t a huge list of rural internet options to choose from. Most internet service providers find it unprofitable to extend their infrastructure into rural America. But, then again statistics show as opposed to 37% of urban and 30% of suburban adults who go online ‘almost constantly’, only 23% in rural America do likewise. Meaning, the demand is there, even if not as consistently high as in the urban or suburban regions. Luckily for rural America, there has been an increase in broadband availability ever since 2016. Today, over 72% of the adults residing in rural areas have a broadband connection at home.
AT&T is one of the topmost internet service providers in the U.S., which is leveraging available technology as optimally as possible, so this digital divide can be bridged. Not that other ISPs are not delivering services in different rural regions of the U.S., AT&T comes forward with 3 different options across its service states—which are affordable and practical, and help the rural population stay connected. Plus, these services come with the AT&T name tag—so, it is safe to presume they would spell reliability and quality.
Fully aware of its stature and its commitment to the FCC initiative, AT&T has endeavored to ensure it utilizes the latest in broadband tech to deliver fast and reliable connections far and wide.
AT&T has thus far made the best use of its pre-existing copper infrastructure to provide high-speed rural internet. For this reason, AT&T has phased out its traditional DSL-based wired internet service and has expanded its fixed wireless network by employing wireless LTE technology that delivers high-speed internet for rural areas. Meanwhile, AT&T mobile broadband is now accessible nearly to the entirety of the U.S. territories.
On the other hand, the older DSL connection is replaced by a newer and better technology: IPBB – which utilizes ADSL2+, G.Fast, VDSL2, and Ethernet technologies that deliver internet via a combination of fiber optic and copper cables. This guarantees a much faster and more reliable internet connection for people in its service states.
In rural America, the phone line copper network has been available for a very long time—making DSL internet a common option. So, as AT&T began to extend the fiber optic backbone in its infrastructure farther out, it was able to reduce the “last mile” over copper lines. And, this has resulted in considerably high speeds delivered via a much more advanced and innovative AT&T Internet type that is IPBB. While urban and suburban areas are the main beneficiaries of this hybrid fiber-copper network, rural populations residing close to the AT&T hub are also able to access high-speed internet. Albeit, the internet speeds advertised and delivered at your address may vary and rank below the 100 Mbps mark far away due to its distance from the AT&T hub.
Since embarking on the journey of building and spreading out its fixed wireless network in 2017, AT&T has made considerable progress. By February 2022, it was reported that AT&T’s Fixed Wireless internet was covering around 5.7 million people.
Unlike wired or satellite-based networks, fixed wireless internet does not ask for complex infrastructure. The philosophy is simple. As long as you are in the line of sight of the provider’s access point, you’ll be able to receive the signal and connect to the internet. You don’t need wires laid out to build your AT&T home internet connection or an expensive satellite dish. All you need is an antenna installed outside your house, preferably with no obstacles in the line of sight, its power supply, and a wireless modem for your in-home Wi-Fi network.
The backhaul connection, which transmits the signal, is wired—in most regions fiber optic. But, the signal is directed to the consumer location wirelessly via a series of towers. As long as you are in the line of sight of the AT&T access point, you will receive the signal via the antenna, which will then be broadcasted via your gateway device over your in-home network.
AT&T Wireless network is known for its ever-evolving tech, which mainly involves 3G, 4G, 4G+, and 5G LTE tech. However, AT&T rolled back its 3G network in 2022 and replaced it with 4G LTE. Today, AT&T 4G or 4G+ encompasses over 99% of the U.S., making it a leader in mobile broadband. That’s not it, AT&T is among the first few network carriers that have launched a 5G network in several cities across the US. This advanced cellular technology is meant to beat internet speeds offered by 4G or LTE connections. Since 5G is a much more advanced and recent tech, the service is not as readily available compared to its 4G and IPBB counterparts. Still, AT&T is aggressively expanding its latest network and has managed to become accessible to over 281 million U.S. residents so far.
Given that AT&T's network speed is among the fastest three in the U.S., mobile broadband from the provider can become a viable rural internet option, particularly for residents of areas that lack coverage from AT&T’s wired or fixed wireless network. Because you can pair it with an AT&T mobile hotspot device, and get a secure internet connection for your devices via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or a USB cable. With download speeds up to 50+ Mbps on the AT&T 4G LTE network, this arrangement can do the job for your family with ease.
AT&T Wireless is a real contestant when it comes to residential rural internet services—that is if fixed wireless and DSL options are either not available or not in line with your preferences. It’s better to get in touch with an AT&T representative to learn more about the options available to you in your area.
Now that we have walked you through the types of AT&T internet for rural areas, let’s give you an idea of what kind of plans and prices are on offer.
As we mentioned earlier, with an IPBB connection via AT&T Internet plans, you can get speeds up to 100 Mbps, depending on your distance from the AT&T central node in the area. But, if you are farther away, available speeds may fall to the basic level of traditional DSL.
AT&T Internet is available as a standalone service with the option to pair with DIRECTV. Don’t forget, if you get DIRECTV via Internet paired with AT&T Internet plans, you will still be billed separately. you get plenty of benefits with your AT&T Internet plan, which include a comprehensive online security suite powered by McAfee, access to a nationwide network of Wi-Fi hotspots, and no annual contracts.
| AT&T Internet Plan | Data Allowance | Plan Features |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Internet 25 | 1.5 TB | Good for email, web surfing, downloading small files, and social networking. Can connect up to 4 devices |
| AT&T Internet 50 | 1.5 TB | Good for working from home, attending school online, email, web browsing, social networking, downloading music, video streaming, sharing media, and light online gaming. Can connect up to 7 devices. |
| AT&T Internet 100 | Unlimited | Good for multiple users. Work from home or attend school online, stream HD video, share media, or play competitive online games. Can connect up to 10 devices. |
Data effective as of publish date. For the latest plans & prices in your area call 855-925-2541
AT&T 25 Review | AT&T 50 Review | AT&T 100 Review
| AT&T Wireless Plans | Data | Features |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Unlimited Starter® SL |
Unlimited Data AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy. |
Unlimited, text, and data. ActiveArmor mobile security. 3 GB hotspot data per month for each line. Unlimited texting from the US to 200+ countries. SD streaming & 5G access are included. |
| AT&T Unlimited Extra® EL | Unlimited Data AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy. |
Unlimited, text, and data. ActiveArmor mobile security. 15 GB hotspot data per month for each line. Unlimited texting from the US to 200+ countries. SD streaming. 5G access included. |
| AT&T Unlimited Premium® PL | Unlimited Data AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy. |
Unlimited, text, and data. ActiveArmor mobile security. 50 GB hotspot data per month for each line. Unlimited texting from the US to 200+ countries. 4K UHD streaming available. 5G access included. Unlimited talk, text, and premium data in 19 Latin American countries. |
Data effective as of publish date. For the latest plans & prices in your area call 855-925-2541
AT&T Fixed Wireless internet is an innovative solution for those seeking the best internet for rural areas. And, as AT&T moves forward with spreading the reach of its fixed wireless network to more and more service locations, the probability of subscribing to it increases for everyone residing in these rural regions. And, with older AT&T broadband tech undergoing the rollback phase, it looks like in the near future AT&T Fixed Wireless and AT&T Wireless (5G or 4G) will together shape two practical, affordable, and valuable rural internet options.
If you find yourself interested in the AT&T Wireless plans for consumption in your rural home, contact AT&T experts at 855-925-2541, and get pro advice about a suitable plan to subscribe to.
Given that AT&T mobile network’s speed is among the fastest in the U.S., mobile broadband from the provider can become a viable rural internet option for residents of areas that lack coverage from AT&T’s wired or fixed wireless network.
AT&T fixed wireless internet can deliver up to 25 Mbps with 350 GB data allowance for $69.99/mo. However, if you subscribe to a qualifying postpaid AT&T wireless plan alongside, you may enjoy discounted bundled pricing for AT&T Fixed Wireless. To know more about AT&T internet plans in rural areas, contact AT&T experts at 855-925-2541.
AT&T is dedicated to its journey of expanding its wireless and fixed wireless internet services in serviceable rural areas where wired broadband is not yet a possibility. To get internet in rural areas, you can call AT&T customer support at 855-925-2541 and subscribe to a Fixed Wireless internet service – or a Wireless one as well.