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Access to the internet is a basic human right! Living a life without it in these times is simply not possible and while once a dial-up connection would’ve been enough, it isn’t so anymore.
We’re constantly in need of faster service. Our patience is dead. And, waiting for a webpage to load is simply out of the question. Just three seconds of delay is enough to have us looking for another site to surf. Of course, in such a case getting a fiber connection would be ideal, but its set-up costs simply don’t allow for the luxury. So, for a vast cross-section of the population, DSL internet will have to do.
However, if you think DSL amounts to nothing relative to a fiber connection, you’d be wrong. In many aspects, the service surpasses both fiber and cable. For starters, it’s available in almost all U.S. regions—which is one big plus.
Overall around 90% of the U.S. is covered by DSL. And, DSL internet is the one type that is widely available not only in urban areas but in rural America. There is, however, one difference. In most urban regions DSL providers have revamped their networks. So subscribers now get high-speed DSL, which comes backed by a fiber backbone. The “last mile”, which utilizes twisted copper lines, is not stretched too far out from the fiber optic lines in the hybrid network. So, with a hybrid DSL internet connection, you can get fast speeds, sometimes as fast as cable broadband in the locality, but the cost is lower relative to other broadband types. In most rural areas of the country, however, it is still the traditional, slower DSL internet that communities are able to access.
Given how widespread the availability of DSL internet in the U.S. is, the only concern you may face when getting a connection is figuring out which provider and plan you should go for. With so many packages in the market, each claiming to be the best, deciding on one can be difficult. But, that is exactly why we’re here. We’ll delve into all things DSL to find you the best providers and plans out there. So, read on, and you may find the answers you seek.
When subscribing to a DSL plan, there are some key features you must check to ensure the service aligns with your lifestyle. Here’s is a checklist to help you:
The first of course is the download speed. The thing to remember with DSL though is that the further your residence is from the internet service provider’s hub, the slower the speed you get. This means that you won’t be likely to get the advertised maximum speed at home if you are located farther away. To ensure you pick the right provider and plan, we’d recommend you check with your neighbor and ask about their internet speed and overall experience before deciding on a provider.
The thing with upload speed is that it is hardly ever advertised. And, if you’re someone who uses the internet for tons of video calls each day, a slow upload speed won’t cut it. So make sure you ask the provider about that as well.
A data cap can be really constricting when it comes to surfing the web. Activities like streaming video content off Netflix or another streaming platform, consume data fast. So when deciding on a plan we’d recommend you opt for one that gives you ample data cap every month such as up to 1 TB. Of course, unlimited internet would be ideal for bandwidth-heavy online activities, but a DSL internet service usually does not come with uncapped data.
There are approximately 900 DSL internet service providers, local and nationwide, that compete in the U.S. markets. With a pre-existing telephone infrastructure available virtually everywhere in the U.S., it is no surprise the number of DSL internet providers is so high. Most of these companies have remained engaged in the provision of phone connections for a long and added internet to their service lineup as it progressively became a necessity. Among this huge crowd, there are a few names that stand out—companies that have earned good nationwide repute. Let’s take a look at the DSL internet service offered by some of the topmost ISPs.
AT&T offers both fiber and DSL internet connections which means when it comes to a hybrid internet service, they know all there is to know and are in a position to give you the best service there is.
The hybrid DSL connection they sell goes by the name ‘AT&T Internet’. And, while it doesn’t offer the lightning-fast speeds that AT&T Fiber does, it gives you a fast connection you can rely on. The slower DSL internet speeds start at 768Kbps and go as high as 5 Mbps—these are the more basic traditional DSL internet plans.
The only downside to AT&T internet service is speed availability varies greatly depending on your location. If the AT&T network infrastructure in your area supports 100 Mbps, that is what you will get. But, if the network is capable of furnishing only up to 5 Mbps in your vicinity, this is all you’ll have to do with. In every service location AT&T vows to bring you the fastest possible speed depending on its network capability. That is why not all speed variations will be accessible in any given neighborhood.
Another thing that you must remember is that DSL internet from AT&T comes with a 1TB data cap unlike AT&T Fiber plans that give you unlimited data every month. There is one exception though. If you are lucky to get 100 Mbps fast AT&T Internet at your address, you won’t be limited by a data cap.
A big perk you get with an AT&T internet service subscription is you can connect to high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide when you are on the go. This helps you save a significant volume of cellular data while away from home. Pretty cool, right?
Plus, AT&T carries a strong customer service reputation, which means no matter the problem you’ll have ready help available just a phone call away.
With all that said, if you find yourself interested in AT&T internet service, here is a quick overview. And, we’d recommend you call AT&T experts at 1-855-820-1220 to check which speeds are available at your address.
|
Plan |
Download Speed Range |
Price |
|
AT&T Internet |
Up to 100 Mbps |
$35.00/mo. |
|
AT&T Internet |
768Kbps - 75 Mbps |
$45.00/mo. |
If you’re looking for a life partner then CenturyLink is the provider you’d want to sign up with. Their Price for Life plans to ensure you get a great deal for years to come. For those who see themselves settling down at a place for good, nothing could be better. Sure, the starting price for CenturyLink Internet is relatively higher, but come what may, it will never go up. When you consider the long run, it is even better than promotional pricing because that holds up for 12 months in most cases.
All CenturyLink DSL plans come without a contract. You pay on a Month-to-Month basis and are free to walk away anytime you must do so, without incurring penalties. As for data, CenturyLink Internet gives you 1TB, unlike CenturyLink Fiber which comes with an unlimited data allowance. However, if you look at the speed to data ratio, 1TB seems virtually unlimited for standard internet consumption in an average household.
Bear in mind though that not all plans are available in all areas. Again, quite like AT&T, CenturyLink DSL also makes use of the extended fiber backbone in its network. In areas where the “last mile” is not very long, you can expect to get higher speeds. But in rural regions where data travels a rather long “last mile” on twisted copper lines, available speeds are lower. To check which packages are on offer in your area, call CenturyLink Customer Service and they’ll be able to guide you.
|
Plan |
Download Speed |
Price |
|
CenturyLink Internet 15 |
Up to 15 Mbps |
$49/mo. |
|
CenturyLink Internet 20 |
Up to 20 Mbps |
|
|
CenturyLink Internet 40-80 |
Up to 80 Mbps |
|
|
CenturyLink Internet 100 |
Up to 100 Mbps |
As we mentioned earlier, there is a great number of DSL providers out there for you to choose from. And while you might just get a better deal from a local provider, most likely it’s the big nationwide ISPs that you’ll find offering the best service in town. We’d suggest you give a call at 1-855-349-9328 and inquire about the speeds these DSL internet providers offer in your area. With the right guidance, you’ll have your connection up and running in no time!
You can get up to 100 Mbps internet speeds with a DSL connection that has Fiber in the Loop. DSL internet that comes powered by Fiber to the Node however yields still higher speeds.
While you can get similar download and upload speeds with the two, satellite internet has a much greater latency value. Because, data has to travel to the satellite in space, and back again. Given the two options, you’d be better off with a DSL internet connection.
The faster the speed you get, the better your streaming experience. However, a minimum of 3 Mbps for SD and 5 Mbps for HD video streaming is required. So, if you have a couple of devices that stream, you should at least aim for a 25 Mbps connection. Do check for the average internet speed at your place since it decreases as you move away from the ISP’s hub. The advertised speed may not necessarily be the one you get.