Andrew Heinzman
Big changes are here for AT&T Fiber customers. The service provider just announced that multi-gigabit speeds of 2Gbps and 5Gbps are now available at “nearly 5.2 million customer locations.” Plus, new AT&T Fiber customers will now see “straightforward pricing” that eliminates equipment fees, contracts, and data caps.
The new multi-gig plans are expensive, of course. AT&T charges $110 per month for the 2Gbps plan and $180 a month for the 5Gbps option. For most people, AT&T’s $80 a month 1Gbps Fiber plan is still the best option. (All of these plans come with HBO Max, by the way.)
Interestingly, the multi-gig plans feature symmetrical internet speeds, meaning that upload and download speeds are identical. I wish that every internet plan offered these symmetrical speeds, as upload speeds have become increasingly important in the work from home world.
But I’m not sure that the average person needs a multi-gigabit plan. Yes, AT&T’s Fiber plan comes with a free AT&T gateway that supports the top 5Gbps speed and Wi-Fi 6. But you need a wired connection from a computer to your router to actually enjoy these speeds—a Wi-Fi connection isn’t fast enough. (Also, your computer needs to support these crazy-fast speeds.)
AT&T also says that it’s achieved 10Gbps Fiber speeds in its lab. If a 5Gbps connection isn’t enough for you, it seems that you won’t have to wait long for something bigger and better.
To check if AT&T multi-gig speeds are available in your area, use the company’s address checker. You can also read the full list of supported areas on AT&T’s website. (I should also note that Ziply Fiber offers 2Gbps and 5Gbps connections in some areas.)
Source: AT&T
