Exploring AT&T IPBB Internet Service – Plan by Plan
According to Forbes, AT&T’s IPBB Internet connections are available to 121 million American homes, delivering speeds between 25 and 100 Mbps. Even as AT&T continues to expand its fiber-optic and wireless home internet network across the country, the popularity of its IPBB services has not seemed to wane. And why should it?
In some areas, AT&T’s IP broadband customers can receive download speeds of up to 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) for a monthly price as low as $55. In contrast, the AT&T Fiber 1 Gig plan costs $80 per month, offering benefits that may not even be the need of most home internet users.
So, let’s look at the 6 AT&T IBPP Internet plans in detail and see how they offer the best value at affordable rates.
AT&T Internet 18
AT&T Internet 18 falls short of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) benchmark for broadband internet. With a download speed of 18 Mbps and an upload speed of just 1.5 Mbps (instead of the recommended 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up), AT&T Internet 18 offers basic internet connectivity instead of a broadband experience.
The plan may work for one user with a single device connected to the network. At most, users can send emails, chat, and enjoy light social media browsing. But for streaming and gaming, higher speeds are recommended. Additionally, the $55 price tag for AT&T Internet 18 sounds exorbitant!
AT&T Internet 25
AT&T Internet 25 perfectly meets the FCC’s standards for a broadband connection. For $55 a month, you get download speeds of up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps. These speeds are ideal for connecting 5 devices at once. Users can enjoy simultaneous web browsing, social media messaging, light file sharing, and even video streaming on at least 3 devices in standard-definition (SD – 480p resolution).
AT&T IPBB Internet 25 is best suited for a couple with light internet usage.
AT&T Internet 50
Life gets nifty with AT&T Internet 50! That’s right! As a mid-tier AT&T IPBB Internet offering, Internet 50 bridges the divide between low and high, slow and fast, and even SD and HD. You get 50 Mbps of download speed and an upload speed of 10 Mbps to enjoy high-speed connectivity on at least 10 devices.
With 50 Mbps, you can download a 1 GB high-definition (HD – 1080p resolution) movie in just 2.5 mins. Similarly, with 10 Mbps of upload speed, you can have Zoom group calls on 3 devices in full HD quality (1080p). So, AT&T Internet 50 is best suited for a four-member household with moderate internet usage.
AT&T Internet 75
This is the last AT&T IPBB Internet tier with a data cap of 1.5 TB. Despite the data limitations and second-year price hikes, AT&T Internet 75 offers good value for the money to casual gamers, regular movie watchers, and remote workers.
Its 75 Mbps of download speed and up to 20 Mbps of upload speed, supports simultaneous connectivity on more than 10 devices, HD video streaming, and light online gaming. You can download a 1 GB file in less than 2 minutes, stay connected to friends and family via social media, and access emergency services online, all for just $55 a month.
AT&T Internet 100
If the FCC decides to raise the bar for broadband internet speeds, AT&T Internet 100 will still fit the requirements. It is suggested that the new standard for broadband should be 100 Mbps of download speed and at least 20 Mbps of upload speed. And guess what? AT&T Internet 100 has it all.
You can connect up to 12 devices at a time, download a 1 GB HD movie in just 1.2 minutes, and play online games on 5 devices simultaneously with AT&T Internet 100. The price remains the same, $55 per month, but the data cap is removed to offer unlimited connectivity.
AT&T Internet 500
Interestingly, 500 Mbps of download speeds are also available on AT&T’s IPBB Internet connections, but the coverage might be limited to select markets. Unlike its Fiber 500 counterpart, AT&T Internet 500 includes 100 Mbps of upload speed, and the price drops by $25 a month.
AT&T Internet 500’s speeds are suitable for multi-device connectivity (more than 12 devices), downloading a 1 GB file in less than 20 seconds, ultra-high-definition (4K) video streaming, and multiplayer gaming. We will recommend it for medium-sized households with moderate-to-high internet usage.
IPBB Internet vs Fiber
If your broadband selection criteria have narrowed your choice to AT&T Fiber vs. AT&T IPBB Internet, the good news is that the source is the same. Fiber-optic cables form the backbone of AT&T Fiber and AT&T IPBB Internet services. However, the connection type in the last mile determines the final upload and download speeds.
AT&T Fiber Internet is delivering symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 5 Gbps to over 7.4 million subscribers in 22 states. Its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) service, too, starts at $55 per month, offering unlimited data, advanced equipment, and non-contractual plans.
Due to limited fiber internet infrastructure across the country, AT&T Fiber Internet service is available in 100+ metros, disconnecting millions living in suburbs and rural areas. That’s when customers turn toward AT&T’s next best offering, IP broadband for low-to-moderate internet usage in underserved communities.
IPBB Internet vs Cable
In a way, AT&T’s IPBB Internet service and the connections offered by prominent cable internet providers (Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox) are the same. AT&T uses a hybrid of fiber-optic and copper cables, while cable internet providers use a combination of fiber-optic and coaxial cables for broadband transmission.
But the difference is in the last-mile delivery. IPBB connections use telephone lines at the node to transfer data signals to individual homes. Copper cables are more prone to interference. Therefore, the speeds are slower and less reliable.
In comparison, coaxial cables have a double layer of insulation to minimize signal drops, resulting in faster download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps and 99.9 percent network reliability.
IPBB Internet vs DSL
AT&T IPBB Internet is the upgraded version of its slow and outdated DSL service. The download speed on AT&T’s now-obsolete DSL internet connections maxed out at 6 Mbps, and users could not receive more than 0.512 Mbps of upload speed. Hence, DSL could not keep up with the growing broadband needs of American households and was declared unsuitable for high-quality streaming, online gaming, and heavy file sharing.
On the other hand, AT&T IPBB Internet was quick to replace DSL, and in 2018 alone, over 600,000 AT&T customers jumped ships (from DSL to IP broadband) to enjoy upgraded speeds and better network performance.
A few renowned telecom providers, like Verizon, Frontier, and Centurylink, still offer DSL service in fiber-deprived areas within their footprint, but that may change soon.
Conclusion
AT&T’s IPBB Internet service is the best solution for homes that are yet to become fiber-ready but cannot function on slow-speed wired connections like DSL Internet. For one starting price of $55 per month, you can get download speeds between 18 Mbps and 500 Mbps.
AT&T’s non-contractual IP broadband service includes cutting-edge equipment, free McAfee cybersecurity, and a 12-month price guarantee. However, subscribers of low-speed plans will have to endure data caps of 1.5 TB.
So, if you are looking for an affordable, moderately fast, broadband plan for your country home, then AT&T IPBB Internet is here to meet your needs.
