The latest report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index highlights that for the first time ever, a non-fiber internet provider, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, matched in score with AT&T Fiber. In other words, customers are just as happy with a cellular internet service over a wired one through fiber. Cellular internet doesn't deliver fast speeds in comparison to fiber. However, it could still be a lifeline for disconnected communities in rural areas. According to the latest Pew Research Center data, 73% of rural residents subscribe to high-speed internet at home. However, they are still less likely to have access compared to 86% of suburban and 77% of urban residents. Additionally, the number of adults dependent on their smartphones for the internet has doubled in the past year. Having a reliable home internet connection is a must in today's world, but many rural areas are still left in the dark, as seen with the digital divide. So, is cellular internet a solid broadband option and is it reliable?
Over at the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey, it also highlights that wireless customers have a better overall satisfaction score of 630 out of 1,000 compared to 538 for wired customers in 2024. The same report shows that home internet users are prioritizing affordability and availability over speed due to the steep costs of having fiber or cable connections. Cellular providers caught wind of this and are responding accordingly, as seen with the rise of internet service providers like Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and US Cellular.
What is cellular internet?
Cellular internet uses a router or hotspot to connect to a provider's cellular network, just like your mobile phone. The speed you receive mostly depends on how close you are to a network tower, but other factors like network congestion, how many connected devices you have and the location of your router can interrupt speeds. Most of the time, those cellular internet speeds are a lot slower than what you'd get consistently with fiber or cable, but if your location lacks those alternatives, then a cellular internet setup might be just what you need.
Locating local internet providers
Since many big telecommunications companies offer these plans -- and 5G technology promises to make some of them even better -- let's see how they compare in price, speed and other aspects.
Cellular internet providers compared
Provider Monthly price Max speeds Fees and service details AT&T Fixed Wireless
Read full review $70 ($60 when bundled with DirecTV or wireless plan) 10Mbps download, 1Mbps upload 350GB data cap, no equipment fees or contracts AT&T Internet Air
Read full review $60 ($47 with an eligible AT&T wireless plan) 90-300Mbps downloads, 8-30Mbps uploads No equipment fees, overage fees or contracts T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
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