Latest news with #HomeInternet
CNET
10-07-2025
- CNET
I've Used T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet for 3 Years: Here's What I Love and What I Hate
Albuquerque, New Mexico: home of green chiles, 300 days of sunshine, the International Balloon Fiesta... and achingly slow internet. Of the top 100 cities in the US, Albuquerque ranks 85th, according to data from Ookla. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns CNET.) Home internet was a two-horse race in Albuquerque for years: CenturyLink DSL and Xfinity cable. I spent decades on DSL, watching my internet speed tests march slowly up to a maximum of 20 megabits per second. Friends with faster Xfinity bemoaned the company's customer service, data caps and prices, so I stubbornly stuck with CenturyLink. One day in late 2022, a T-Mobile 5G Home Internet gateway arrived at my house. After that, I finally called to cancel CenturyLink. Why I switched to T-Mobile 5G Home Internet I went with T-Mobile for several reasons, but primarily because my DSL internet was too slow. My next-door neighbor got T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and raved about it. Coincidentally, CenturyLink wanted to charge me $200 to replace my old router with a newer one. I said, "Nope," and changed to 5G home internet. My home internet life has vastly improved in my post-DSL world, but it's not all roses and happy dances. If you're looking for a TL;DR, here you go: I'm still on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet after three years of using it, and I will probably stick with it until I can give Verizon 5G Home Internet a try or until fiber finally shows up on my block. My experience with 5G home internet is specific to my circumstances, so your journey with the same service may differ. Here are things I like about my 5G home internet and the elements that may drive me to switch to another internet service provider someday. What I love about T-Mobile 5G Home Internet I will sing the praises of T-Mobile 5G Home Internet before I air my grievances. The service's best features are its simplicity and ease of use and it represents a much-needed upgrade over outdated DSL. T-Mobile/CNET The price is right With CenturyLink, I was paying $45 per month for downloads up to 20Mbps. My monthly internet bill with T-Mobile is a straight $50. That's a sweet spot for me in home internet pricing. The average cost of home internet is around $63, and my bargain-hunting mindset would balk at anything higher. I would consider Verizon 5G Home Internet for the same price, but the rival service is unavailable at my address. Locating local internet providers I expect fiber to arrive someday, but I'll scrutinize the pricing before I make a change. The two providers most likely to service my address are Ezee Fiber ($69 per month for a gig) and Vexus Fiber ($40 per month for 500Mbps or $50 per month for a gig). Vexus raises rates after the first year. I'll weigh my ingrained frugality against fiber performance when the time comes. It's faster than DSL That might seem like faint praise, but T-Mobile 5G Home Internet provides me with vastly better speeds than I was getting from DSL. My best speed test results net top download speeds of 200Mbps, 10 times what I got on a good day with DSL. Speeds can be variable thanks to network congestion and placement of the gateway device. I have some speed complaints, but we'll talk about that later. Terms are simple I don't like complexity when it comes to broadband plans. I don't want to calculate equipment rental fees or figure out overage penalties for exceeding a data cap. I especially don't want to be tied into a contract. I just want home internet and to be free to try another ISP. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet ticks the simplicity box. There are no gear fees, data caps or contracts. It's mom-approved My mother lives six blocks away from me. She also had CenturyLink DSL. I ran a speed test on her desktop computer, and the best she could get was about 12Mbps. That's not a typo. That's the reality for some DSL customers. She was paying over $60 per month and was frustrated every time she tried to call to discuss her bill. No problem, Mom. We canceled her DSL and got her signed up with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. She found a nice perch for the gateway in a front window near her computer. With a strong signal, she can regularly pull down speeds from 100-200Mbps, which is plenty good for her low-key browsing and streaming needs. The only downside is that she gets text messages about school closings to her gateway, a leftover from whoever used her gateway's phone number before her. It's a minor annoyance, and I don't have the same problem. Gateways are easy T-Mobile 5G Home Internet comes with a free gateway device that melds the features of a modem and a router. I have a silver Nokia gateway that's semi-affectionately referred to as the "trash can." The top-mounted display is a mild annoyance due to its awkward location, and it gets hot, but it works. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet now has newer models. My mother has a Sagemcom device with a front-mounted display resembling a more refined trash can. The latest gateway is sleeker and looks like an Apple product. I had no issues setting up my Nokia gateway and my mother's Sagemcom. We were online within minutes and found the gateways stable, with no crashes or other hiccups to report. The Wi-Fi works well, reaching the corners of our vintage homes with respectable speeds. The not-so-great stuff with T-Mobile 5G Home Internet T-Mobile 5G Home Internet has a lot going for it, but it's not my dream broadband service. Here are a few areas where it stumbles. It's not faster than cable or fiber Xfinity offers cable speeds up to 1,300Mbps in my area. Fiber from Vexus Fiber, Quantum Fiber and Ezee Fiber is slowly spreading across Albuquerque, but it's not in my historic neighborhood yet. Fiber customers can access symmetrical gig speeds, of which I'm incredibly envious. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offers typical speeds of 87-415Mbps, vastly below offerings from the local cable and fiber ISPs. The good news is I'm not a gamer (let's ignore my Nintendo Wii obsession), so I just need enough oomph to surf and stream. I wouldn't mind zippier downloads and uploads for when I'm moving big music, video and image files around. Strong signals may be elusive Two lights are better than none, I suppose. Amanda Kooser T-Mobile's 5G internet service is subject to the same pitfalls you encounter with phone service. Sometimes, you're in a place with a weak signal. Sometimes, that place is your own home. My neighbor, the first person I knew who got on board with 5G home internet, gets a strong signal on the west side of her house. Next door, the best I can get is a fair signal, which works out to two bars out of five on the gateway's scale. That means I'm missing out on the top speeds the service is capable of. Speeds can vary wildly My T-Mobile 5G Home Internet speed is like the Albuquerque weather. Wait five minutes, and it'll change. When I started writing, I ran an internet speed test and got 16.7Mbps. That's slow enough to give me unwelcome flashbacks to my DSL days. A few minutes later, I'm at 94.6Mbps. Sometimes, I get over 100Mbps. Usually, I'm sitting around 80Mbps. My speed tests are all over the map. Some of this may be due to the 1939 construction materials of my home and my inability to dial in a good placement for the gateway to get a better signal. Former CNET colleague Eli Blumenthal also encountered speed issues when testing the service. When CNET's Joe Supan tried AT&T Internet Air, he also struggled with maintaining decent speeds, so the problem may be more endemic to fixed wireless service than specific to T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. Window placement is awkward Sometimes getting a strong signal requires a balancing act. Amanda Kooser T-Mobile recommends placing your gateway "close to a window or high up on an upper floor or bookshelf." When I had DSL, my router sat on a nifty little custom shelf in my home office. It was unobtrusive and out of the way. My T-Mobile 5G gateway has visited every single window in my house in my search for a strong signal. It's now in my living room with the silver "trash can" perched on a windowsill. I still get solid Wi-Fi coverage around my home, but a piece of internet equipment sitting in my window isn't my ideal home decor. My final thoughts on T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Are you thinking about trying T-Mobile 5G Home Internet? Consider whether it's an upgrade over your current service. It could be a smart move if you're crawling along with DSL. Look to cable or fiber if you need consistent and superfast speeds, especially for gaming. I'm not a T-Mobile phone customer, but mobile subscribers can bundle with eligible phone plans to get extra savings on home internet. That could be enough to tip price-conscious shoppers over to the 5G internet service. There's an element of experimentation with 5G home internet. You don't know how well it will work for you until you try it, so take advantage of T-Mobile's 15-day money-back trial. I'm not entirely in love with my home internet, but at least I like it, and that's a better relationship than I had with DSL.
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
T-Mobile Prepaid Introduces New, Perk-Packed Plans Backed by a 5-Year Price Guarantee
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS): What's the news: T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today unveiled details of three new T-Mobile Prepaid plans launching Tue., June 24. Today's news builds on recent plan updates across T-Mobile's portfolio including T-Mobile's new Experience plan, Metro by T-Mobile, T-Mobile Home Internet and T-Mobile Fiber, reinforcing the Un-carrier's commitment to delivering the best value and experience, backed by a 5-year price guarantee on talk, text and data with America's largest, fastest 5G network. Here are the details of the new T-Mobile Prepaid plans: Starter Monthly — This starter plan gives value seekers unlimited talk and text … and now boasts 15GB of high‑speed data. All at $40/month with AutoPay ($45 for the first month) plus taxes and fees. Unlimited Monthly — The sweet‑spot plan comes with unlimited talk, text and 5G data and a $5/month lower price than before. It also includes unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds, making it the lowest-priced, unlimited single-line plan among major providers at just $45/month with AutoPay ($50 for the first month) plus taxes and fees. Customers can save at least $120 per year on one line of Unlimited Monthly versus comparable plans with AT&T Prepaid and Verizon Prepaid. Unlimited Plus Monthly — The ultimate global-ready plan comes with unlimited talk, text and 5G data, and up to 5GB of high-speed hotspot data and new international benefits, including unlimited talk and text to the USA while roaming in Mexico and Canada and unlimited texting from the U.S. to 215+ international destinations. It's just $60/month with AutoPay ($65 for the first month) plus taxes and fees. On this plan, families of four that switch can save 15% every month vs. comparable plans from AT&T Prepaid and Verizon Prepaid. 5-Year Price Guarantee: T-Mobile Prepaid will now guarantee the price of talk, text and 5G data on these plans for the next five years — giving people the pricing peace of mind they need. More on how the new T-Mobile Prepaid plans stack up in the chart below: Why it matters: At a time when prices are going up everywhere else, T-Mobile Prepaid delivers lasting value and certainty on the price of talk, text and 5G data until the next decade. Being a T-Mobile Prepaid customer means more — more value, more perks and wireless service on America's leading 5G network. T-Mobile Prepaid gives customers $1,800 in value just in the first year alone with weekly perks from T-Mobile Tuesdays, including MLS Season Pass on Us and a free season-long subscription to when available, free in-flight Wi-Fi on Delta, exclusive hotel and rental car perks and more. On top of all that value, T-Mobile Prepaid knows everyone deserves the chance to get the latest and greatest devices — no matter their credit history, and that's what Smartphone Equality does. T-Mobile recognizes that customers' payment history is, in fact, the best predictor of their credit worthiness. That's why T-Mobile Prepaid gives customers access to the best device deals at T-Mobile after just 12 months of on-time payments — no credit check required. T-Mobile Prepaid customers can score the Un-carrier's top pricing on the hottest handsets, now including the iPhone 16 on Us with 24 monthly bill credits (plus tax) when they bring their number and an eligible trade-in on any Experience plan. Who it's for: Anyone who refuses to compromise and wants great plan prices, access to America's largest and fastest 5G network and premium perks — without the hassle of contracts or credit checks. For more information on T-Mobile Prepaid's new plans available in stores and online starting Tue., June 24, visit Follow the T-Mobile Newsroom on X and Instagram to catch the latest company updates. 5 Year Price Guarantee: Exclusions like taxes & fees apply. Guarantee means that we won't change the price of talk, text, and 5G smartphone data on our network for at least 5 years while you are on an eligible plan. See exclusions & details at Limited time; subject to change. Unlimited data: During congestion, heavy data users (>50GB/mo.) may notice lower speeds than other customers due to prioritization. Video streams in SD. Prepaid Plans: See Broadband Facts at $10 Device Connection Charge due at sale. Autopay discount applies to month after enrollment; debit card or bank account required. Without Autopay, $5 more/account. See full plan details at Free iPhone 16: Contact us before cancelling entire account to continue remaining bill credits, or credits stop & balance on required finance agreement is due (e.g., $829.99 – iPhone 16 128GB). Bill credits end if you pay off device early. Tax on pre-credit price & $35 device connection charge due at sale. Qualifying postpaid service & trade-ins (e.g., iPhone 11) required. Up to $830 via bill credits; line with promo must be active and in good standing to receive credits; allow 2 bill cycles. 1-Line Savings: Based on T-Mobile Unlimited Monthly vs. AT&T Unlimited Max (online plan) & Verizon Unlimited; comparison does not include Autopay discounts if applicable. Plan features vary (e.g., int'l calling, hotspot). 4-Line Savings: Based on T-Mobile Unlimited Plus Monthly vs. AT&T Unlimited Max Plus & Verizon Unlimited Plus; comparison does not include Autopay discounts if applicable. Plan features vary (e.g., int'l calling, hotspot). $1,800 in Value: Based on annual retail value of monthly benefits available prepaid plan, like entertainment, travel benefits, and scam call protection. See plan details for full included benefits. Some benefits may require activation. About T-Mobile
CNET
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
T-Mobile's Affordable 5G Home Internet Brings on the Perks
Tired of your spotty (and spendy) broadband internet? T-Mobile Home Internet leads the pack of non-fiber internet providers when it comes to customer satisfaction, and it comes loaded with VIP perks. T-Mobile's 5G plan lineup offers everything from fast, reliable Wi-Fi for daily browsing and streaming to advanced cybersecurity tools, 24/7 tech support, free streaming apps and more. T-Mobile's five-year price guarantee also locks you into one low rate that won't change, excluding taxes and fees. Switch to an eligible T-Mobile internet plan today, and you'll even score a virtual prepaid Mastercard worth up to $300. Three internet plans, lots of perks Rely Home Internet is T-Mobile's basic plan, getting most customers download speeds between 87 and 318 Mbps. It's offered for as low as $35 a month when you enroll in AutoPay and a T-Mobile voice line, excluding taxes and fees. Sign up online and nab a $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard. The Amplified Home Internet plan offers T-Mobile's fastest speeds — between 134 and 415 Mbps download speeds for most customers — plus advanced cybersecurity, for as low as $45 a month with AutoPay and a voice line. And the Amplified plan also gets you a virtual $300 prepaid card. For as low as $70 a month with AutoPay — and just $55 a month when paired with a T-Mobile voice line — the All-In Home Internet plan delivers lightning speeds that reach more parts of your home. Hulu and Paramount+ Essential streaming platforms are included, plus a $300 prepaid card when you switch. T-Mobile Tuesdays brings more savings All three plans also unlock T-Mobile Tuesdays, a signature VIP program that gives you weekly discounts (like $5 movie tickets and cheaper gas) and opportunities to win vacation packages and other cool prizes. A price lock and top customer service Switch to T-Mobile Home Internet and the amount you pay each month is guaranteed to stay the same for five years, excluding taxes and fees. Add in T-Mobile's Team of Experts model, which gives you quick help via text, the web or by simply dialing 611, and T-Mobile 5G is a faster, more affordable way to get your internet, with award-winning customer service on top. See if your address is eligible for T-Mobile Home Internet and start racking up the perks today. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet is delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks including data prioritization. Price Lock guarantees accounts with qualifying service can keep their regular monthly rate plan price for fixed-wireless 5G internet data; excludes taxes/fees, voluntary equipment upgrades, future wireless generations, select limited-time promotions, per-use charges, third-party services and network management practices.
CNET
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
T-Mobile Is Giving You Up to $300 Back When You Switch to 5G Home Internet
A solid internet connection in your home is a must, especially with so many of us working and learning from home. But that doesn't mean it's always affordable. Thankfully, T-Mobile is helping you save some big bucks when you switch to a 5G Home internet plan. You'll score up to $300 on a virtual prepaid Mastercard when you make the switch. The only catch is that this offer is valid online only, so you won't qualify if you sign up in store. T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet is actually pretty solid -- better than you'd expect. In fact, we named it our favorite rural internet provider because it has the greatest nationwide coverage among internet providers (servicing about 50 million homes), apart from satellite providers. However, it isn't available in all areas, so ensure there's coverage in your area before signing up. T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet won't give you the fastest speeds out there, but it is a great choice if you're looking for affordability. The prices start at $35 per month when you sign up online. Plus, the price is locked in for five years, so you won't have to worry about rate hikes for a while. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. With this offer, you can get up to $300 back on a prepaid Mastercard when you sign up for a plan online. The amount depends on which plan you choose. For example, if you choose the Rely plan, you'll receive a $200 Mastercard. The Rely plan is normally $50, but it's $40 when you sign up online. And if you add a voice line, you can get it for $35 a month. This price includes all fees and taxes and is guaranteed for five years, along with a 5G Gateway. Since you get a $200 Mastercard, it's almost like getting up to five months of service for free. The Amplified and All-In start at $60 and $70, respectively. But if you have a voice line, you can get them for $45 and $55. With these plans, you'll receive a $300 Mastercard. The plans include everything the Rely plan does, along with security and streaming perks, and Wi-Fi Mesh access points for the All-In plan. Getting $300 back can help shave quite a chunk of money off your grand total. Why this deal matters T-Mobile is known for its affordable internet plans. Plans start as low as $35 and the rates lock in for five years. So, you won't have to worry about your bill increasing soon. These prices also include all fees and taxes, so there aren't surprise charges when the bill comes. Plus, right now you can score up to $300 back on a Mastercard when you sign up, reducing the cost even more.
Phone Arena
22-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Some T-Mobile customers may soon be able to score a special lifetime discount
T-Mobile uses excess capacity on its 5G network to provide an alternative to wired internet to households. T-Mobile 's Home Internet is affordable and fast enough for most customers. It starts at $35 for customers with voice lines and at $50 for customers who don't use its cellular services. The company is now extending a coveted discount to some Home Internet-only customers to get them to switch from their current cellular provider. T-Mobile is expected to witness slower growth in the second half of the year due to forward buying by customers as a result of tariff fears. The company is reportedly also experiencing a customer exodus. That's perhaps why it has been rolling out retention deals and switcher promos. With its latest offer, T-Mobile is seemingly going after customers who are happy with its Home Internet. The company is hoping that their positive experience might make them consider using its voice services too. Per The Mobile Report , the company is now offering the famous Insider discount to select Home Internet-only accounts. This is a special discount that only employees can offer you. It's usually given to new customers to get them to port in or bring in their number from another carrier. It usually knocks prices down by 20 percent for the life of the account. The Insider discount for Home Internet customers will work similarly. You will pay 20 percent less than the advertised rate for voice lines for as long as you maintain your account and the discount will even apply to any lines you may add in the future. It will be stackable with other discounts, so you don't have to worry about missing out on other deals. The discount code will only work if you opt for T-Mobile 's latest Experience More and Experience Beyond plans. This could be a deal breaker, considering T-Mobile has been criticized for not including taxes and other fees with the prices for these plans. However, as the company's newest plans, they come with the best it has to offer, meaning you will get faster speeds and perks that other plans might not include. Here's how T-Mobile's new plan compares to similar plans from AT&T and Verizon. | Image Credit - Business Wire Also, T-Mobile is often ahead of other companies when it comes to technological advancements. For instance, the company's 5G Home Internet hardware supports 5G SA, which ensures a top-notch network experience. It's also the only carrier to support UL Tx Switching, which will make sure that your handset makes the most of its hardware. Since Insider codes are handed out by employees, there is not much you can do as a customer if you want to get your hands on them. T-Mobile will likely notify eligible employees via an email or text message, so make sure to not ignore messages from the carrier if you want to lock in a 20 percent discount for life. This is a limited-time offer and is unlikely to last long.
