Does AT&T fiber include Wi-Fi?
While attending to the quickly expanding demands of the internet service population, AT&T Fiber makes use of fiber optic cables instead of copper cables. Consumers often wonder if they have to bring their wireless router or whether AT&T Fiber also offers wireless access.
The fast reply is that AT&T fiber internet service does not come with a Wi-Fi router or access. Should you want Wi-Fi in your home, you must get a wireless router on your own. Still, AT&T does provide routers and Wi-Fi extenders to allow Wi-Fi connection should you not already have one.
What is Wi-Fi?
Before looking at whether or not, however, AT&T fiber AT&T Internet covers Wi-Fi; it's crucial to know just what Wi-Fi is. Short for "Wireless Fidelity," Wi-Fi allows one to browse the internet without connecting the device to the routers with Ethernet connections via cables.
On the other hand, Wi-Fi connects the router with devices like laptops, phones, and tablets among others by using radio waves—within designated ranges—to broadcast data over the air. Wi-Fi-capable devices find and join the signals your router sends. Wi-Fi lets you have fast Internet anywhere in your home.
Fiber and Wi-Fi are often used interchangeably primarily because both are used to describe a broadband connection to the Internet.
The terms fiber and Wi-Fi refer to two very distinct things that people often confuse
Here, the context of Fiber is the actual fiber-optic cables through which AT&T connects your home. Fiber sends information through light with the use of glass strands and not copper cables. Fiber offers what can be described as a very fast internet connection and it also offers high bandwidth. However, fiber internet service does not extend to Wi-Fi as it is only provided up to the ONT box.
Wi-Fi – It is basically about the wireless radio signal access endowed by your router. A Wi-Fi router receives an internet connection you receive from the ONT fiber box and broadcasts the reception in the form of a wireless radio signal to its connected devices in your home. It is Wireless mobility that is facilitated By Wi-Fi.
Fiber then is the physical wires that connect to your house from the internet, while, Wi-Fi is the wireless connectivity provided by the router to the internet connection. Some of the requirements include: AT&T is responsible for providing the fiber but one has to purchase a router for Wi-Fi.
AT&T Fiber does come with a Wi-Fi router, and depending on the package you choose, you will be provided with one modem with a built-in Wi-Fi router or two modems with in-built Wi-Fi routers.
AT&T fiber brings fiber optic cables into your house and terminates at an ONT or optical network terminal box. This is the point where the fiber line ends. It is the fiber cable and the ONT Box that enables one to have the fastest possible internet connection but it only gets up to the ONT Box.
ATT fiber does NOT include a wireless router when giving out their internet services. Since Wi-Fi is a wireless internet technology, you need to acquire your WLAN wireless router to access the internet from any part of your house. However, it should be noted that AT&T does not sell any equipment to directly address your Wi-Fi requirement, but they do offer a variety of equipment available for purchase.
How to Get Wi-Fi with AT&T Fiber?
For Wi-Fi compatibility, one has to provide his or her wireless router since AT&T does not offer it when subscribing to fiber home internet service. You typically have two options.
1. Use Your Existing Router: If you currently possess a decent contemporary Wi-Fi router compatible with AT&T fiber, then, you should be all right. All you have to do is hook the router to your AT&T ONT box with an Ethernet cable to take the Wi-Fi signal from the fiber optic cable. As long as your router is Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) compatible, this is by far the most cost-effective approach.
2. Purchase a New AT&T Wi-Fi Router: If you do not already own your router, AT&T does sell several for use if you ever need one. More specifically, AT&T Wi-Fi routers are built-in with your AT&T fiber internet. Routers options include bare-bones routers priced at $50 to premium routers that can also act as a smart home hub with features like home network security and compatibility with Wi-Fi 6. It also offers mesh Wi-Fi systems to facilitate adequate coverage in the homes.
AT&T Fiber Router Options & Pricing
- AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway: $199 lump sum or $10/month
- NETGEAR Nighthawk Mesh WiFi 6 System: $699 as one-time payment or $15 monthly
- AT&T ActiveArmor Security Gateway: $ 324 one-time payment or $ 5 per month
While there is a cost involved in purchasing your compatible router, it is less expensive than renting one from AT&T. However, AT&T routers that are from the company come with default settings which make them compatible with fiber internet.
Key Takeaways on AT&T Fiber and Wi-Fi Access
- Fiber Internet from AT&T transmits through fiber optic cables directly to your home. It sets the internet speeds directly to the ONT box at a very high speed.
- Nevertheless, it is important to note that the AT&T fiber service comes with the fiber connection but does not include or provide Wi-Fi or a Wi-Fi router.
- To wirelessly link computing devices such as laptops, mobile tablets, and smartphones, you require a special Wi-Fi router.
- You can use your own Wi-Fi router or you are offered to have one from AT&T.
Hence, in conclusion, although AT&T fiber internet itself offers no direct connection to Wi-Fi access points, to integrate Wi-Fi capability into the system, all that is needed is to connect any ordinary Wi-Fi router via a wired Ethernet into the ONT box. This is also true with AT&T because they allow the option of buying Wi-Fi routers, and mesh systems that are compatible with AT&T fiber.
Upgrade to faster, more reliable AT&T Fiber Internet today! Call us at +1 844-905-5002 and get connected with speeds that keep you ahead.
