How Good Is Earthlink Internet Service?
EarthLink: A Trail Blazer in Internet Service
EarthLink is among the oldest ISPs in the United States of America and a leading service provider to date. Launched in 1994 as a dial-up Internet service provider, EarthLink was one of the market leaders in the early stages of the Internet’s mainstream popularity. Though there have been some fluctuations in the last couple of decades, EarthLink has learned its lessons and is still in operation as a standalone ISP providing DSL, fiber internet, and mobile broadband solutions to users across the United States.
But how good is today’s EarthLink service? Today, EarthLink is one of the oldest ISPs; therefore, it’s high time to review the advantages and disadvantages of using this provider in 2023.
Speed and Reliability
Today, with gigabit fiber speeds already on the horizon, the current DSL and fixed wireless internet service delivery speeds of EarthLink do not compare with the cable or fiber optics services offered by other providers. Achievable download speeds are approximately 100Mbps for VDSL/bonded DSL and 25Mbps for fixed wireless internet.
These speeds are typically sufficient for simple browsing, watching shows, using social media sites, and downloading files; however, they may be inadequate for large households using the internet simultaneously. The more devices that are hooked up and fighting for the bandwidth the slower the speeds will be.
As for reliability, less number of nodes and communication links make DSL networks highly reliable and consistent with speed that is rarely changed during the day. Fiber still wins the race when it comes to speed as it provides very minimal downtime or latency. But EarthLink plans to deliver fast, always-on internet connection through the DSL and fixed wireless.
Availability and Value
A disadvantage of EarthLink is that it offers only DSL and fiber internet services that are limited to specific neighborhoods or certain metropolitan regions. It solely depends on the distance that your home or business is from a phone company that offers DSL services. Even if you prefer to have EarthLink as your ISP, it may not be available where you live.
As for the Internet alone, EarthLink is cheap but not the cheapest. Services such as their Basic Internet begin at $49.95 monthly for up to 12Mbps. These prices should be typical and reasonable for DSL internet from other providers. Combining TV and home phone services can even be cheaper than any of the two at different providers.
Still, whenever it is available, it does offer reasonable value for its price, especially if you only require a simple and fast internet connection. However, it might seem that other fiber, cable, or other ISPs offer the same speed at similar monthly charges.
Customer Service Reputation
Despite being a relatively small telecommunications company, EarthLink strives to provide good customer service and it has obtained the B rating with the Better Business Bureau. Customers usually express satisfaction with the fast replies and qualified support staff. However, some users have still complained of being frustrated by the difficulties in having technical issues fixed.
Consequently, having a limited staff can result in hold times when there are more calls than personnel to handle them. Besides, local field techs may be fewer in number than those of the giant telecoms, a factor that might lead to longer repair visit times.
Who Is EarthLink Good For?
EarthLink can be a good option.
- Light/basic internet usage needs that are exhibited by the households
- Customers who prioritize reliability over cutting-edge speeds
- Places where there is no access to the cable/fiber internet at a faster speed
- Customers interested in saving their money by going for bundled packages
If you require high internet speeds for purposes like gaming or streaming, then EarthLink most probably will not meet your needs. But many households do not need such super-duper gigabit downloads. To check emails, pay bills, shop online, video call family, and stream basic content in one or two rooms, EarthLink gets the job done.
Yes, a fiber optic or even a cable line may one day pass. However, for now, EarthLink is an inexpensive and dependable option for qualified homes until those services move to other communities.
The Final Word on EarthLink Internet
EarthLink is one of the oldest ISPs and it has demonstrated flexibility in evolving with the market from the dominant dial-up to the cheaper DSL/fixed wireless internet choice for qualifying households now.
Although it is not among the speediest and remains somewhat scarce, EarthLink provides steady internet with good service. For light household usage, it is still a quality choice for homes that are not yet connected to the faster cable/fiber lines.
Based on its past performance and its current operating status even though most of its rivals have been acquired by large telecommunication firms, EarthLink is a reliable Internet service provider. It should be on the list of priority Internet service providers for consideration from qualifying households in need of affordable bare-bones Internet service.
