How much internet do you get with AT&T Access?
AT&T Access is one of AT&T’s broadband internet options with a maximum download speed of 100 Mbps in some locations. It is cheap for an internet connection, but how much data is one getting? Here is a brief outline of what one would find under the AT&T Access plan.
What Speeds Are Offered?
AT&T Access has download speeds between 5Mbps and 100Mbps depending on your area of residence. They can go up to 20 Mbps in the case of upload speeds. These speeds should be sufficient for most households’ entertainment, including streaming high-definition videos, playing online games, conducting video conferencing, and similar uses with minimal buffering. However, the actual speeds will differ from this indicated.
This internet plan is delivered by using phone lines and this is through the use of DSL technology by AT&T Internet. It is important to note that the maximum advertised speeds may not be available within all neighborhoods. The farther you are from an AT&T hub or equipment, the slower your speeds are likely to be. It is also possible to check the availability of this service as well as the estimated speeds that you are likely to get at your residential address when subscribing to this service.
What Data Is Provided For Use Each Month?
AT&T Access does not use a structure where they limit how much data users get in a billing cycle like some service providers. No fair usage policy or data caps exist to limit the amount of content that can be downloaded or uploaded on the internet. This means that you can use as much of the available bandwidth each month as you want for a fixed amount of money.
The only scenario in which this can happen is when you go over certain unreasonable amounts of data usage in a given month for several consecutive months. This would imply commercial usage on what would have been a residential plan. At that point the company, in this case AT&T may contact me about changing to a business plan or such. Typical or even increased residential usage patterns will not be adversely affected.
What Influences Bend Speeds and Data?
While AT&T Access offers unlimited data, your speeds can still fluctuate based on a few factors.
- Network Traffic – If your neighbors are online during the same hours as you, the available bandwidth is sliced and transmission speeds are reduced.
- Your Equipment – If you use an old modem/Router, if one of your devices is getting too much traffic, or if there is interference on your WiFi frequency. Equipment may also be upgraded to increase speeds as much as possible.
- Cable Signal Attenuation Factors - As postulated earlier, the farther one is from AT&T equipment the slower the top speeds are likely to be according to cable signal attenuation. Interference of any sort that occurs between you and the AT&T hub can also determine your speeds.
Finally, it is essential to understand that internet speed is never 100% of the time by any Internet Service Provider. However, AT&T Access has the maximum possible speed of up to 100 Mbps. They provide fairly fast internet as long as you have compatible equipment, live close enough to AT&T infrastructure, and it is not a peak hour. But do not forget that in real conditions, the speed may be lower and, therefore, the maximum speeds can be reached only in exceptional cases.
If I use more than the allowed data, what are the consequences that follow?
Unlike other internet providers, AT&T Access does not have a strict data limit in every billing cycle, so there are no overage charges. You will not be charged for data usage over a specified limit despite the amount of MBs used in a particular month.
The only exclusions would be if, for instance, AT&T observes that there is a commercial use within the residential plan that goes beyond reasonable limits. At this time they may call and try to change you to a different business plan that is more appropriate for your needs. Even if you use more than the average monthly internet usage per household, let alone a high usage of data, you also get unlimited data with Access.
Which Other AT&T Access Is Currently Available?
AT&T Access is not much different from some other leading internet service providers. Here's a quick comparison of the AT&T plan versus cable and fiber options.
- Xfinity Internet – As expected, Comcast offers their Performance Plus plan with similar max speeds of 100 Mbps for roughly the same price as Access. However, Comcast does have 1.2 TB data caps in most of the areas with extra charges if the usage is beyond this limit often.
- Verizon Fios – This is a fiber optic plan offered by Verizon with 100/100 Mbps, which is faster compared to Access with symmetrical upload and download speeds. However, it also costs more per month than Access in most areas.
- CenturyLink - At the moment, the provider offers max 40 Mbps DSL plans in most places, which means that Access is faster than CenturyLink. But they also are priced lower at around $50 per month for the speed.
All in all, AT&T Access is between DSL and fiber internet – it is not as slow as the former and is not as fast as the latter. With a moderate price that is slightly higher than that of cable internet, it has speeds that are as close to cable internet as possible. However, you should remember that real-world speeds differ and fiber optics result in higher maximums. However, Access still offers a higher base speed than many of its competitors.
The unlimited data is also another advantage other ISPs are demoting. Other than very unreasonable commercial-level traffic, it will not be limited by data caps. That said, for a household with multiple streaming boxes, gamers, and other high-usage scenarios, not having data caps can be a real plus.
The right question to ask may not be, Should I get AT&T Access Internet?
In sum, it seems clear that AT&T Access is a solid internet choice for many households seeking a decent blend of speed and pricing. As a less costly solution when compared to fiber optics, but it can provide up to 100 Mbps, which is much higher than cheaper DSL. It is also more friendly to homes that use a lot of data since there are no data limits.
Nevertheless, availability and speed are not the same in all states. Be sure to verify whether Access is available where you live and the estimated speeds it provides before subscribing to it. This may vary depending on the distance between the device and AT&T equipment, the utilization of the network, and others.
Finally, Access places itself between such slow and cheap tariffs as the budget plan and faster and more expensive ones based on fiber optics. For moderately active households who would like to change from the slow and unresponsive DSL internet, Access has its allure. Just get into it with the understanding that 100 Mbps is the absolute best-case scenario, not a promise.
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.