Lumos Fiber Prices Compared: Are You Getting the Best Deal?
You probably came onto Lumos Networks if you have been looking for a fast fiber internet service provider. Lumos, one of the most well-known fiber optic internet companies in the mid-Atlantic region, offers moderate costs along with strong download and upload rates. But with Lumos' many speeds and plan options, how can one be sure they are shown the greatest offer?
In this article, we will discuss the Lumos fiber price list and the various packages that they offer to allow you to decide if you can save more for your preferred internet speed.
Lumos Fiber Speeds and Packages
Lumos Networks provides fiber internet options with equal upload and download speeds starting at 50 Mbps and going up to 1 Gig or 1,000 Mbps. Symmetric upload and download speeds are applied for all tiers. Here's a breakdown of the current pricing.
- 50 Mbps: $49.99/month
- 150 Mbps: $59.99/month
- 300 Mbps: $79.99/month
- 500 Mbps: $99.99/month
- 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps): $109.99/month
These published rates are for a three-year price guarantee term. If you choose a one-year term, you will have to pay a higher amount of monthly fees.
Lumos has regular offers on their fiber internet wherein you pay nothing for the first 2 to 3 months of the service. They also sometimes have a $20 bill credit for the duration of your 3-year plan.
The Lumos fiber plans are very reasonably priced when compared with other fiber and cable services. But could you still do better on your internet bill depending on your usage needs? Okay, let’s consider a few cases in point.
When do you need internet speeds for your home or business?
Here are some tips that can help you.
Another essential factor that should be looked at when comparing Internet service providers’ packages and tariffs is how much bandwidth, in terms of download and upload speeds, a family needs every day. Although ultra-fast gigabit fiber may sound enticing, you probably do not require that much bandwidth simply to check e-mails, share photos on Facebook, stream movies in high definition, Skype with friends and family, and play online games.
Here are some general internet speed guidelines per usage:
- Basic usage (email, social media, web browsing): thus their internet speed should not be below 25 Mbps.
- Streaming in HD: 25-75 Mbps
- Online gaming: It is fast broadband of 50+ Mbps.
- Smart home devices: 50+ Mbps
- Multiple users/devices at once: Greater than 150+ Mbps
As mentioned above, a 50 or 150 Mbps Lumos plan should suffice for most households’ internet usage. However, many providers attempt to convince customers to choose the 500 Mbps or higher options while lower speeds will be quite sufficient from the performance perspective and will cost less.
The best value should be determined depending on the current needs of internet usage. Do not be tempted to go for the highest bandwidth rate available in the market to get the fastest internet.
Bundling for Bigger Savings
Similar to other service providers, Lumos has attractive Fiber internet deals if you bundle with other products such as television and home telephone. Option packages can save you $20-$40 a month depending on the internet stand-alone cost.
Some current Lumos bundle deals include:
- Fiber Internet (50 Mbps) + Basic TV: The first plan costs $89.99 per month.
- Fiber Internet (150 Mbps) + Choice TV: $99.99/month
- Gig Internet + TV (140+ channels): $130/month
However, if you were planning to acquire both the TV and internet in the first instance, the fiber comes with a package, making the prices much more enjoyable. However, quality stand-alone streaming providers such as YoutubeTV or Hulu+Live have of late been diluting the proposition of traditional TV bundles. If you want to switch to streaming, do some cost comparisons of streaming vs. bundled TV to make the right financial decision.
Last, but not the least, one more piece of advice to you – if you decide to subscribe to both Lumos fiber and home phone service, the latter will be available for free and with unlimited nationwide calls. Since most of the mobile plans today, have additional charges for the minutes beyond the monthly allowance, this phone add-on might save you even more on your cell account.
Read all the small prints.
When entering into any long multi-year contract with an internet provider, make sure to read the particulars carefully first! Some important questions to have answered upfront:
- What are the additional fees and taxes associated with the advertised monthly price? It is common to find various hidden fees that can increase the overall costs by 10%-20%.
- Is equipment rental considered part of the rental or is it an additional cost? Most providers today offer the fiber modem/router as part of the package and it’s not like cable companies who charge $10-15 monthly.
- What are the penalties that I would incur if I decide to cancel the service before the completion of the contract period that has been agreed upon? Be sure that is understood and known what one would have to pay to break the contract.
- Is there a large increase in my monthly bill once the initial low rate is offered to me? Make sure that there is consensus on what your rates will increase to.
The reason getting satisfactory answers to these questions plays an important role is that one never gets to be shocked by additional charges that make the deal less sweet.
In conclusion
Lumos Networks delivers fast and affordable fiber internet connection to residents in Virginia and other regions. While their rates are reasonable across the board, the real value of Lumos package offers is where their enticing TV or phone service bundles are.
In case your household is comfortable with 50 or 150 Mbps connection speeds, then the base Lumos packages should suffice at a relatively low price. However, make sure to review your internet usage before overpaying each month for the Gig plan which may not be used.
We trust that this brief guide has made you reassured that you are getting good value out of your Lumos fiber service or can now seek a better offer that will suit your consumption pattern. This hype surrounding fiber speed continues to intensify while the most prudent internet consumers shift their focus beyond the numbers to find the right plan for their households.
