Wireless Internet Access in America
This page describes current options for home Internet access available from wireless providers in the United States as of November 2020 in alphabetical order. The criteria for listing assume usage by a single family:
- affordable: monthly cost cannot exceed $60 before taxes and fees
- available: must be offerred to the general public
- shared: support concurrent use for a resonable number of devices
- sufficient: the amount of data allotted within a billing cycle is 1TB or more
- wireless: connection to the provider must be completely wireless
- availability: entire T-Mobile/Sprint network
- equipment: proprietary only, limited features
- de-prioritization: no
- monthly: $42 first year, $33 thereafter
- network: T-Mobile/Sprint (LTE)
- speed: 5 mbps or higher
- throttling: no
Notes: Calyx Institute Membership Internet is an excellent value with most flexibility if you can accept mediocre equipment (no antenna, no ethernet, limited range) and pay upfront for a year or quarter of membership. Testing confirms advertised speed but traffic can be de-prioritized during busy hours.
Notes: NYC Mesh is a bargain option for residents of New York City with access to a roof top or another location where an antenna can be installed.
- availability: very limited (use availability checker)
- de-prioritization: after 50GB
- equipment: proprietary
- monthly: $50
- network: T-Mobile (LTE)
- rank: good
- speed: 50 mbps or lower
- throttling: no
Notes: extremely limited availability is the largest drawback of T-Mobile Home Internet service. Those who are able to receive the service are usually very happy with it.
- availability: entire T-Mobile network
- de-prioritization: no
- equipment: open (any compatible)
- monthly: $50
- network: T-Mobile (LTE)
- speed: 600 kbps
- throttling: always
Notes: T-Mobile Unlimited Prepaid is meant for phones but can also be used with a compatible router due to its unlimited tethering. The plan should be considered the last resort due to its poor speed and perpertually buggy prepaid web portal. Worth noting that most videos on Binge On program stream at higher speeds albeit 480p resolution.
- availability: parts of Verizon network
- de-prioritization: no
- equipment: proprietary router, $240
- monthly: $60 (with auto-pay)
- network: Verizon (LTE or 5G)
- speed: 25 mbps
- throttling: no
Notes: Verizon LTE Home Internet is a very good option if available in your area.
Terminology
- de-prioritization: provider may reduce your speed (i.e. lower priority of your traffic) after you reach certain quota and the tower is busy; this typically happens during the evening hours however most users report no significant difference
- throttling: provider will always reduce your speed to a set limit regardless of time or traffic; throttling is clearly noticeable and more severe than de-prioritization
Please send your comments, updates or experiences to postmaster@ridgepost.com and they will be included in the next revision.