We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research.
Brightspeed’s fiber plans offer decent speeds of up to 2 gigabits for select areas, unlimited data and no contracts. Plus, Brightspeed has a limited-time offer where fiber customers can get free internet for the first three months of service. Let’s dig deeper and see what this provider has to offer your household. In 2022, Brightspeed acquired Lumen’s ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) operations in 20 states, effectively launching Brightspeed’s copper/DSL and fiber network, which used to fall under the CenturyLink and Quantum Fiber banners. Broadband availability, speeds and service quality vary by connection type, which can make internet from Brightspeed somewhat of a coin toss. One side (its fiber internet plans) is good, shiny and new, but the flip side (if you only have access to its copper DSL network) is a proverbial bad penny of older technology and inconsistent speeds. Locating local internet providers Although DSL connections comprise most of its network, I commend Brightspeed’s tenacity in expanding its fiber footprint, which is a notoriously expensive and difficult task. Most recently, Brightspeed announced it was bringing high-speed fiber internet to over 38,000 households in Columbia, Missouri. In July, the company announced in a press release that it was investing in Ribbon’s Comprehensive Network Transformation Solution to improve its network infrastructure. “Building a fiber broadband network across more than 160 communities in our footprint requires an investment in ensuring we can accelerate scalability,” Brightspeed CTO Brian Bond wrote in a company press release. Locating local internet providers Brightspeed has great potential given its wide range of tiers and value. All plans have a fixed rate, so you don’t have to worry about any surprise price hikes down the line. In addition to variety, Brightspeed comes in strong by offering unlimited data and ditching contract agreements. Whether you have access to DSL or fiber, Brightspeed still has much to offer. Let’s take a closer look. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Brightspeed offers eight DSL speed tiers and four fiber options. If your address is only serviceable for DSL, you might be stuck with slower speeds, possibly as incredibly slow as 1.5 megabits per second . The exact speed you get will depend on your location. If all you can get are speeds slower than 100Mbps, you should definitely consider faster options if they’re available to you. On the flip side, Brightspeed’s fiber network promises access to symmetrical speeds that reach up to 2,000Mbps. Fiber connections are far faster, more reliable and more consistent than other internet connection types. They also always feature symmetrical download and upload speeds . The DSL plans come with an additional $15 monthly equipment fee, but the fiber tiers include the equipment rental in your monthly price. All fiber and DSL plans boast unlimited data and no contracts. If fiber is available at your locatio…
- Brightspeed offers a fixed rate across all plans, providing value to its customers.
- Its fiber network allows for symmetrical speeds up to 2,000Mbps.
- All plans, whether DSL or fiber, come with unlimited data.