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.
Kinetic by Windstream has a significant footprint in rural and suburban areas, with its fiber and DSL networks. With either service type, plans are relatively cheap and speeds can be decent, depending on what’s available at your address. Additionally, Kinetic plans offer unlimited data with no contract requirements, which is harder to come by in rural areas. If the internet options in your area are between satellite and DSL internet from Kinetic, you can find better speeds and affordability from Kinetic. “Better than satellite” is about all that can be said about the DSL service, though. It isn’t the fastest or most reliable internet type, and low customer satisfaction scores show that Kinetic’s DSL customers are not overly pleased with their connection. As you get closer to the cities and suburbs where Kinetic’s fiber-optic service is available, the fast speeds and low introductory pricing are much more enticing. In select cities, Kinetic offers speeds up to 2,000Mbps — which may be the fastest broadband option in many midwestern cities. Available plans will vary by location, and such areas typically come with more internet options, including a cable internet provider and perhaps another fiber-optic provider. In that case, you’ll want to compare Kinetic closely with other available providers to determine the best internet provider for your needs. Locating local internet providers Let’s take a closer look at Kinetic’s plans and service terms to give you a better idea of what to expect. Source: CNET analysis of provider data. Locating local internet providers Pricing for Kinetic internet service is tricky since it can vary by location — but it’s also confusing for other reasons. Although Kinetic offers a one-to-three-year price lock for its fiber offerings, a price increase is unavoidable for all plans. For instance, the $40-a-month rate for its 300Mbps plan is good for a year, but Kinetic raises that cost to $65 after the promo period ends. Additionally, Kinetic is also offering its gigabit tier for $40 monthly for the first three months of service until it increases to $70. After two years of service, that gigabit tier jumps up to $95 monthly. Kinetic offers DSL speeds up to 100Mbps at a rate of $40 regardless of which speed is available to you. That price also jumps to $50 after one year of service. All around, a fiber connection will be a much more reliable investment if you’re sticking with Kinetic. The fiber plans offer symmetrical download and upload speeds that peak at 2,000Mbps, which should be plenty of speed for your household. All plans come with the modem included in your service. You can rent a router for $11 a month or skip the fee and use your own. Broadband service from Kinetic by Windstream is available in 18 states thanks to a large DSL network and growing fiber presence. Kinetic is available in the following 18 states: Availability is particularly high in midwestern or southwestern regions and concentrated in Georgia, Iowa and Kentucky, where coverage spans half the state or more. Availability in other states is slightly spottier. Despite the large coverage area spanning more than a third of US states, Kinetic is only available to about 3% of US households, according to the most recent Federal Communications Commission data. Such a large service area yet relatively small coverage percentage is an indicator of how reserved Kinetic Internet is for rural and suburban regions with low population density. For comparison, cable internet provider Cox Communications has a far smaller coverage area than Kinetic but is available to more than twice as many people since it operates primarily in metropolitan areas like San Diego, Phoenix and New Orleans. Kinetic has a large DSL network, but there is an opportunity to expand its footprint as a fiber provider. Its fiber network only offers 0.796% of unit coverage in the US. That’s not to say Windstream is neglecting the need for greater fiber coverage. Fiber expansion is currently in the works. A Windstream spokesperson tells CNET that the company is “currently involved in a multiyear $2 billion fiber investment and rollout across the 18-state footprint” and that “by 2027, 50% of the network will have fiber available.” That seems like a long way off — and for the rural residents waiting for it, it probably is — but running fiber lines isn’t easy or cheap, which is why fiber is primarily reserved for areas with higher population densities. Suppose Windstream runs fiber lines to 50% of its footprint. In that case, much of that will include rural…
There:
- Internet providers score based on speed, value, and customer care
- Kinetic by Windstream offers fiber and DSL networks
- Kinetic DSL and fiber services are separated in American Customer Satisfaction Index
What kind of internet in Kinetic?
Kinetic by Windstream uses a copper-based or fiber-optic network. DSL internet makes up the majority of Kinetic service areas, although the ISP is actively expanding its fiber-optic coverage.
How much is Kinetic internet?
Kinetic High Speed Internet (DSL service), starts at $40 a month with speeds of up to 100Mbps, available at your address. Choosing to rent equipment will add $11 to your monthly bill or you can use your own to avoid the fees altogether. Pricing on Kinetic’s fiber internet plans can vary by location, available speeds and the plan you choose. In most areas, service starts at $40 a month for speeds up to 300Mbps, while gig speeds of 1,000Mbps and 2,000Mbps may start at $70 to $100 a month, respectively. Opting to rent Wi-Fi equipment will add $11 to your bill.
Does Kinetic throttle internet speeds?
No. Kinetic’s DSL and fiber internet plans include unlimited data, so the provider will not throttle or reduce your speeds once users reach a certain amount of data usage.