AT&T’s wired broadband internet services largely rely on one of two major connection types. The first is fiber, which is AT&T’s fastest home internet option. AT&T markets this service as “AT&T Fiber.” The second is a connection type called IPBB, which is a hybrid connection type that uses both fiber and DSL infrastructure. AT&T markets its IPBB connections as “AT&T Internet.” AT&T Internet is available across 21 states, while AT&T Fiber can be found in many major cities, including those in Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee. In addition to IPBB and fiber internet service, AT&T also offers digital landline phone, wireless, and smart home services. AT&T also has a wireless home internet service called “AT&T Air.”
Xfinity Internet Services
| Best features | Things to consider |
|---|---|
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AT&T internet plans share one thing in common: They are all contract-free. AT&T Fiber plans offer the best value in terms of cost per Mbps compared to the rest of AT&T’s internet plans. AT&T’s best deals and promotions come with AT&T Fiber plans, which offer some of the cheapest gigabit internet plan options among our highest-rated providers.
However, AT&T Fiber plans have availability limitations in some areas. So, most people will likely see AT&T Internet (IPBB) plans instead.
| Plan name | Download speeds | Data cap |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T Fiber | Up to 5 Gbps | Unlimited Data |
| AT&T Internet Air | Between 40-140 Mbps | Unlimited Data |
| AT&T Internet | Up to 100 Mbps | 1.5 TB |
| AT&T Fixed Wireless Internet | Up to 25 Mbps | 350 GB |
One thing to remember if AT&T Internet is available near you: AT&T provides the fastest speed available to your residence. So, you will only see one AT&T Internet plan (although there are three in total). In other words, some AT&T subscribers may see download speeds up to 25 Mbps while others could see up to 100 Mbps.
Although AT&T has some of the lowest pricing across the board, there are additional fees to consider when deciding which provider fits your budget. You will need to consider the current AT&T deals, plans, and pricing before making a choice on which plan is right for you.
Xfinity Internet Speed
Comcast originally built coaxial cable networks for transporting cable television to TV subscribers. Now, Xfinity uses these cables to deliver digital data and internet service throughout the Comcast coverage area. This transmission is possible thanks to Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS), a technology that allows these cables to be used to transport high-bandwidth digital data.
Fiber lines make up the backbone of Xfinity’s network around the country. For Xfinity customers, this means that data travels on coaxial cables only for the “last mile” between the company’s Xfinity’s local fiber lines and individual subscriber residences. This final hop over coaxial cables bottlenecks speed, particularly upload speeds. However, the relatively short hop means speeds offered by Xfinity are faster than more limited technologies like digital subscriber line (DSL). In many cases, the download speeds come close to those offered by pure fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) providers
Future DOCSIS technologies through Comcast may be capable of delivering download speeds up to 10 Gbps, but for now, Xfinity offers cable internet connections with download speeds up to 1.2 Gbps. According to our data, customers’ Xfinity speed test results tend to average around 461 Mbps.