© Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock.com
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at T-Mobile and Comcast to see how they compare and help you evaluate which ISP will meet the needs of your household.
If you’re scratching your head and thinking T-Mobile is a cellular network operator, you’re right. T-Mobile has not stepped out of its land but has launched a revolutionary home internet solution that uses its 4G/LTE and 5G cellular networks to provide high-speed internet connectivity throughout your home.
T-Mobile launched its home internet solution back in early 2021. It was initially a pilot, but the reception and reviews for the service have been overwhelmingly positive, leading the company to launch its 4G/LTE service nationwide by April of that year.
About T-Mobile
T-Mobile is the U.S.’s second-largest mobile network operator with over 110 million subscribers to its services nationwide. Its majority shareholder is the German company, Deutsche Telekom AG, which operates T-Mobile subsidiaries in Europe.
T-Mobile has over 62% 4G/LTE coverage nationwide. They are also at the forefront of the 5G network rollout, with 40% coverage and climbing. Over 90% of Americans should be able to access T-Mobile’s service which include:
Mobile internet is different from your conventional cable, fiber, or DSL home internet connection. It is 100% wire-free, relying on the connection to your nearest cell tower for the exchange of data between your home’s devices and the internet.
Once activated, the router exchanges data with the internet via the cellular connection, just like when you browse on your cellphone. The router also carries a Wi-Fi radio to provide coverage throughout your home.
- No price plansNo contracts No data caps No throttling
The only discount available is for eligible Magenta MAX customers who pay $30 per month.
T-Mobile does not have the gigabit per second speeds that fiber boasts, but for a completely wireless internet solution, with enough bandwidth for a household’s-worth of devices, it does a pretty good job. T-Mobile advertises internet speeds of between 33 and a respectable 182 Mbps.
If you were expecting 5G to be super-fast, T-Mobile is going to disappoint you. Firstly, not all 5G networking offers the high-speed connectivity that requires extremely dense cell tower coverage to achieve, and T-Mobile is still leaning heavily on its regular 4G/LTE coverage. However, what it lacks in speed it makes up for in reliability and performance, and some users have reported speeds of up to 300 Mbps.
- 5G New Radio (5G NR) and 4G/LTE connectivityWi-Fi 6 router using the latest 4×4 MIMO antenna technology2 Ethernet portsLCD Dimensions: 4.73 in x 4.53 in x 7.52 in (12 cm x 12 cm x 19.1 cm)
What is Comcast?
Comcast is the largest ISP in the country, with extensive cable internet coverage and a wide range of contract-based service plans. For many homeowners, it is familiar and the obvious choice for reliable home internet services and offers high-speed connectivity.
However, services and customer experience vary widely, with Comcast historically having a reputation for low customer satisfaction. Many of its services are contracted, with additional service charges and termination fees.
About Comcast
Comcast is America’s largest multinational telecommunication conglomerate and is only second to AT&T for cable TV and internet revenues worldwide. Comcast is based in Philadelphia and provides coverage for home internet in 40 states, under the Xfinity brand name.
Comcast has diverse subsidiaries, including the NBCUniversal broadcasting network, DreamWorks studios, and the international satellite distribution network, Sky. Its cable networking services include:
Comcast’s home internet has been known as Xfinity since 2010. In the third quarter of 2021, it had 31 million customers. The internet connectivity Xfinity provides is predominantly cable, with some areas where fiber to the home (FTTH) is available for faster speeds.
It provides a “triple-play” service with landline telephone and cable to TV services included in its packages. Comcast also provides an Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost internet for eligible low-income families. The government made Comcast provide this service indefinitely as a condition of one of its mergers in 2011.
Comcast Internet Services and Cost
Comcast Xfinity has multiple price plans which vary according to your location and the speed and type of connection (cable versus fiber). Many of Comcast’s plans require a contract but they do not have data caps or throttling. Here are the 7 main options for home internet with Comcast:
Performance Starter
- 75 Mbps download speed$65 per month
Performance
- 200 Mbps download speed$84 per month
Performance Pro
- 400 Mbps download speed$30 per month initially rising to $92 after contract renewal1-year contract
Blast!
- 800 Mbps download speed$60 per month initially rising to $97 after contract renewal
Extreme Pro
- 1 Gbps download speed$70 per month initially rising to $102 after contract renewal
Gigabit Plus
- 1.2 Gbps download speed$80 per month initially rising to $107 after contract renewal
Gigabit Pro
- 6 Gbps download speed$300 per month initially rising to $300 after contract renewal2-year contract
Comcast also charges a $20 installation fee and a $14 optional monthly charge for the hire of a router. Take a look at some of the best routers for Comcast here.
Comcast offers price plans with download speeds ranging between 75 Mbps and 6 Gbps. The download and upload speeds are asymmetrical with upload speeds far slower except for the Gigabit Pro package. This rarely affects service quality for home internet use, though VoIP telephone calls and business use could be impacted.
Comcast Xfinity offers a wide range of gateway options in its xFi range, in keeping with the latest router, range extenders, and mesh Wi-Fi solutions on the market. xFi gateways are an all-in-one solution that comprises a modem router and voice-based personal assistant technology. xFi gateways available from Xfinity include:
- The xFi advanced gateway (XB8) with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 Gbps max The xFi advanced gateway (XB7) with Wi-Fi 5 The xFi advanced gateway (XB6) with Wi-Fi 5The xFi wireless gateway with Wi-Fi 5The xFi fiber gateway with Wi-Fi 5The Xfinity gateway with Wi-Fi 5
All gateways carry at least four Ethernet ports for home networking. Comcast charges a $14 monthly hire charge for its gateway/routers.
Comcast is a large and established internet service provider while T-Mobile is a new entrant into a mature marketplace.
But T-Mobile has a great value proposition with an alternative connectivity solution (cellular) that can provide home internet in a wide range of locations. This cord-cutter solution is wireless so can move with you and is a great solution for broadband internet connectivity in rural or remote locations where ISPs cannot easily install cable or fiber broadband. Better yet, it is contract-free so you aren’t tied down!
Similarities and Differences
Similarities
Differences
The flat-fee pay monthly model that T-Mobile is championing is also perfect for Generation Rent, as if customers move home, they don’t have the hassle of complicated disconnection and reconnection processes and fees.
