AT&T threw down the broadband gauntlet on Thursday by rolling out three new price points for its AT&T Fiber tiers.
AT&T also announced that all new and existing AT&T Fiber Internet 100, Internet 300 and Internet 1000 subscribers would enjoy unlimited data without additional charges. AT&T Fiber is offering the new deals as a standalone product with no annual contracts for new customers starting on Sunday.
Data caps are still in place for AT&T's fixed wireless internet and DSL customers. For AT&T Fiber customers that signed up for the $30 unlimited data allowance, those monthly charges will automatically disappear from their bills.
In order to further support its subscribers during the year of Covid-19, AT&T also said it had extended its data overage waiver for all consumer AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet subscribers through the end of the year.
"Investments in technology such as AT&T Fiber allowed our network to perform well even as our AT&T Internet customers transitioned to working and learning from home," AT&T said in an email to FierceTelecom. "That performance gives us the confidence to waive Internet overages for all consumer AT&T Fiber and AT&T Internet customers through the end of the year."
AT&T Fiber's Internet 100 is now $35 a month for a year plus taxes and a $10 per month equipment fee. Internet 100 can connect 10 or more devices at the same time.
AT&T Fiber's Internet 300 tier, which can support 11 or more devices at the same time, will be $45 per month for a year with the same equipment fee while Internet 1000 will cost $60 per month over the same timeframe. Internet 1000 can support 12 more devices at the same time and also includes HBO Max.
AT&T highlighted that the Internet 100, Internet 300 and Internet 1000 upload speeds were faster than wired internet tiers from Xfinity, Spectrum and Cox. Given that it's fiber-based, the AT&T Fiber tiers should be faster on the upstream than the HFC-based offerings from the cable operators.
“As people continue to spend more time at home, it’s essential they have internet that fits their needs,” said AT&T's Cheryl Choy, senior vice president, broadband product management and marketing, in a statement. “We’re excited to introduce affordable options for any type of internet user on our 100 percent fiber network. We have the fastest growing fiber network in the nation and can’t wait for more customers to experience the benefits of AT&T Fiber, when compared to cable.”
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During July's second quarter earnings report, AT&T lost 102,000 broadband subscribers, but gained more than 220,000 fiber subscribers. As of Q2, AT&T had 4.3 million AT&T Fiber customers with nearly two million of them on 1-gigabit speeds. AT&T CEO John Stankey has vowed that the telco will add more fiber to help provision its 5G services and more fiber-to-the-home broadband deployments.
While AT&T is targeting cable subscribers through its fiber offerings, Verizon took a different tack this year with its "Mix & Match on Fios" pricing that allowed customers to pick customized broadband and TV options with lower price points.