Sarah Tew/CNET
I think T-Mobile is feeling pretty chuffed about its. It recently rolled out an aggressive «Internet Freedom» campaign, which includes the tagline, «,» and it also made a splash with the , which placed the upstart T-Mobile Home Internet second among all national ISPs. Not too shabby.
T-Mobile Home Internet started rolling out as a pilot program early in 2021 and one of my (now former) CNET colleagues, Rick Broida, was . By April 2021, T-Mobile announced it had . A short year later, it proclaimed it had, and .
We’ve been aware of T-Mobile’s desire to for quite some time. But now that the company’s home broadband offering is established, what does that mean for you? Does offer something new? Is T-Mobile Home Internet a viable option to replace your current?
First, the price is right: T-Mobile charges $50 a month (and that’s reduced to $30 for eligible Magenta MAX mobile customers). On top of that, you don’t have to worry about long-term contracts or data caps. Pretty sweet, right?
Definitely, but it’s early days yet. Although T-Mobile Home Internet is currently available to approximately 40 million homes across the US, many locations and addresses can’t get it. While 5G is the marquee player on this bill, T-Mobile relies on 4G LTE to help expand its home internet service area. This means that of the 5G home internet providers, T-Mobile will offer the slowest speeds on average. But let’s dig into the details.
Where can you get T-Mobile Home Internet?
Whenever we start talking about any ISP, it’s always good to begin by answering the fundamental question: Can I get this service? T-Mobile Home Internet is currently available to over 40 million households in over 40 states. That makes it the most widely available 5G home internet service in the US. By comparison, Verizon’s 5G Home Internet service has but is available to around 30 million homes. In the meantime, T-Mobile is open to signups in over 600 cities, but more households, many within rural areas.
To explore a complete list of the available cities and towns, refer to this .
When will T-Mobile Home Internet get to my area?
As mentioned, T-Mobile is the most widely available 5G home internet service, covering 40 million households. But when you consider that puts the total number of households in the country at over 122 million, about 67% of households remain ineligible for T-Mobile Home Internet.
A T-Mobile spokesperson didn’t have specific details on expansion plans but highlighted that more than 10 million households in the current footprint are within rural America. Additionally, there’s a focus on expanding access for small towns and communities. For those outside the current availability window, T-Mobile’s site mentions that expansion could take six months or more and allows interested parties to put their name on the list for down the road.
What plans and pricing does T-Mobile Home Internet offer?
Simplicity is one of the biggest things that jumped out at me when I began to explore T-Mobile Home Internet. There isn’t an array of tiers and options from which to choose because there’s one plan and one plan only:
T-Mobile Home Internet plans and pricing
Plan | Max speeds | Monthly price | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile Home Internet | 33-182Mbps download, 6-23Mbps upload | $50 ($30 for eligible Magenta MAX mobile customers) | None | None | None |
One size fits all
There aren’t many qualifiers when discussing T-Mobile Home Internet plans. It’s one plan, one price and no additional fees. The premise of 5G home internet is that unlike — including coaxial cable lines, fiber-optic internet and digital subscriber line — you’re not reliant on underground constructions and deployments to get you connected. Instead, it’s a fixed wireless service that provides you with a router that connects to a cellular signal.
T-Mobile provides its Wi-Fi Gateway device, a combination modem and Wi-Fi 6 router compatible with T-Mobile’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. As you can see from the chart, the only variable is the average download and upload speed you’ll experience. T-Mobile says that all eligible households will see average download speeds of 33 megabits per second, at the bare minimum. Depending on your location and the placement of the T-Mobile Gateway, you might see download speeds as high as 182Mbps or more.
T-Mobile Home Internet speeds: Isn’t 5G supposed to be faster?
The hope and promise of 5G and its capabilities have not yet been fully realized. My colleague and how not all «5G» is the same. In summary: Faster 5G speeds come with shorter ranges. The farther the distance, the less speed on the top end.
For T-Mobile to hit the road running with availability to over 30 million households at its launch, it needed to lean on its 4G LTE network and its growing 5G network. That’s why my CNET colleagues averaged just over 40Mbps download speeds with T-Mobile Home Internet, and some households may get up to just over 100Mbps. Anecdotally, we’ve heard of some users seeing download speeds as high as 300Mbps. Still, T-Mobile’spromises that customers will «see typical download speeds between 33-182Mbps.» So, that may be plenty of speed for many, but don’t expect the higher download speeds you might get with fiber internet or some cable plans. At least not yet.
On the plus side, no hidden fees
One of the significant wins for T-Mobile Home Internet is its straightforwardness. There’s no pesky small print. ISPs are notorious for their hidden fees and trap pricing that tries to lure you in with enticing promo prices but then sticks you with a larger bill after those terms expire. That’s not the case here.
T-Mobile Home Internet features no data caps, so you don’t have to fear data overage fees. There’s no equipment fee for the Gateway device, so you don’t have to figure out an additional monthly cost to tack on to your regular bill. It also requires no annual service contracts, so you don’t have any early termination fees looming over your head. These are all appealing aspects of this service and make it very enticing to try T-Mobile Home Internet if it’s available in your area.
Does T-Mobile offer any deals or promotions for 5G home internet?
In addition to the above consumer-friendly approaches, T-Mobile is also trying to sweeten the pot for potential customers. First, T-Mobile offers new customers a yearlong subscription for free (a $60 value). Second, it’s giving new customers with a Magenta MAX mobile plan a chance to subscribe to YouTube TV for 50% off the regular $65-per-month price tag. Third, home internet customers can now participate in T-Mobile Tuesdays, the company’s weekly discount and free perks promotion. Fourth, T-Mobile boasts a Price Lock guarantee, which means no rate changes for as long as you remain a customer. Lastly, T-Mobile is running a «Worry-free Test Drive» promotion during which customers can try the service for 15 days with a money-back guarantee.
How does T-Mobile Home Internet fare against competitors?
As I said, T-Mobile is ahead of its 5G home internet competitors — Verizon and Starry — in terms of availability. is currently available in six major metropolitan areas and plans to expand to nearly 30 million households by the end of 2022 by targeting the cities of ;; Dallas; Detroit;; Indianapolis; Memphis, Tennessee; Miami; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon;; and . Verizon is available in more cities than T-Mobile (currently 900) but is behind T-Mobile’s total households covered.
However, Starry and Verizon have the upper hand on average download speeds. Starry customers will typically see consistent download speeds of 200Mbps and Verizon’s 5G Home Internet plans average around 300Mbps. What Starry and Verizon have given up regarding widespread availability, they currently make up for in the average speeds they deliver.
All three 5G home internet providers share freedom from all the hidden fees and pricing games that many cable and fiber ISPs play. With 5G, the monthly rate is the monthly rate. There are no added fees, equipment rental charges, data caps or binding annual contracts.
So, how good is T-Mobile Home Internet, really?
When it comes to 5G, we’re much closer to the beginning than the end of where everything will shake out. If it’s speed you’re after, T-Mobile’s 5G home internet service might not impress you if you have other cable and fiber internet providers available at your address. But if you’re in a rural or less developed area where DSL or satellite was your only previous option, T-Mobile will feel lightning fast by comparison.
Overall, T-Mobile has positioned itself as a viable option in the home internet space and made it an intriguing player to watch as it expands its 5G infrastructure. If nothing else, since it demands no contract commitment, it’s an opportunity to try a different option and maybe even use it as leverage to . Hopefully, the more options we have as consumers, the better our internet service will be in the long run.
T-Mobile Home Internet FAQs
Are there data caps with T-Mobile Home Internet?
No. T-Mobile Home Internet features unlimited data. Customers will not have any potential data overage fees or charges hanging over their heads. That said, T-Mobile Home Internet customers could find their service slowed in cases where the company prioritizes its mobile users over its fixed wireless customers.
Does T-Mobile Home Internet come with a router?
Yes. One of the appealing aspects of T-Mobile Home Internet is that its monthly fee — $50 a month if you use AutoPay and $30 a month for eligible Magenta MAX mobile customers— includes a 5G Gateway (a modem/router combo device). The T-Mobile equipment lease is included in the one fee, and all that’s required is that you return the device when you end service with T-Mobile.
Is T-Mobile Home Internet faster than satellite internet?
For the most part, yes, but not unequivocally. As T-Mobile says in its , «many factors affect the speed and performance that customers experience, including… proximity to a cell site, weather and the surrounding terrain,» so your download speeds, which average between 33-182Mbps, are not guaranteed. But customers should see download speeds higher than those typically achieved by HughesNet (average of 25Mbps) and Viasat (12-100Mbps). Starlink’s base plan boasts a higher range (50-250Mbps) but is not as widely available as T-Mobile Home Internet. It’s also much more expensive — $99 a month, exponentialstandards plus a one-time equipment fee of $599.
FAQs
Is T-Mobile 5G home internet good for working from home? ›
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customers receive consistent broadband speeds and see typical download speeds between 72 – 245 Mbps, which is great speed for streaming video, surfing the web, working from home and most types of online gaming.
Why is my T-Mobile Home internet so slow? ›Your internet can be slow for many reasons. Your internet plan may be too slow for your needs, your modem or router may be out of date, your router may be on the fritz, or you might have too many people using your Wi-Fi at the same time. We can help you identify where the problem is and how to fix it.
How many gigs do you get with T-Mobile home internet? ›For homes that aren't yet eligible for our unlimited T-Mobile 5G Home Internet service, we offer data bucketed plans starting at 100GB that can be used on the T-Mobile 4G LTE or 5G networks without being tied to a specific location. Customers can also choose from higher data buckets: 150 GB, 200 GB, or 300 GB.
What is the average speed of T-Mobile internet? ›T-Mobile 5G Home Internet prices and plans
The stand-alone T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plan costs $50 per month and gives you download speeds somewhere between 72–245 Mbps and upload speeds between 5–31 Mbps. $50.00/mo. It's always refreshing to see a home internet plan that doesn't come with data caps or contracts.
While 5G home internet is fast, its speeds can be unstable
Since 5G operates over a fixed wireless connection, your speeds tend to fluctuate throughout the day, just as your cell phone internet speeds do.
Most satellite, fixed-wireless, Wi-Fi, and 5G signals fall into these frequencies, which means that if there's rain or clouds between the transmitter and your receiver, some of the signal will be absorbed.
Why is my T-Mobile internet so bad at night? ›Slower internet speeds at night are often the due to network congestion. Just like rush hour traffic, when everyone uses the internet at the same time, the network's limited bandwidth struggles to keep up.
How can I make my T-Mobile home internet stronger? ›- Turn off equipment from your previous provider. Before you turn on your gateway and set up your T-Mobile Internet network, turn off any equipment you have from a previous provider to avoid interference.
- Test in multiple locations. ...
- Move the gateway away from other devices.
Third-party routers can be connected to a T-Mobile gateway using the ethernet port. You will see a Wi-Fi network broadcast by both the gateway and the third-party router. The Wi-Fi network broadcast can be disabled in the T-Mobile app.
Where is the best place to put T-Mobile Home internet? ›Place your gateway close to a window or high up on an upper floor or bookshelf. Use the T-Mobile Internet app to get help finding the ideal location for your device, check signal strength, monitor connected devices, update your network name/password, and more!
Is T-Mobile internet really unlimited? ›
These aren't lighting fast internet speeds, but if you only need simple coverage for streaming and surfing the web, it could be an affordable choice for your home. T-Mobile also doesn't impose any data restrictions. This means that you and your household will have unlimited streaming potential every month.
Is 100GB enough for 1 month? ›100GB data (or 100,000MB) is functionally almost unlimited. Even with video streamed in high quality you could manage around 30 hours a month (depending on the source). Chances are you don't need that much, or would be fine with medium quality, which gives you a lot more.
How can I check my T-Mobile home internet speed? ›Want to check your data download and upload speeds? T-Mobile recommends the OOKLA speed test, which can download on your device visit the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or access from a computer at speedtest.net. Open the speed test app or website, and click Go.
What is ideal Mobile internet speed? ›Generally speaking, providers should at least offer 12 Mbps for reasonable coverage, while anything 25 Mbps or higher is best for heavy internet users. It's also important to keep in mind that Mbps speeds are different from your actual network connection, which is usually tiered as either 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.
Who has the fastest Mobile internet speed? ›- Best Upload/Download Speeds. T-Mobile. Avg. Download: 54.1 Mbps. Avg. Upload: 10.5 Mbps. View Plans. Read Review.
- #2. Verizon. 4.5. Avg. Download: 30.2 Mbps. Avg. Upload: 8.2 Mbps. View Plans. Read Review.
- #3. AT&T. Avg. Download: 35.3 Mbps. Avg. Upload: 6.7 Mbps. View Plans. Read Review.
Is 5G faster than cable internet? 5G internet is capable of reaching higher wireless speeds than the wireless speed generations before it, but you're not guaranteed the highest speeds and certainly not the higher speeds than you'd get with a reliable cable connection.
Should I use 5G or WiFi at home? ›Ideally, you should use the 2.4GHz band to connect devices for low bandwidth activities like browsing the Internet. On the other hand, 5GHz is the best suited for high-bandwidth devices or activities like gaming and streaming HDTV.
Is 5G home internet better than WiFi? ›Though 5G is typically the fastest mobile Internet connection, reliability can be a challenge. WiFi offers a faster, more reliable Internet connection when combined with a reliable router and a reliable Internet plan.
How many devices can T-Mobile 5G home internet handle? ›How many devices can I connect to my T-Mobile home internet? T-Mobile's internet gateway can connect up to 64 devices to your T-Mobile home internet connection.
How many devices can you have on T-Mobile internet? ›All our phone plans include hotspot data that lets you securely share your phone's internet connection with up to 10 other devices when you have a signal on T-Mobile's nationwide network. Plus, it's easy to add more data when you need it with plan add-ons or upgrades.
Does T-Mobile 5G work in rural areas? ›
However, they noted that T-Mobile is also in the midst of expanding its speedy 2.5 GHz midband 5G network to around 35 million new locations – mostly in rural areas – during 2023. That project, they said, will help prop up T-Mobile's fixed wireless growth curve, albeit with a rural focus.
Should you turn off your internet at night? ›Andreas Grant, a Network Security Engineer at Networks Hardware strongly recommends leaving it on, too. 'Your Wi-Fi router doesn't require rest like other devices. It is designed to be working 24/7 and that's every single day of the year.
Why is Wi-Fi worst at night? ›Network congestion and throttling are the most common reasons for internet slowdowns in the latter part of the day. There is an internet rush hour that usually runs from about 7-11 pm on weekdays. This can interfere with your use of the internet for streaming, movies, and more.
Is internet better at night? ›When the Sun Goes Down Internet Speed Goes Up. It's not surprising, but it's true: Your Internet speed is faster at night. According to an article from the Daily Mail, for example, bandwidth speeds in the UK drop by 35 percent during the evening 'rush hour' when people get home from work.
Why is my T-Mobile Home internet not working? ›Check for app updates in the Google Play store or Apple App store. 2. Make sure the gateway is securely plugged in and powered on. 3. Check that your device is connected to the gateway's Wi-Fi network.
Can you add an antenna to T-Mobile Home internet? ›Once you've tested your baseline internet speeds, you're ready to install external antennas. The T-Mobile 5G Internet Gateway doesn't have any external antenna ports, but it's possible to access the internal ports and install adapters that allow you to connect antennas.
What type of Internet connection is T-Mobile Home internet? ›T-Mobile utilizes a wireless 5G Gateway to deliver 5G Home Internet to your home. T-Mobile's 5G Gateway Device works in tandem with Wi-Fi 6, which is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology . Once you sign up for a plan, the 5G Gateway is delivered to your home.
What kind of router is T-Mobile? ›Our T-Mobile 5G Wi-Fi Gateway packs Wi-Fi 6 technology into a sleek design, and it's compatible with our nationwide 4G LTE and 5G networks.
Is T-Mobile any good? ›For most Americans, T-Mobile's coverage is excellent. A mere 8% difference in nationwide area coverage between the first- and third-place networks is very little in terms of population coverage. As mentioned, T-Mobile provides network service to 99% of Americans, offering fast 4G LTE speeds and broad 5G coverage.
Can I take my T-Mobile home internet anywhere? ›If I move, can I take my WiFi Gateway with me? Yes, customers are required to call T-Mobile prior to moving to confirm that their Wifi Gateway will work at their new address. If T-Mobile Home Internet service is available at the new address, you can use it as soon as you move in.
Is T-Mobile internet Wireless? ›
T-Mobile Home Internet pricing
Instead, it's a fixed wireless service that provides you with a router that connects to a cellular signal. T-Mobile provides its Wi-Fi Gateway device, a combination modem and Wi-Fi 6 router compatible with T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 5G networks.
Quick answer: Yes, T-Mobile's plans come with unlimited hotspot data at 3G speeds. Some of T-Mobile's plans come with a monthly allotment of high-speed data, so you can use your tablet or computer as usual in a pinch, but you can't rely on it for all of your home Wi-Fi needs.
Does T-Mobile Home internet have Ethernet ports? ›It also has (2) 1Gbps Ethernet ports that can be directly connected to a device such as a laptop or desktop computer, or you can use the Ethernet port to plug your T-Mobile Home Internet connection into the WAN port of a router to supply Internet to your home networking gear.
How many hours of Netflix is 100GB? ›Movie and TV streaming
100GB gives you 142 hours of SD streaming. High definition (HD) streaming uses 2.5GB per hour. 100GB gives you 40 hours of HD streaming. 4K Ultra HD streaming uses about 6GB per hour.
The average household consumes 586.7 GB of broadband data per month. 551.4 GB is used on downstream data on average, while 35.3 GB is used on upstream data. 18.7% of broadband subscribers use more than 1 TB of data every month.
How many hours of streaming can you get with 100 GB? ›How many hours will 100GB of data last for? A 100 Gb of data plan will allow you to browse the internet for around 1200 hours, Stream 20,000 songs, or watch 200 hours of standard-definition videos.
Does T-Mobile slow down your data speed? ›T-Mobile does not throttle home internet speeds. However, they may de-prioritize your data during congestion if you have an unlimited data plan. This means that your data speeds may be slower than other customers with lower data caps plans. You can check your data speeds using the T-Mobile Speed Test app.
How fast is 5G internet? ›5G can be significantly faster than 4G, delivering up to 20 Gigabits-per-second (Gbps) peak data rates and 100+ Megabits-per-second (Mbps) average data rates. 5G has more capacity than 4G. 5G is designed to support a 100x increase in traffic capacity and network efficiency. 5G has lower latency than 4G.
What is a good download speed? ›While a good download speed can vary based on your use, these speeds will be more than enough to support average use for these households: Single or Small Household: 100-300 Mbps. Small to Medium Household: 300-500 Mbps. Large Household: 500 Mbps to 1 Gig.
What is a good internet speed for home? ›What is a good internet speed for Wi-FI? An internet speed of at least 25Mbps is good for Wi-Fi. That will make sure that multiple people get adequate bandwidth on your Wi-Fi network while multiple devices are being used at the same time. For larger households, a speed of 100Mbps is even better.
What is a good basic internet speed? ›
A “good” speed varies depending on the amount and type of internet usage such as simple web surfing, streaming videos, or working from home. Below we'll describe the speeds and services recommended depending on household size and activity type. Basic Service = 3 to 8 Mbps. Medium Service = 12 to 25 Mbps.
What is the average home internet speed? ›What Is a Normal Internet Speed? The internet speeds available to you are largely dependent on where you live. According to Ookla, the global median download speed for fixed broadband is roughly 60 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload. In the U.S., the median is about 135 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up.
Who has the best wifi in the world? ›| # | Country | Average Internet Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 319.59 Mbps |
| 2 | Singapore | 300.83 Mbps |
| 3 | Chile | 298.5 Mbps |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 292.21 Mbps |
For most households with three or four people living together, a 300 Mbps internet download is enough for the various uses ranging from online gaming, streaming, and general browsing. According to the Tech21Centry website, 300 Mbps can download a 5-Gigabyte movie file in only 2.2 minutes.
Can I work from home using Mobile internet? ›So while you certainly can use a hotspot to work from home using mobile data, in most cases you'll likely find that you can get faster speeds and a more reliable connection using home broadband. Especially if you choose a fibre or coaxial connection which is capable of delivering stable, superfast speeds.
What internet should I get for working from home? ›Fiber internet providers like EarthLink, Google Fiber, and AT&T are the best for working from home. You get equally fast upload and download speeds, which are especially great if you need to transfer large files to a remote server or be on video calls.
Is Mobile hotspot enough to work from home? ›You can work remotely without Wi-Fi by tethering your device to your cell phone using your mobile hotspot. Check out our guide on how to turn on your mobile hotspot for help. Do I need an unlimited plan to use my hotspot?
What speed do you need to work from home? ›What's a good internet speed for working from home? We recommend a minimum of 50 to 100 Mbps download speeds for working from home, and at least 10 Mbps upload speeds if you upload large files to the internet.
Is mobile Internet as good as Wi-Fi? ›Mobile broadband at home: the key points
Mobile broadband can be faster than some home broadband services. You need a strong network signal if you want fast speeds. Some mobile broadband deals have unlimited data, and this is recommended if you're using it at home. You can use mobile broadband with a Wi-Fi router.
Wi-Fi is usually the better option if you ever have both options available – Wi-Fi or cellular data. This is because Wi-Fi typically offers: A more stable internet connection. Faster data transfers.
How much internet do I need to stream TV? ›
Recommended Internet Speed
You'll need at least 4-8 Mbps of Internet speed to watch pre-recorded shows and movies, and 10 Mbps or more to stream live TV. 4K streaming requires speeds around 20 Mbps per user. So if three people in your home are streaming 4K video, you'll want a minimum Internet connection of 60 Mbps.
200 Mbps is enough for the majority of households, presuming 2–4 users with regular habits like Facebook, Netflix, and the occasional video call. 200 Mbps is sufficient for 4K streaming, but may cause issues if you attempt to stream to multiple devices at the same time over WiFi.
What internet speed do I need to watch Netflix? ›| Video resolution | Recommended internet speed |
|---|---|
| HD | 3 Mbps |
| Full HD | 5 Mbps |
| 4K/UHD | 15 Mbps |
Yes, 50 Mbps is enough internet speed is more than enough for one person to access Zoom, send messages on Slack, and check emails while working from home.
Is T Mobile hotspot free with unlimited data? ›Every T-Mobile Unlimited plan technically includes unlimited hotspot data, but hotspot speeds depend on your exact plan. T-Mobile's lower-tier plans cap your hotspot speeds at 3G levels, while the carrier's fancier plans include up to 40GB of full-speed 5G hotspot data.
What is the difference between Wi-Fi and hotspot? ›Hotspots are physical locations that are typically public places that are served by an access point that is used to connect devices to one another using WiFi. WiFi is a wireless network technology that connects mobile devices to the Internet without the use of actual cables.