CenturyLink is currently functional in 37 states and has made its name in the home Internet industry in the US. Earlier, CenturyLink was primarily known for its price-for-life deal. However, now the price for life deal has been removed. Still, CenturyLink is one of the largest service providers per the Federal Communications Commission. It provides home Internet to around 50 million customers in the US. CenturyLink is a part of Lumen Technologies. It offers its customers two types of Internet service: the digital subscriber line and the fiber optical Internet service.
Compared to the DSL connections, the fiber optic cable is much faster. The advantage in the case of the DSL connection is that it can even be made available in areas where the lines of other companies have laid out cables. The DSL connection can piggyback over the cable and reach your home. This is why diesel is available in more places compared to fiber networks. However, CenturyLink is expanding its fiber network and plans to reach more states. Currently, the fiber network is available in 25 states in the US. Suppose you are living in a location where a fiber network is available. In that case, you should opt for the fiber network because it will provide you with the maximum Internet speed.
CenturyLink Internet plans
CenturyLink’s DSL and fiber plans are available in 7 different tiers, most of which cost the customer $50. However, the fiber Internet plan is available as part of only two of the CenturyLink Internet plans. Let’s have a look at the different CenturyLink Internet plans.
Simply unlimited 20
- 20 Mbps download speed
- 2 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 40
- Maximum 40 Mbps download speed
- 5 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 60
- 60 Mbps download speed
- 7 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 80
- 80 Mbps download speed
- 10 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 100
- 100 Mbps download speed
- 12 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 120
- 120 Mbps download speed
- 30 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Simply unlimited 140
- 140 Mbps download speed
- 30 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Fiber Internet 200
- 200 Mbps download speed
- 200 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $50 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Fiber Gigabit
- 940 Mbps download speed
- 940 Mbps upload speed
- Available at $65 per month
- $15 equipment fees for the modem per month
- No data cap
Depending on your residence may be able to avail most of the plans or a few of the above-mentioned plans. In most cases, ISPs only offer three to five different plans at most addresses. However, CenturyLink offers around nine plans.
If you can avail of the fiber Internet service, you will receive a very good download and upload speed. You will not have to worry about glitches in zoom meetings or long buffering durations. However, the unfortunate part is that the fiber Internet connection is unavailable in all the regions where CenturyLink is active. Only the DSL option is active in certain places, which is not even close to the cable speeds.
Another problem with CenturyLink is the extra monthly fees you have to pay for the modem. Alternatively, you can use your modem. This is one amazing fact of CenturyLink, absent in most other internet service providers. Most ISPs expect the customer to use the company modem only.
Technically, CenturyLink does not have a specific self-installation charge. However, not all locations and addresses fall under this category. Suppose your location comes under the one where self-installation is not free. Under such circumstances, you may have to shell out up to $99 to get professional installation time. Alongside that, you may also have to pay a broadband activation one-time fee of $20 when the service is started. If you do not want to pay for the modem every month, you should purchase the modem. It will cost you around $200.
Customers love CenturyLink because it does not place any data cap on Internet availability. Whether you avail the fiber connection or the DSL one, absence of data caps keep your Internet experience seamless and smooth.
