Verizon announced today that it has released a new 4G LTE Home Internet Option for residents in parts of Savannah, Georgia, Springfield, Missouri and the Tri-Cities of Tennessee and Virginia. In a statement to Gizmodo, a Verizon spokesperson said the new plan is primarily for rural customers in those areas where there is “excess network capacity.” It is not exactly the kind of expansion the United States needs to bridge the digital divide, but it is a small, small start.
But expanded Internet plans don’t mean much if costs are out of reach for those living in rural areas, and there’s a lot of fine print regarding Verizon’s new residential Internet that potential customers should be aware of.
If you’re already a Verizon customer, this Internet Home Plan can be yours for $ 40 a month, but non-Verizon customers must pay $ 60 a month. Not only that, but current Verizon customers must also pay $ 30 or more per month on other bills to be eligible for that $ 20 discount, and non-Verizon customers must sign up for automatic payment and billing. electronics to get your 4G internet for $ 60 a month. Current customers must also be enrolled in automatic payment.
Also, there is a $ 10 a month device payment plan, which you can’t get out of because you have to use the Verizon router, and customers must pay a total of $ 240 over the course of 24 months for that router. Therefore, existing Verizon customers can pay a maximum of $ 60 per month for 4G Internet (in addition to whatever they pay for other services) and non-Verizon customers can pay a maximum of $ 80. 4G Internet speeds generally average between 25-50 Mbps (download) depending on network conditions. Compared to other broadband providers in the same areas, such as Xfinity, customers get a bit better deal with Xfinity if they don’t rent equipment.
Using Zillow to find the most rural address possible in Savannah, GA, which is about 20 miles from the city center, Xfinity offered me a $ 20 a month plan for up to 25 Mbps, which turns into $ 43 a month later. of the 1-year agreement the discount ends as long as the automatic payment is applied. The next tier is a 100 Mbps plan for $ 40 a month, or $ 63 after the 1-year agreement discount ends. Xfinity equipment rental fee is $ 14 a month, but you don’t have to use your modem and router. You can buy yours.
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However, Verizon does not have a data limit with your new internet plan. Xfinity charges an additional $ 30 a month for unlimited data, but sets its data limit at 1.2TB. Verizon only offers 30 days of free Asurionl setup support, a Private company that provides insurance and technical support for electronic devices.
Plug in other Savannah addresses Located in the city center, on the Verizon website, it shows that 4G LTE home internet is only for those who live in rural areas, so it seems that Verizon is keeping its word. Only 77.9% of Savannah residents have an internet subscription, according to the US Census Bureau, and 22.9% of Savannah residents live in poverty. Verizon’s new plan looks like it can definitely address the problem of lack of internet access in rural areas, but for those living in poverty, your 4G home internet might still be too expensive.
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