Need better internet in a rural area? T-Mobile’s new home internet option offers download speeds of 25+ Mbps for $60/mo. And . . . wait for it . . . unlimited data.
T-Mobile: the new rural internet solution
The problems of sluggish speeds and low data caps—long the bane of rural internet—are finally getting solved with new technologies. T-Mobile’s new LTE home internet service gives customers access to contract-free broadband service at competitive prices. And, unlike satellite internet, it offers unlimited data.
While media attention has been riveted on the skies above for rural internet solutions (hello, Starlink), T-Mobile has been working on the ground to deliver the best broadband for rural areas—without all the hype and rocket launches.
T-Mobile LTE home internet service doesn’t rely on expensive cable or fiber infrastructure, or on billion dollar satellite networks. Instead, T-Mobile internet delivers a wireless home internet connection using cell phone data networks.
In some areas, T-Mobile home broadband plan delivers 5G speeds and in other areas it’s 4G, depending on where you live. Reviews for the service have been largely positive, with a lot of notice going to the lack of taxes and fees. The $60 per month subscription price includes all taxes and fees, and T-Mobile advertises no price hikes (although the price did go up from $50 during the beta trial that began last year).1
As long as you have mobile phone service at your home, you have a good chance of being able to get LTE home internet from T-Mobile or another LTE provider. It’s not available in all T-Mobile areas yet, but it’s growing. You can get T-Mobile Home Internet in parts of 27 states and 450 cities and towns in the US.
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T-Mobile Home Internet price
There’s just one T-Mobile Home Internet plan—which keeps things simple when you sign up, although it doesn’t give bargain discounts to low data users. This plan delivers unlimited data and download speeds that are typically around 25 Mbps. Equipment rental is included in the price, which is a bonus, and there’s no installation cost, either: it’s a simple plug and play setup. No installation is required.
T-Mobile 4G LTE Home Internet
| Plan | T-Mobile LTE Home Internet |
|---|---|
| Download speed | 25 Mbps or more |
| Data | Unlimited |
| Price* | $60/mo. |
| Visit T-Mobile |
*Price is with auto pay discount applied. Data effective 4/9/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
T-Mobile Home Internet vs. mobile hotspots
If you’ve ever wished you could use a mobile hotspot for home internet and somehow get unlimited data, that’s essentially what T-Mobile LTE Home Internet is. Mobile hotspot devices have limited amounts of high-priced data, which makes them impractical for household internet use.
T-Mobile Home Internet has unlimited data. And although you can’t carry your T-Mobile internet modem with you while traveling, it is an outstanding home internet solution for rural and underserved areas. T-Mobile’s home plan delivers an unlimited supply of data through T-Mobile’s nationwide LTE network, and it works in many areas where the cable lines don’t go.
T-Mobile LTE Home Internet availability
The biggest drawback to T-Mobile’s Home Internet service is that it isn’t available everywhere yet. And we’re not just talking about the remote areas without cell phone service—there are hundreds of hopeful rural towns that aren’t covered yet. Plus, T-Mobile manages the traffic by limiting the number of customers in each area. So, in some areas, there is a waiting list to sign up.
T-Mobile has been working on LTE home internet since 2019, when a small number of customers were invited to participate in the plan.2 Although T-Mobile has made huge strides in building out the network—leaping from 3 metro areas to over 450 cities—but coverage is limited in the states with service. There are still there are still 23 states without the option of T-Mobile Home Internet service, including many areas with T-Mobile cellular service.
The good news is that T-Mobile is pushing to rapidly expand their home internet service, thanks to the Sprint merger and the increasing demand for internet connectivity due to COVID-19.
How to find out if T-Mobile Home Internet is available in your area
T-Mobile wireless internet service is available in parts of 27 states. You can check the list of rural communities and cities with T-Mobile home internet or enter your address on the T-Mobile website to find out if you can get T-Mobile internet in your home.
Other LTE internet providers
If T-Mobile isn’t available in your area yet, you may still be able to reap the benefits of LTE home internet through another provider, such as Verizon, UbiFi, Ladybug Wireless, or Wahoo. A few of these LTE home internet services are portable, which means you can take it with you in a truck or RV for internet on the go. Others—like T-Mobile—only work in a fixed location (at your home or business).
The chart below compares T-Mobile Home Internet with other LTE home internet services.
T-Mobile Home Internet vs. competitors
| Provider | Price* | Highlights | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile Home Internet* | $60/mo. | • Unlimited data • $0 equipment cost • No contract • Fixed location only • Available in parts of27 states | View plans |
| Verizon | $40–$60/mo.* | • Unlimited data • $240 equipment cost • No contract (unless enrolled in Device Payment Plan) • Fixed location only • Available in 48 states | View plans |
| UbiFi | $50/mo. | • Portable • Nationwide availability • AT&T network | View plans |
| Ladybug Wireless | $99.99–$219.99/mo. | • Portable • Nationwide availability • No contract 300–750 GB data/mo. • AT&T and T-Mobile network • Option to BYOD | View plans |
| Unlimitedville | $149–$249/mo. | • Portable • AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon network (pricing varies) • Nationwide availability • Unlimited data | View plans |
| Nomad Internet | $129–$149/mo. | • Portable • Nationwide availability • T-Mobile or Verizon network | View plans |
Data effective 4/9/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*with autopay. Without autopay price is $65/mo.
**with auto pay for 1 yr. + taxes, equip. charges, & other fees.
Is T-Mobile Home Internet any good?
Yes, T-Mobile Home Internet is a good option for rural areas or homes with few options. T-Mobile’s service is reliable and offers steady (although not dizzyingly fast) speeds and an unlimited amount of data. Monthly service includes the use of a modem/router that creates a Wi-Fi home network, so there are no equipment costs.
In many rural areas, T-Mobile Home Internet tops any other internet option. As with any LTE service, your speed can vary based on your proximity to T-Mobile cell phone towers. This is why 4G LTE home internet service providers advertise “speeds up to” a certain number of megabits per second (Mbps).
T-Mobile advertises that speeds are usually 25 Mbps or more, with the disclaimer that actual speeds will vary. And speeds will be increasing in the years ahead. 5G is several years away for most rural areas, but once it expands across the nation, 5G networks will deliver even faster speeds for T-Mobile customers.3
You will want to make sure that you can get good T-Mobile reception in your area, so check T-Mobile coverage maps and talk to a T-Mobile representative for specific information (such as the closest T-Mobile tower to your home).
Pros
- Unlimited data
- Competitive price ($60/mo.)
- No cable or fiber wiring required
- $0 equipment cost
- Quick and easy setup
- No contract
Cons
- Can’t use own router
- Unavailable in homes without T-Mobile cell reception
- Not portable (can’t use in an RV)
- Max speed 25 Mbps
The final take: T-Mobile trumps many rural internet options
T-Mobile’s new LTE internet service is a great option for folks who can’t get cable or fiber. We love the fact that T-Mobile LTE Home Internet gives small towns and rural areas a way to get unlimited data at broadband speeds.
If you can get T-Mobile LTE Home Internet in your area, we recommend you try it out. It doesn’t require a device purchase (yay!) or any kind of contract. Since there isn’t a contract, you can cancel and return the modem/router at anytime. So if you’re suffering with data caps and sluggish speeds on your current plan, try T-Mobile out. It might just be the solution you need to keep connected.
FAQ about T-Mobile Home Internet
What is LTE home internet?
LTE home internet is a new type of ISP that delivers an internet connection through cell phone networks. Although not as fast as fiber or cable, LTE internet is much less expensive to install than other types of internet and offers more data and lower latency than satellite internet. Using existing cellular towers, LTE internet delivers ample internet speeds for streaming, video conferencing, email, browsing, online shopping, and most other online activities.4,5
Is T-Mobile Home Internet good for gaming?
T-Mobile Home Internet can work for gaming but it may not work with some gaming systems because the T-Mobile modem/router combo doesn’t have port forwarding or bridge mode. As far as internet download speeds go, T-Mobile Home Internet is fast enough to support most online gaming, although the latency (averaging 30 to 50 ms) is a little higher than recommended for fast-paced games.
Does T-Mobile Home Internet have data caps?
No, T-Mobile LTE Home Internet does not have a data cap. Customers have unlimited data on this internet plan.
Can you stream on T-Mobile home internet?
Yes, you can stream with T-Mobile home internet service. Video streaming services recommend internet with at least 3 to 5 Mbps download speeds, and T-Mobile provides adequate speeds for streaming, even on multiple devices.
Do I have to pay for installation for T-Mobile Home Internet?
No, you don’t have to pay for T-Mobile internet installation because it’s self-installed. You will have a box delivered to your home that contains a router/modem and instructions. All you have to do is plug it in, select the network on your devices, and install the backup battery in the modem.
How does T-Mobile’s LTE Wi-Fi plan work?
T-Mobile’s LTE Home Internet/Wi-Fi plan connects your home network to the internet using cellular data. The T-Mobile modem/router converts the cellular data signal into a Wi-Fi signal you can use to connect your devices.
Sources
- Broida, Nick, CNET, “T-Mobile’s $60 Home Internet service: My Review After 6 Weeks,” April 2021. Accessed April 9, 2021.
- T-Mobile website, “T‑Mobile Begins Limited Home Internet Pilot, Laying a Foundation for Home Broadband Disruption in Advance of Merger with Sprint,” March 2019. Accessed November 5, 2020.
- Salter, Jim, Ars Technica, “5G in Rural Areas Bridges a Gap that 4G Doesn’t, Especially Low- and Mid-band,” September 2020. Accessed November 5, 2020.
- Netflix website, “Internet Connection Speed Recommendations.” Accessed November 5, 2020.
- Hulu website, “Internet Speed Recommendations.” Accessed November 5, 2020.
