Networking

Marvell Technologies said Tuesday that it has entered an agreement to acquire networking component provider Innovium in an all-stock deal valued at $1.1 billion. Marvell’s key interest in Innovium revolves around its switching architecture for cloud and edge data centers, which Marvell intends to use to bolster its networking portfolio for cloud computing customers.

Marvell’s purchase of Innovium marks its second acquisition on less than a year that’s focused on the networking space. In October, Marvell bought Inphi, a developer of optical networking chips used in cloud data centers and by wired and wireless carrier networks for 5G infrastructure, in a $10 billion deal that signaled further consolidation in the semiconductor industry. Marvell said its acquisition of Inphi would create a semiconductor “powerhouse” with an enterprise value of roughly $40 billion. Technologically, Marvell planned to combine its storage, networking, processor, and security portfolio, with Inphi’s electro-optics interconnect platform. Going forward, Marvell plans to integrate Innovium and Inphi products to develop performance optimized switch silicon for use in hyperscale data centers. Marvell also announced that Innovium was chosen as a key technology supplier by a Tier 1 cloud customer, and that the deal will spur a significant revenue ramp in calendar 2022.Innovium is also in talks with several other cloud data center customers in building out their future network architectures, Marvell said.”Our acquisition of Innovium and its complementary offerings further extends Marvell’s leadership in the cloud, and I am excited that Innovium has secured significant share at a marquee cloud customer,” said Marvell CEO Matt Murphy. “Innovium has established itself as a strong cloud data center merchant switch silicon provider with a proven platform, and we look forward to working with their talented team who have a strong track record in the industry for delivering multiple generations of highly successful products.”

Marvell expects the acquisition of Innovium to add approximately $150 million in incremental revenue next fiscal year.  More

Houston is a big city, home to Beyoncé, NASA, the Astrodome, and a population of more than two million. Because of its size, Houston has attracted a wide variety of internet providers, and residents may even find a fair amount of hard-to-come-by fiber-optic service options. We’ve spent months researching the nation’s largest providers and found four of the most popular and reliable options for internet in Houston. You’ll likely have a few internet options for your address, but particulars will depend on your exact location. The best internet for you will depend on the internet speed you need, and how you prioritize package perks and customer service.

Best customer service

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One of AT&T’s strongest coverage regions is in Houston. Its DSL service has nearly 100% availability in the city, and its fiber-optic service even has about 40% availability in Houston. Both connection types offer impressive speeds, but DSL will work best for smaller households and mild internet activity. Be aware, though, for some addresses, you can’t get more than 25 Mbps on a DSL plan — not really enough if you like to stream 4K video, stream on multiple screens, or transfer large files. AT&T’s fiber-optic service, on the other hand, can offer up to 1,000 Mbps of internet speed — fast enough to support a house full of smart tech, streamers, and online gaming. AT&T plans come with a generous data cap too: 1TB (1,000 GB), which is a lot of data — enough to stream 6 hours of 4K video every day. AT&T also has a stellar reputation for customer service, often winning awards from J.D. Power and topping the American Customer Satisfaction Index rankings. New customers may also receive promotions like free Wi-Fi equipment and no installation fees.

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Fastest max speeds

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With 93% availability in Houston, Xfinity is likely one of your options for internet service. The provider uniquely offers an extensive range of package options — you can find speeds as slow as 10 Mbps for some simple web browsing or as fast as 200 Mbps for streaming HD video. And even more importantly, Xfinity has a track record of delivering those speeds: Both Speed Test and Netflix ranked it as one of the fastest providers. You can also easily bundle your internet with a variety of TV service packages, often starting at $5. Though Xfinity doesn’t have the best reputation for customer service, it’s far from the worst out there. In J.D. Power’s internet study, Comcast placed above Cox Communications, Optimum, Spectrum, and Frontier Communications in the East region.

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Best for cheap internet

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About 50% of Houston neighborhoods have Frontier as an option for their internet service. Frontier offers both fiber-optic and DSL connections, although most addresses won’t have access to both. Most of Houston will be offered DSL connections of around 6 Mbps to 15 Mbps — all with unlimited data usage. Those speeds aren’t the highest in the area, but all of Frontier’s plans come with no-contract and a two-year price lock. This means you get two years of service at the same price, without being locked into a contract. Most providers charge extra for contract-free plans. Frontier has a pretty poor customer service reputation, but if you can handle a few frustrating phone calls, there’s surprising value in its packages. If you’re looking for some bargain internet service, Frontier offers a great deal and simple speeds.

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Popular regional provider

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EarthLink is the largest DSL provider in the United States and services nearly 60% of Houston. The actual speed offerings vary by address. Some areas have access to fiber-optic speeds as fast as 1,000 Mbps, while others max out at 12 Mbps with DSL. No matter the speed plan, all of EarthLink’s packages come without a data cap, meaning you can stream, game, and download without worry. Its customer service is pretty hit or miss, so we recommend asking neighbors or friends who use EarthLink about their experience. EarthLink also doesn’t have TV service, so you won’t find any bundling deals and will have to get separate TV service from another provider. Be advised that EarthLink doesn’t score very high for convenience: You’ll have to call to order service and get details on your options, which means a bit more legwork when you’re shopping around.

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What are the key differences between Houston’s best internet providers?

AT&TXfinityFrontierEarthlinkConnection typeFiber-optic, DSLCableFiber-optic, DSLFiber-optic, DSLDownload speeds (Mbps)DSL: 50-100 Fiber: 100-1,000Cable: 10-350DSL: 24-45 Fiber: 500DSL: 15-80 Fiber: 100-1,000Prices starting at$40/mo.$30/mo.$20/mo.$50/mo.Contract length1 year, 2 yearsMonth to month 1 year 2 yearsNone1 yearData cap1 TB1 TBNoneNoneJ.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Score5/53/52/5N/A

How did we choose the best internet providers in Houston?

There are a few key features we considered when searching for the best internet provider.Coverage. There’s a fair chance you won’t have many options when choosing an internet provider. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance reported that about 39% of Americans have access to only one broadband internet provider. We generally favored providers with a wider range of coverage and a chance of serving you. For Houston in particular, we looked at the providers that covered the largest percentage of the city.Value. We researched each provider’s offerings and the value they offer consumers. This includes the range of speeds, additional package perks, contract lengths, and data caps. The best internet provider will come with reliable speeds, fair prices, generous data caps, and clear contracts.Customer Satisfaction. Internet providers are some of the most notorious services for having poor customer care. We used customer satisfaction ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and J.D. Power to gauge each company’s reputation. Higher scoring companies were favored for their proven ability to satisfy customers in metrics like reliability, billing, communication, and value. While most providers didn’t exactly score highly, we looked to see which providers were above the industry average.You can read more about the search in our full methodology page.

Can you get fiber internet in Houston?

Fiber-optic internet is expensive to build out and not many providers have invested in expanding the technology. Luckily, Houston is a big city and has attracted a fair number of fiber providers. You’ll need to check with your specific address, but both AT&T and Frontier offer some fiber-optic internet access in Houston.

How much does internet cost in Houston?

There are a lot of factors that influence the price of your internet plan — the speed you choose, your location, current promotions, etc. Many internet packages in Houston start around $30 and can be as expensive as $100+ depending on the plan you choose.

What should you look for when shopping for internet?

You can read more about shopping for internet providers in our guide.

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You don’t have to use a phone line in order to get internet. In fact, other types of internet are becoming more and more popular, as most homes can access cheap internet service without a phone line. Depending on where you live, your budget, and the internet speeds you need, there are many options for you. For instance, with satellite, DSL, cable, and wireless (4G), it is possible to get cheap internet service. These are all great and don’t tie up your phone line or require you to pay extra for a phone bill.

What options are available for cheap internet without a phone line?

Satellite: As stated in the name, satellite internet uses a satellite orbiting in space to deliver internet access to your home via a dish antenna. This means even the most rural areas can typically still have access to cheap internet service, without phone line service.DSL: Normal DSL actually does require a phone line for internet, but don’t rule it out yet. You can opt for “Naked DSL” (or, standalone DSL), which provides internet via a standard telephone jack, but you don’t pay for or have use of phone service. This is a great option for getting cheap internet service without a phone line.Cable: Similar to cable television, cable internet uses a coaxial cable network instead of a phone line  to allow you to get online. The cable will deliver internet to your modem, which you can connect certain devices to via an ethernet cable. Or roam the house and use wireless internet by connecting your modem to a wireless router.Wireless (4G): Fourth-generation wireless allows you to access the internet on your mobile device – a great option to get internet without cables, cords or phone lines. It may not be the best substitute for wired connections at heavy-use homes, but bell towers around the world will allow you to surf the web with 4G on your phone or tablet. 

Can you get cheap internet without a cable connection?

You might be surprised to learn that you can get cheap internet service without phone lines or cable connections. That’s right – you don’t need to pay for phone or TV service to get internet. Wondering how to get internet without cable? Satellite, DSL and wireless (4G) are all viable options. Many internet service providers have these technologies to choose from, with a price that fits your budget and speeds that line up with your internet use.

What about fiber-optic internet?

One of the newest technologies offering internet without cable is fiber internet. Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables that transfer data via light. While not exactly as fast as the speed of light, fiber-optic internet does offer incredibly fast speeds, and therefore is more expensive than the other options for internet without cable or a phone line.

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The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has said that the National Broadband Network does not face genuine competition, and where it does, is only the margins. “Predominantly in specific use cases and where households live in a 5G footprint and are able to afford those more expensive services. However, for the majority of households, NBN is the only wholesale provider of broadband to appropriately support their telecommunication needs,” the consumer advocacy group said in a submission on NBN’s Special Access Undertaking consultation. “Whilst we do not know the cross elasticity of demand between fixed line broadband and wireless alternatives, we would assume that the two goods are indirect substitutes.” The group said having a third of households not connected to the NBN did not necessarily indicate that competitive market between fixed and mobile connectivity. “Given the disproportionately high number of mobile-only households amongst households in lower socio-economic settings, there will be a significant number of households amongst the 4 million not connected to the NBN who do so out of necessity, and not choice,” it said.On the options put forward by NBN, ACCAN said the halfway house model that removes CVC on plans of 100Mbps and quicker was the least worst choice, followed by the reworking of its current pricing structure, and finally the flat priced model that removes CVC altogether. ACCAN pointed out it could use a May 22 proposal to construct cheaper wholesale prices than the melded plan, was concerned about why the flat fee model increased prices on 81% of NBN connections, and suggested the reworked plan did not have overage charges reflective of NBN’s cost of provisioning capacity.

Particularly with parts of New South Wales going through their sixth week of lockdown, ACCAN called on NBN to introduce its low-income product before current pricing discussion was completed. “NBN Co has been consulting on a low-income product for vulnerable households since 2019, and we were led to believe that this much needed product would finally come to market this year. We’re still waiting,” ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin said. “People need connectivity now; they can’t afford to wait for months and months until the regulatory process is over.” ACCAN said in its submission, the entry-level plan should be the 25Mbps plan, not the current 12Mbps. “The reason for this applying over the duration of the SAU, which lasts until 2040, is that the 12/1Mbps service will become increasingly redundant as households require higher speeds to participate in the digital economy,” it wrote. “Already the 12/1Mbps service does not suit the needs of many households.” The group also called for increasing the rebate paid by NBN for each subsequent month a fixed wireless service remains underperforming, and questioned the threshold used by NBN to deem a service as having a service fault. “ACCAN understands that this threshold currently requires a service to experience 10 or more dropouts within a 24-hour period,” it said. “ACCAN considers that this service fault threshold is too high to ensure a positive experience of the network. In addition, it is unclear to ACCAN what remedies are available to consumers experiencing below 10 dropouts per 24-hour period, who may be contending with regular service drop-outs and interruptions.” In its most recent monthly progress report, NBN reported its right first-time installation metric had recovered to 78% after falling to a low of 74% in May. Similarly, the meeting agreed fault restoration times metric bounced back to 74% after dropping to 70% the month prior. Both metrics had previously been in the high 80% or 90% range. “This metric has been impacted by some unexpected challenges following the recent implementation of a new appointment scheduling system,” the company said in a note attached to the report. “NBN Co is working closely with phone and internet providers and delivery partners to have these issues resolved as soon as possible.” The company recently spelled out how its ServiceMax Go (SMAX-Go) app for technicians interacts with its ServiceNow, ServiceMax, and Oracle back-ends, as well as the cost of some of the system. “The cost to develop the ServiceMax (including SMAX-Go app) component of the system architecture to support the new field contracts under Unify was AU$13.3 million total, over FY19, FY20, and FY21,” NBN said. “SMAX-Go went live in Victoria and South Australia on 14 April 2021, followed by New South Wales, Tasmania, and Australian Capital Territory on 28 April 2021. The app is yet to go live in Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland.” During a hearing in May, NBN said the problems technicians were experiencing when the app launched in NSW was because the system was overloaded. “What happened, when literally it was rolled out in New South Wales, the platform went down and we then had, due to literally the doubling of our workforce on the system, we then add the issues around the functionality where it wasn’t syncing properly, so therefore it caused a poor experience,” NBN COO Kathrine Dyer said. Dyer said the software was hit by a trio of factors: A two-day platform outage that hit NBN and technicians; it wasn’t syncing; and it was updating its functionality. Related Coverage More

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What is Starlink?

Elon Musk’s satellite internet explained

Starlink is a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, the founder of aerospace company SpaceX.The company’s first priority is bringing high-speed internet to rural areas that don’t currently have it.The beta price for the internet service is an upfront cost of $499 for hardware and a monthly cost of $99 for internet service.Elon Musk is famous for his technology innovations when it comes to his companies, Tesla and SpaceX. But his latest project hits closer to home for many people: bringing high-speed internet access to people in rural areas who don’t currently have access to it. Musk is accomplishing that through Starlink, a satellite internet company within SpaceX. Starlink is rapidly growing its customer base and expects to serve even more customers in 2021, according to predictions by Forbes.

What do you need to know about Starlink?

In 2002, Elon Musk founded SpaceX to revolutionize space technology and reduce space transportation costs. In 2020, the company expanded its efforts to provide satellite internet service.According to Starlink, its primary mission and the first order of business is to bring high-speed internet to people who don’t currently have access to it, meaning primarily homes in rural areas. In fact, in late 2020, the Federal Communications Commission awarded SpaceX more than $885 million to help fund its efforts to make high-speed internet more accessible.SpaceX was just one of many companies awarded the grant, and the company has been assigned by the FCC roughly 643,000 locations in 35 states to bring high-speed internet to.SpaceX’s internet service Starlink won’t only be available to rural customers. The company is currently in beta — calling it “Better Than Nothing Beta” — meaning only certain people have access to it. The company is quickly expanding and accepting preorders from people who would like to sign up when the service is available in their area.Because the service is in beta, you can expect it to change and improve over time. In fact, a tweet from Musk in late February indicated it was testing system upgrades, and customers might see much higher download speeds at times.

How does Starlink work?

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Starlink is a satellite internet service, which uses a satellite to transmit a signal to your home. First, the internet service provider gets the internet signal via fiber from satellites in space. Then, the signal is moved to a central location called a network operations center.Finally, the internet company transmits that internet signal to individual customers. In the case of a satellite internet company like Starlink, customers receive it using individual satellite dishes.SpaceX has already launched more than 1,000 satellites into space. And according to Starlink, the satellites are closer to earth, which will reduce latency (the time it takes for the signal to be transferred).

What internet speeds does Starlink offer?

According to Starlink’s website, beta customers can expect to see speeds of anywhere from 50 to 150 Mbps. It expects those speeds to increase as its system is enhanced.But the real question is, how do these speeds compare to other internet providers?To start, 150 Mbps is considerably slower than the speeds of up to 1,000 that many other internet service providers offer. But Starlink is a satellite internet company, and that type of internet is often slower than fiber-optic. When compared just with other satellite internet providers like HughesNet and Viasat, 150 Mbps is actually quite fast.The other good news for Starlink customers is that it doesn’t currently have data caps, meaning customers get the same speeds no matter how much data is used.

How much does Starlink cost?

Starlink’s beta service comes with a price tag of $99 per month. There’s also a $499 upfront cost to cover the Starlink Kit, which includes all of the necessary hardware, such as a small satellite dish, as well as a router, power supply, and mounting tripod.Keep in mind that these rates are just for beta customers. Prices could fluctuate when the service becomes more readily available.

How to pre-order Starlink

Customers can preorder their Starlink kit on the company’s website.Starlink is currently in beta, meaning not everyone can sign up. The service is presently only available to a limited number of users per coverage area, and orders are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.When visiting the company’s website, customers are prompted to search their addresses and find out if it’s available in their area. In the likely event that the company hasn’t expanded coverage to your area yet, you can preorder your internet service.Customers will pay a $99 up-front preorder cost to reserve a spot on the waiting list, but the full amount will not be due until the Starlink Kit is ready to ship.According to the company’s website, roughly 10,000 customers currently have access to Starlink. It plans to expand into many service areas later in 2021.

Will Starlink be worth it?

If everything that SpaceX claims Starlink will be is true, then maybe. The price tag of $99 a month is steep for speeds of only 50 to 150 Mbps. In context, that’s faster than current satellite internet providers, but not as fast as the top high-speed internet providers, which can reach at least 940 Mbps. However, considering rural internet service is notoriously slow or completely unavailable, Starlink meets an otherwise unmet need for connecting rural homes to high-speed internet. Furthermore, Musk’s indications that higher download speeds could be available after system enhancements means that Starlink could be the next hot ISP.

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Staying connected in our modern world is no longer a simple endeavor. Not only will you be choosing between providers for your internet privileges and remote control rights, you’ll also have to choose the technology that powers those entertainment sources. DSL, satellite, fiber-optic, and cable are all options for internet and TV service across the country, and keeping track of the differences can be a difficult and involved process.While DSL and satellite services have great availability, they can hardly compete with the speed and quality that fiber-optic and cable connections offer. The difference between fiber and cable is a bit more nuanced so we’ve pitted the two advanced services against each other to help you navigate your search for the best telco service. The short version: Fiber is faster, more reliable, and more expensive. Cable is slower, but it still supports fast speeds and is more widely available.

What’s the difference between fiber and cable?

Many of the differences between fiber and cable can be chalked up to the way they transmit information.Fiber-optic technology uses small, flexible strands of glass to transmit the information as light. The strands are wrapped in a bundle and protected with layers of plastic, making fiber faster, clearer, and able to travel great distances. Fiber cables can also carry more data than a bundle of copper cables of the same diameter.For traditional cable, data is transmitted via electricity. It uses coaxial cables to transmit data. Inside that coax cable is a copper core insulated with aluminum, a copper shield, and an outer plastic layer. Cable is more susceptible to weather events (like extreme cold, storms, etc.) and electromagnetic interference than fiber-optic because it uses electrical signals.

Is there a disparity in quality?

Because of differences in transmitting technology, fiber-optic services generally offer better quality. Most notably, fiber is faster. Fiber speeds typically range from 250 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps. It would take you less than 10 seconds to download a two-hour movie with 1,000 Mbps (versus 10+ minutes on a 20 Mbps connection). These speeds far outpace the median household internet speed of 72 Mbps (as of September 2017). Fiber-optic internet providers tend to offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, which means you can upload information to the internet just as fast as you can download it. The is extremely unique and will appeal to heavy internet users. If you’re constantly uploading information and data (like video conferencing for work or when gaming), this structure could save you a lot of time and minimize any lag.Cable internet networks typically offer customers download speeds that range from 10 Mbps to 200+ Mbps, although upload speeds are a fraction of those numbers. The higher speed plans are likely to be enough for most households, based on FCC guidelines and our own research. Cable’s lower speed capabilities can cater to smaller households and minimal internet users who just do a bit of browsing and occasional movie streaming. But one of the big drawbacks of cable technology is that you share your bandwidth with neighbors: Your speeds will slow during evenings if the whole block is binging the latest season of “Stranger Things”. Overall, you’re looking at a more unreliable network susceptible to more outside factors.

Is one more available than the other?

For customers, availability will be the starkest difference between fiber-optic and cable service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has estimated that only about 14% of the U.S. can access fiber-optic speeds of 1,000 Mbps or more. By the same measure, cable internet has 88% nationwide coverage at speeds of 25 Mbps or more. That means you’re far more likely to find cable providers who service your address than fiber-optic ones.Why the exclusivity? Building out fiber technology is a long, expensive process. Analysts have estimated that Google Fiber’s early nationwide expansion plan would have cost the company $3,000-$8,000 per home. If a provider like Verizon FiOS has decided to build out service in your neighborhood — you’ve essentially won the lottery.Businesses interested in a fiber connection as a private, secure, and reliable network option can purchase Direct Internet Access (DIA) fiber and have a dedicated line built out to the office. Homeowners hoping for fiber will have to cross their fingers and watch the market.

Is fiber or cable best for you?

For most people, cable technology offers great entertainment service. Its higher-tier internet speeds can support a full household of internet users. We’d also recommend cable for people who want to bundle their services to keep prices down. From what we’ve seen, fiber’s TV options are pretty limited, and providers will often contract another providers TV service in order to offer a bundle. For the best TV programming and bundle deals, you’re better off with cable service.Fiber speeds are likely more than most people need right now, but it’s worth noting that fiber is future-proof. Every year, the internet is becoming more central to our lives, technology is advancing, and media quality is increasing (from HD to 4K to 8K). Each season sees more 4K streaming content released, which will take more data and speed to run. Nikolai Tenev, the founder of DigidWorks, told us that tech enthusiasts of every kind will benefit from fiber — designers, gamers, software engineers, etc. Tenev said, “Gamers often need to upload video in real-time while playing an online game. Even the slightest drop in connection or speed can result in them losing the match.” If fiber-optic technology is available to your address, internet enthusiasts and large households will enjoy the perks the most.

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Arista Networks, which provides networking for large data center and campus environments, reported better-than-expected second quarter financial results on Monday. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter was $216.8 million, or $2.72 per diluted share. Revenue was $707.3 million, an increase of 30.8% year-over-year.Analysts were expecting earnings of $2.55 per share on revenue of $540.6 million. Arista had been predicting a revenue between $675 million and $695 million as well as a non-GAAP gross margin of 63% to 65%. “Our record second quarter reflects continued momentum and diversification across our top verticals and product-lines,” said Arista Networks CEO Jayshree Ullal. “We are on the cusp of network software and data driven transformation and look forward to delighting many more customers.”The report sent Arista shares up by 1.81% in late trading.Arista surpassed 50 million cloud network ports shipped cumulatively in Q2, according to the company’s data. 

For the third quarter of 2021, Arista expects revenue between $725 million and $745 million as well as a non-GAAP operating margin of approximately 37%Analysts are predicting a fiscal year revenue of $2.76 billion.”We are pleased with the strong performance of the business in the quarter, as we continued to work with customers and partners to navigate a challenging supply environment,” said Ita Brennan, Arista’s CFO.

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 Internet provider NetZero has been around since the 1990s, providing various types of connection services as technology has shifted. Today, in addition to other products, NetZero offers a 4G mobile broadband plan that is flexible and portable enough to go with you anywhere. With a variety of plans to choose from – even one that’s free – and no long-term contracts, there’s plenty to like about NetZero.PlanPriceMonthly DataConnection TypeBest forFree$0200 MBMobile BroadbandOccasional browsingBasic$17.951 GBMobile BroadbandLight browsing and emailPlus$27.952 GBMobile BroadbandLight browsing and emailPro$45.954 GBMobile BroadbandFrequent browsing and emailPlatinum$63.956 GBMobile BroadbandFrequent browsing, gaming, and streamingPlatinum Plus$79.958 GBMobile BroadbandFrequent browsing, gaming, and streaming* Data effective 3/22/20

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What are NetZero’s estimated speeds?

Since NetZero’s mobile broadband service relies on the 4G network, speeds depend on the strength of the signal and proximity to a cellular tower. However, NetZero advertises download speeds of up to 10 Mbps. This is pretty average for mobile broadband providers; FreedomPop offers speeds of 5 Mbps, while Verizon and AT&T advertise 12 Mbps.

Does NetZero offer a hotspot?

When you sign up for a NetZero plan, you have two options: bring your own device or purchase their hotspot for $59.95. The NetZero Hotspot is a device that connects to the mobile broadband service and acts as a WiFi access point for other devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Up to 10 devices can be connected at once.

What is NetZero’s pricing structure?

NetZero is unique in that it offers a free plan that includes 200 MB per month of data for $0. The caveat is that this plan requires the purchase of their $59.95 Hotspot and only lasts for 12 months. Afterwards, you’ll be forced to upgrade to a paid plan. Still, this isn’t a bad deal if you want to try out mobile broadband or simply need a backup connection to have on hand.

Who is each NetZero plan best for?

200 MBBest for one person, limited use1 GBBest for one person, light use2 GBBest for one person, light use4 GBBest for one person, moderate use6 GBBest for one or two people, moderate use8 GBBest for one or two people, moderate use

Where is NetZero available?

NetZero is available across most areas of the United States, but whether or not you can get NetZero in your specific region depends on the availability of 4G service. The most reliable way to find out if NetZero is available where you live is to visit their website and enter your home address. Speeds and plans may also vary depending on your geographic location.

Other Factors to ConsiderNetZero has no long-term plans or commitments; unlike most internet providers, you won’t be locked into service for months or years if you decide you’re unhappy. To give you additional flexibility, NetZero lets you choose whether you want to bring your own device or purchase one of theirs, although you’ll have to opt for the latter if you want to take advantage of the free plan.However, there are a couple things to keep in mind. NetZero does carry some hidden fees; for example, all plans are charged an additional $3.95 per month access fee. NetZero also doesn’t offer an unlimited data plan, which many competitors do. In fact, even the highest tier plan offered by NetZero is limited to just 8 GB. If you do a lot of heavy streaming, you may need to look at a different provider.NetZero vs. Other Providers Starting PriceAvailabilityDownload SpeedsConnectionContractNetZero$050 states10 MbpsMobile BroadbandNoneAT&T$5050 states12 MbpsMobile BroadbandNone required FreedomPop$050 states5 MbpsMobile BroadbandNoneVerizon Wireless$3550 states12 MbpsMobile BroadbandNone required

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