The New Service T-Mobile Wants To Provide To Its Customers
T-mobile is gearing up to disrupt a huge industry by offering a one of a kind internet experience to millions of people.
This article is more than 2 years old
T-mobile has big plans. The cellular provider has made its vision of offering 5G internet to the public a reality. And they are kicking it off with an overt marking plan, not too dissimilar from Apple’s iconic 1984 approach, boldly claiming that its version of the internet frees the public from all the BS that plagues the industry. Now, following a 2021 pilot phase, T-Mobile’s 5G internet is finally available to nearly 40 million folks nationwide.
So does T-Mobile’s new internet service really have what it takes to shake up the industry? The answer is sort of. For starters, its “no BS” claim is pretty on point. Unlike other internet service providers, both traditional and new, there is only one plan to choose from with absolutely no hidden fees. T-mobile’s internet plan costs $50 a month ( $30 for eligible Magenta Max subscribers). There are no extra fees for equipment (this is great because the company throws in a wi-fi router for no additional charge). There are no data caps. And there is no contract, which means if you don’t like it, you can simply cancel it with no strings attached. That’s certainly a breath of fresh air compared to some other companies (ahem..Comcast..ahem) Initially, the cellular company’s internet service will be available to approximately 40 million customers nationwide.
The thing is, if it seems too good to be true, it kind of is. Well, right now, at least. T-mobile’s internet is intended to operate off of 5G (5th generation cellular connectivity). Raw 5G connectivity is inherently fast. The thing is 5G has not been widely implemented across the US yet. This means that to meet its 40 million customer reach T-mobile is forced to rely on its existing network of 4G LTE. This means that speeds will greatly vary between users depending on their location. According to CNET, their testers saw a great disparity in speeds. Some experienced as low as 40 Mbps download speeds, whereas others saw as fast as 300 Mbps. T-mobile themselves state that customers (depending on area) can expect speeds to range from 33 Mbps to 182 Mbps.
Given the variability in internet speeds, the question becomes is T-mobile’s internet worth it? Not for everybody, not yet. If you are a person who needs consistently reliable internet speeds, then T-mobile’s internet offering is not likely a good choice for you right now.
That being said, if you happen to live in a rural part of the United States, where your internet options have been largely limited to older technologies (like DSL and even dial-up) T-mobile’s option could come as a godsend. By the same token, if you live in a busy metro outfitted with the latest 5G technologies in close range, it could also be a good option. For everyone else, there are still better options. That being said, T-mobile’s internet service has a lot of potential. If the company plays its cards right as 5G becomes more fleshed out, it really could serve to shake up an industry that is in desperate need of a disrupter.
