Will Shanklin
T-Mobile Home Internet is a new service that taps into the wireless carrier's 5G network to provide home broadband access and quick setup through a companion iOS app.
The service launches Wednesday, with more than 30 million U.S. households eligible to sign up. It only includes one plan, costing $60 per month without added taxes, fees, contracts, or equipment charges.
The carrier says most new customers will enjoy average speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. However, real-world 5G speeds on today's mobile devices — including the iPhone 12 — often fall far short of those lofty claims.
T-Mobile says Home Internet also lacks data caps, allowing for truly unlimited use.
The "Un-Carrier" will send a gateway router to customers who sign up for the service. The device has a simple setup, requiring only a power outlet and a central location.
The router includes a pre-installed SIM card, which will pick up a 5G connection and relay it as a local WiFi network. It also has a built-in battery, allowing users to move it around their homes to find the spot with the best signal.
The gateway device supports the WiFi 6 standard. The company says it can support up to 64 simultaneous device connections, and it includes two built-in Ethernet ports. The router will fall back to LTE speeds if it loses its 5G signal.
Not everyone can sign up yet. Availability depends on network capacity, something T-Mobile plans to increase over time. Users can enter their home address on T-Mobile's sign-up page to find out if they're eligible.
The Federal Communications Commission has estimated that 19 million Americans — 6 percent of the population — lack access to fixed high-speed broadband service. T-Mobile hopes its home broadband rollout will help fill in some of those gaps, combined with other wireless carriers and SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband.
A group of U.S. senators recently called on the FCC to "establish a 21st century definition of high-speed broadband" of 100 Mbps for both uploads and downloads.
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9 Comments
T mobile 5G on my iPhone 12 Pro Max averages 250-300 mbps (Miami ,FL) and has peaked at just over 500. I wonder if they are going to throttle the use and keep it in the 100 range. If they don’t this sounds like a good option.
I’m lucky if I get 1 bar with t-mobile at my house. But the price is right, LOL.
Unlimited has been a staple of the operators for years here in Finland. I pay around $50 a month for 1000 M 5G. The US is way behind.
Comcast (a crappy horrible service) gets that for less now. T Mobile is behind. I use Visible for everything unlimited including home internet for $40.00 a month. I’m not a troll either. I had TMobile for 10 years, they are crap since Legre left
Soon to be joining the likes of a trashcan!