Access to the internet is a must-have today, and not merely a nice-to-have. Disruption of the internet service can be expected to cause more upheavel in a household than disruption of other modern conveniences like power supply or telephone.
Xfinity offers standalone internet as well as bundles along with cable TV and phone. Subscribers get access to its vast network of wi-fi hotspots when they are on the move. You can get a no-contract plan but it might a few dollars more.
With pricing ranging from $19.99 to $299.99 per month and download speeds from 25 MBPS to 2000 MBPS, Xfinity internet offers something for everyone.
Xfinity Internet Plans
Xfinity offers nationwide internet service through its widespread cable network and growing fiber network, currently concentrated in the Northwest urban areas. Fiber is the latest technology and offers the fastest speeds with least distortion even over long distances.
Whether a budget user or a family, whether a work from home set of friends staying together or a gamer, Xfinity internet offers something that will suit everyone’s requirements, through its 39 cable and 4 fiber plans. Internet plans can be bundled with other services like cable TV and phone for better pricing.
Here is a sampling of a few plans that gives an indication of the range on offer:
| Performance Starter Plus | Performance Pro | Gigabit | Gigabit Pro |
Download Speed | 25 MBPS | 200 MBPS | 1 GBPS (1000 MBPS) | 2 GBPS (2000 MBPS) |
Upload Speed | 2 MBPS | 5 MBPS | 35 MBPS | 2 GBPS (2000 MBPS) |
Data Cap | 1.2 TB | 1.2 TB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Price per month | $19.99 | $49.99 | $84.99 | $299.99 (with $1,000 upfront) |
Tenure Commitment | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | No commitment but $1,000 upfront |
Connection Type | Cable | Cable | Fiber | Fiber |
Best For | Budget user, preferably single. | Upto 3 users sharing photos, Watching videos, Shopping online.
| Upto 7 users Video conferencing, Gaming online, Streaming on 3 or more devices, Sharing large files.
| Any use will be supported. |
Note: Plans and pricing might differ based on your location.
Xfinity offers equipment required to run the internet service, on rent. The primary equipment is the Xfinity Gateway, or Ffinity xFi, that is modem (router) that will channel the internet into your home from where it can be used on different devices, including the wi-fi router. It has built-in parental controls and app compatibility. It is a safe way of channeling the internet into your home with its security features. However, you may be able to save money in the long run, by purchasing a compatible modem and not renting the Xfinity equipment.
Though 1.2 TB is an extremely generous allowance, if your usage runs the risk of exceeding the allowance, the charges are steep. To avoid being charged for using data over your allowance, you can consider buying a $30 per month unlimited data allowance. Or, you can consider buying the xFi for $25 per month, including unlimited date.
Xfinity also gives you an Xfinity Flex, a streaming device, free of charge. It appears that Xfinity is doing beta testing through this approach. Well, it’s free! If you think it might be of some help, go ahead and try it out.
Pros
- A full-service provider with reliable service, for anything related to the internet, Xfinity can be trusted to have a solution.
- A wide network of Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, over a million, are available for users on the move
- A wide variety of plan options on offer to choose from. Every type of subscriber will find something for herself.
- No-contract plans offered. Could cost extra though.
- Wide product set on offer. Further savings can be availed by bunding with TV and Phone.
Cons
- All plans have a cap on data. Data caps, if exceeded, are liable for penal charges that are steep.
- Upload speeds don’t match download speeds. Limiting for people who need to upload media like video.
- Essential equipment like the xFi modem appear to be overpriced.
Xfinity Internet Service Coverage
Internet services are provided by Xfinity in 39 states of the union, in addition to Washington, DC. California, Illinois and Florida are the areas of its thickest concentration of users with about 10 million each or more. XFINITY offers service in 11,003 zip codes nationwide.
Its cable internet reached 110 million people while Fiber reaches 19000, mostly in the North East states, across an estimated 58 million homes and businesses.
Xfinity also has a thick network of public wi-fi hotspots for on-the-go usage, over a million of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xfinity Internet is available as a standalone service with a wide range of plans that will suit every type of requirement. Plans start with $19.99 monthly for a 25 MBPS download speed and go uo to $299 which give you download speeds of 2000 MBPS (2 GBPS).
The Xfinity Gigabit Pro plan offers unlimited data Other plans limit data to 1.2 TB (or 1 TB depending on location), which is adequate for the usage of most families. However, to avoid paying $10 for every additional 50GB usage over the allowance, you may want to consider buying unlimited data at an additional cost of $30, especially during months you expect your usage to be excessive.
Xfinity offers a variety of plans as different users have requirements that are different. If you are a heavy user and require the fastest speeds, you should consider the Gigabyte Pro plan that offers download and upload speeds of 2000 MBPS with no limit on dat It is available for $299 per month. If you are a budget user you may wish to consider the Performance Starter Plus plan for $19.99 per month that will give you download speeds of 25 MBPS.
While there are no hidden costs, plan availability and pricing could vary based on your location. In addition, the same plan could be available for different prices if you take a contract as opposed to not taking a contract. Hence, it is recommended that you read the terms and conditions.
In addition, you will need a modem/ router through the internet service will be channeled into your home. This can be rented from Xfinity. You can also buy a compatible device on your own.
Xfinity supports the Federal Government’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a temporary subsidy program available on all tiers of Xfinity Internet service, including Internet Essentials. EBB is a temporary subsidy program from the Federal Government designed to help low-income households connect to the Internet and stay connected during the COVID-19 crisis. Qualified households can receive a temporary monthly credit of up to $50/month (up to $75/month for customers in Tribal lands) toward their Internet service and leased Internet equipment until the program’s funding runs out.
So, yes. You can get plans for free if you qualify for the program.
Xfinity delivers internet services through two channels:
1. Cable – The network through which TV is delivered. At this point this is perhaps the most widespread network as it rides on the same coaxial cable network laid out for reaching television to your house many years back. Perhaps on account of being a legacy network, it is a cost-effective proposition and can provide competitive download speeds. This is a nationwide network.
- Fiber – This technology uses fiber, or fiber-optic, cables, to deliver internet, as opposed to the copper wire used by Cable and DSL. Fiber is a newer technology which use light signals to send data to and from your computer and is faster and more reliable. It can carry data over much longer distances with no or relatively lower distortion. Fiber offers matching speeds on downloads and uploads. Currently limited to urban areas in the North East.
About Xfinity
Xfinity is a brand of Comcast Corporation and is owned by Comcast Cable Communications, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is one the largest internet services in the US
Of the set of businesses that have merged into Comcast, rich history begins with the live broadcast of the 1936 Berlin Olympics by NBC. Comcast was founded in 1963 by Ralph Roberts and went public in 1972. There have been a series of defining moments in its history, like the partnership of Universal Studios, now a part of Comcast, with Steven Spielberg and the release of Jaws, followed by many other historic motion pictures. The coverage of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 by Tom Brokaw, the only American permitted, launch of the Golf Channel in 19914, one of the first channels dedicated to a sport, and the acquisition of AT&T Broadband in 2002 and NBC Universal in 2011, with an investment by Microsoft in 1997. All this is part of the rich legacy of Comcast.
The business and residential internet plans branded as ‘Comcast’ earlier were rebranded to Xfinity in 2010. Xfinity, in addition to fiber and cable internet, also offers telephone, wireless and TV services. Xfinity’s focus is on residential customers while the parent organization Comcast’s business includes data transit and business services. Xfinity services ride on the widespread cable network of Comcast.
Its cable internet reached 110 million people while Fiber reaches 19000, mostly in the North East states, across an estimated 58 million homes and businesses.
