Starry is a top contender for 5G home Internet despite its relatively new infrastructure. Its network is smaller than most competitors, but the company plans to expand quickly. Their plans come in two speeds, 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps, and they don't enforce data caps or charge hardware fees. They're also available in various locations, including rural areas.

CenturyLink

While rural Internet providers like CenturyLink aren't going to be the fastest around, they are still reliable and scalable, making them a viable option for many people. The best rural internet providers don't necessarily offer the fastest speeds, but they are more than capable of delivering the most important services. Read on to learn more about these providers and what they can offer you. This article is written to help you decide which one to choose.

One of the greatest features of CenturyLink is its price structure. Their plans come with unlimited data, no contracts, and no annual contracts. If you don't want to get a contract, you can also pay a one-time fee of $200 to install your service. CenturyLink also offers no contracts, so you can cancel your plan. Unlike other internet providers, you're also free to upgrade, move home, or upgrade plans.

Comlink

If you live in rural areas and want to stay connected, you should check out Comlink 5G home internet. Their service is fast, and you can get unlimited data for as low as $30 per month. You'll need to watch your data usage, though, because the speed is dependent on the signal strength and the time of day. Comlink offers three different packages at affordable prices, with some plans offering a free trial. Opt for a higher-tier package if you're looking for the most speed.

Though it hasn't hit many rural areas yet, in some areas in the United States where the technology is being tested and rolled out, this service will be available to households in these areas in a few years. Unlike 5G mobile phones, it will be cheaper to get and use. And since it's a residential service, there won't be long-term contracts to sign. Currently, Verizon and T-Mobile have 4G LTE home internet services. While 4G is a slower version of 5G, it's still an option for many people.

Kinetic by Windstream

If you're in the market for a new broadband connection, you've probably heard of the Kinetic by Windstream brand. This broadband service comes with an affordable price tag and high speeds. The company offers a wide range of packages, from 200 Mbps to GIG. The plans vary geographically and provide various speeds and devices that can connect. For more information, check out the company's website.

If you're in a rural area, Kinetic has DSL service, but its network is better than most other providers. It's estimated that 86% of its homes will have access to broadband speeds, and 65% of these homes can get 100 Mbps. The internet plans are unlimited and don't have contracts or data caps, making them an excellent choice for many rural customers.

The Kentucky company plans to roll out fiber broadband in Laurel County, KY, in early 2022. The fiber buildout is part of a $2 billion multi-year plan. In late November, the company also announced plans to expand into Rowan County, KY. As of March 28, Kinetic has fiber in every county in Kentucky, and they've already invested $193 million in expanding their network. By the end of 2020, nearly 92,000 locations in Kentucky will have access to 1 Gbps internet service.

Mediacom

As the fifth-largest cable operator in the U.S., Mediacom delivers services to 1.5 million customers in 22 states. In addition to offering 5G services, Mediacom also offers 4G RAN solutions. In a recent press release, the company revealed that it would become the first major cable provider in the United States to launch a 3GPP standards-based Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The company has also leveraged the capabilities of Ericsson's 4G, and 5G RAN technology.

Founded in 1995, Mediacom has grown into the fifth-largest cable television company in the U.S. The company's service area covers 22 states, including the Midwest, Southeast, and Texas. Overall, Mediacom's internet plans are average, with a 3.44 out of 5 scorings below the industry average. However, if you live in a rural area with few fiber internet options, Mediacom is probably your best bet.

Starry Internet plans and pricing

Starry's new home Internet plans use fixed-wireless connections and 5G signals to deliver blazing-fast speeds. A network of transmitters is placed within the line of sight of residential buildings, and an antenna mounted on the roof picks up the signal and dispatches it to customers. Although Starry's home internet plans aren't as fast as fibre or cable, they can match download speeds of 1,000 Mbps. Their prices are much more reasonable, ranging from $50 per month. Customers also don't need to purchase extra equipment, such as a router or modem.

The company plans to expand into dozens of new markets by 2022. It already has coverage in six cities. To join, you must live in an apartment complex or a condominium complex with the Starry Trident. It is also available to single-family residences. The company expects to have a network in tens of millions of homes by that time. And unlike many other companies, Starry doesn't charge any equipment fees, and it doesn't require contracts.

Rise Broadband

If you're considering a home internet provider, you might want to consider Rise Broadband. They provide fast service and flexible packages designed to fit your budget. Depending on your needs, they can also provide services for your business. Their plans include unlimited data, high-speed WiFi, and more. And if you're in the market for a rural broadband plan, they've got you covered.

The company offers a month-to-month contract, but you can also sign up for a one-year or two-year contract. However, it's worth noting that the monthly rate is significantly higher than the one-year contract price. And if you want to cancel your service early, there's a $200 setup fee, which is more expensive than a two-year contract. If you're considering a monthly plan, you can consider Rise Broadband, which has a flexible contract.

One rural internet service is Mediacom. Using a cable line, Mediacom is a good option for some areas. However, if you don't want to spend a lot of money, this option is only suitable for 2% of U.S. residents. Mediacom is available in the South, Middle East, and some parts of California and Delaware. Their basic plan includes 200GB of data, and higher-tier plans offer as much as 6000GB of data.

Ziply Fiber

The first 5-gig home internet provider in the Northwest is Ziply Fiber. The company recently announced that it has launched its rural fiber network and started construction in 57 cities in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State. This new service is a huge step in the company's mission to create the region's fastest fibre network. Ziply Fiber's service is vital in bridging the digital divide between large metro areas and smaller suburbs, and rural communities.

Ziply's fibre internet network is impressive, although only half of Ziply's service areas are eligible for fibre. The company only offers a single plan for its fastest speeds, with speeds of 115Mbps starting at $50 per month. Most customers will likely receive slower speeds, however. While Ziply's internet network has the potential to offer 5G speeds, the company also offers plans at a much lower cost.

Conclusion

Ultimately, 5G will be available to rural areas and resemble the same type of service as it does in large cities. However, in rural areas, the technology will likely be based on lower band frequencies that offer lower latency and marginally higher speeds. Additionally, 5G in rural areas is unlikely to be profitable because of its dependency on densely deployed small cells. Therefore, the technology will likely remain a niche product for rural areas.

The speed of broadband access has traditionally depended on the area's infrastructure. Previously, the fastest speeds were achieved through fibre-optic cables, followed by cable and DSL infrastructure. True wireless solutions were often considered a last resort. However, 5G home internet is faster than even DSL, and it can rival broadband in some areas. The future of technology is not far away.