Reviewing T-Mobile's Internet through personal experiences

Image: T-Mobile Logo

Introduction

T-Mobile Home Internet is a wireless internet service that uses 5G technology to deliver fast and reliable internet to your home. The service is as cheap as $30 dollars a month if you have a qualifying plan but if you don't you will be paying $50 dollars for the service. Either way there are no annual contracts so if you don’t like the service you can cancel at any time. T-Mobile Home Internet is available in select areas, so you can check your eligibility on the T-Mobile website. Once you are eligible, you can order the service and a 5G Gateway will be shipped to your home. The 5G Gateway also known as a router has built-in WIFI and you can connect it over a wired connection if you would like. In my setup I am using the service as a backup internet service, I have it connected to my network over a wired connection. T-Mobile Home Internet typically offers download speeds of up to 245 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 23 Mbps. This is fast enough for most households to stream HD video, play online games, and work from home. In addition to fast speeds, T-Mobile Home Internet also offers a few other benefits:

• No data caps: You can use as much data as you want without having to worry about overage charges.
• No contracts: You can cancel your service at any time without penalty.
• Free 5G Gateway: The 5G Gateway is included at no additional cost.

I have been utilizing T-Mobile for my mobile telecommunication needs and have found their service to be quite satisfactory in my locality. Upon learning of T-Mobile's expansion into the Internet service domain, I became keen to evaluate its performance and reliability as a potential solution for my home internet requirements. While I was initially open to the idea of replacing my existing cable service with T-Mobile, several considerations ultimately deterred me from adopting it as the primary Internet service provider for my residence.

Brief History of T-Mobile

T-Mobile was founded in 1994 as VoiceStream Wireless PCS. It was acquired by Deutsche Telekom in 2001 and renamed T-Mobile USA. In 2013, T-Mobile merged with MetroPCS to become the fourth largest wireless carrier in the United States. T-Mobile went on to merge with Sprint in 2020 making it the 3rd largest mobile carrier behind ATT&T and Verizon.
T-Mobile entered the home internet market in 2020 with the launch of T-Mobile Home Internet. The service uses 5G technology to deliver fast and reliable internet to homes. T-Mobile Home Internet is available in select areas, but the company plans to expand its availability in the coming years. T-Mobile's entry into the home internet market is seen as a challenge to the traditional cable and DSL providers. T-Mobile's 5G network offers faster speeds and lower prices than traditional wired internet services. T-Mobile is also able to offer its service without contracts or data caps, which are common with cable and DSL providers. It remains to be seen whether T-Mobile will be successful in its entry into the home internet market. However, the company's strong financial position and its commitment to innovation give it a good chance of success. T-Mobile has firmly established itself as a front-runner in the telecom industry, and several factors have contributed to its success.

Firstly, the company's robust financial position cannot be overlooked. As the third largest wireless carrier in the United States, T-Mobile boasts over 90 million subscribers. This vast subscriber base provides the company with a sturdy financial bedrock, enabling it to make significant investments in emerging technologies and cutting-edge services.

Additionally, T-Mobile's commitment to innovation has set it apart in a competitive marketplace. The company has a storied history of pioneering new offerings that resonate with modern consumers. Notably, T-Mobile was the first service provider to introduce unlimited data plans, a move that redefined industry standards. Furthermore, in its pursuit of delivering next-generation connectivity, the company also took the lead in launching a 5G network in the United States.

Pricing strategies also play a crucial role in T-Mobile's appeal. By consistently offering competitive pricing on its wireless plans, T-Mobile has successfully positioned itself as an attractive option for consumers, often drawing them away from other carriers.

Lastly, a company's relationship with its customers is pivotal to its success, and in this regard, T-Mobile excels. The company has cultivated a reputation for delivering strong customer service, reinforcing its image as a consumer-centric brand in the telecom domain. This has helped the company retain customers and attract new ones. These factors are likely to help T-Mobile succeed in the home internet market as well. The company's strong financial position will allow it to invest in the infrastructure needed to deliver 5G home internet to more customers. T-Mobile's commitment to innovation will help it develop new and better ways to deliver home internet. And T-Mobile's competitive pricing and strong customer service will help it attract and retain customers.

Personal Experiences

When I initially explored T-Mobile's internet service, my objective was to evaluate its performance and assess its potential as a substitute for my then existing, higher priced internet provider. Given my remote work situation and the operation of multiple businesses from my residence including a Twitch streamer, both reliability and upload speeds were paramount. T-Mobile's service setup aligned seamlessly with their marketing promises, facilitating a user-friendly installation process for individuals with a broad range of technical proficiencies. Upon successful configuration, I experienced immediate, uninterrupted internet browsing and video streaming capabilities.

Image: T-Mobile 5G gateway

When first opening the box I noticed that there weren't a lot of parts to install. This is the reason that setup is so easy. You can unbox the 5G gateway device, plug it into the wall and use the T-Mobile app to set up the device all through the install wizard.

Once I completed the setup I ran through a few speed tests to see what my speeds would look like. The initial speed tests were pretty good around the 300 Mbps download and close to the 30 Mbps upload speed. These speeds were more than enough for streaming, video conferencing and browsing the internet. The latency was a bit higher than the cable provider but not so bad that you couldn’t play video games.

The one drawback from a speed/latency standpoint is when you are a Twitch streamer this service isn’t ideal as your main internet connection. It can however get you through those times when your main internet connection is down.

Reliability and Speed

The 5G internet service is pretty reliable, I have been monitoring it over the last several weeks and only noticed a few issues where the ping drop rate was bad enough that the service was unusable. This usually resolves itself within a few minutes.

I don’t really feel it is fair to compare T-Mobile's Internet service to my gigabit cable connect at least from a speed and latency standpoint, since the cable provider I have is much faster. Reliability of my cable provider has been extremely good with around 99.99% uptime over a month of monitoring.
I have now had T-Mobile internet service for about a year and never really had any issues. There are a couple of reasons I could never use it as my primary internet connection but for most people I feel the service would work pretty well.

The primary reason I only use T-Mobile internet as a backup service is that it doesn’t work well when it comes to streaming to Twitch. I have noticed several issues with dropped frames which affects the quality of the stream. Another issue I ran into is you have to use their router which is pretty basic in the features it supports. I have a full network with mesh wireless and a Netgate router. I am not able to put the T-Mobile gateway into bridge mode, there also does not seem to be a way to disable the wireless on the device. If you are a more advanced user this can be a big problem when integrating the service into an existing infrastructure.

Customer Support

My interactions with T-Mobile's cellular customer support have been largely satisfactory. However, when I contacted them regarding the compatibility of a third-party router with their Internet service, the experience was less than optimal. I encountered difficulties in articulating my request, and even once conveyed, the customer service representative seemed uncertain of my objective. Ultimately, I felt compelled to conclude the conversation amicably and pursue the information independently. It remains unclear whether this miscommunication was due to the representative's inadequate training or their inexperience, but the encounter was notably subpar.

Pricing and Value

When comparing wireless 5G home internet plans I chose the two big players in this area, Verizon and T-Mobile. Both Verizon and T-Mobile offer 5G home internet for comparable prices.

Starting with Verzion who has two plans to choose from one at $35 a month and the lower tier at $25 a month.

Image: Verizon Internet Plans

If we take a closer look at the two plans that are offered by Verizon there is no real difference in the speed. The difference seems to be that with the $35 dollar plan you also get a 3 years price guarantee and Verizon’s cloud backup. If you don’t really need to back anything to the cloud or you are not worried about the price hike then it isn’t really worth the extra $10 a month. Honestly you can get cloud backup for much cheaper from Google.

In comparison when we look at T-Mobile's offering they are pretty comparable to what Verizon is offering. Once again the speeds for the prices are the same no matter if you pay $30 or $50 you have to look at what they are giving you on top of the service to make your decisions.

Image: T-Mobile Internet Plans

Looking at the cheapest $30 a month plan you get home internet service and the gateway with integrated wireless but you have to have a Go5G plus or Magenta Max phone plan to get this price. This is the same thing that Verizon requires for their $25 dollar plan. The next step up which is the $40 plan requires the standard Go5g, Magenta or Essentials phone plans. These plans are the cheaper versions of their plan offerings. Finally T-Mobile has another tier of Internet service that costs $50 a month for the same speed of internet service. The only difference in the plan is you don’t get the added streaming services and you are not required to have any of their phone plans.

Upon comparing the internet services of both providers, I found that while discounts are offered based on different tiers of their phone plans, the speed and reliability of the internet service remain consistent regardless of the plan's price.

Advantages and Disadvantages

When it comes to T-Mobile’s home internet service there are a few pros and some drawbacks depending on what you are using the service for.

Pros:

• Good prices, usually around $30 to $50 dollars based on the cellular plan you have.
• Decent speeds anywhere from 200Mbp to 300Mbps, this is dependent on how good of a connection you have.
• Easy to setup even for a novice

Cons:

• Not good for complex setups, you have to use the included router
• Latency is not as good, especially for people who stream to Twitch and other services live.
• At the time of the writing you are not able to get Gig speeds or reliability that a fixed connection would provide you.

Who is T-Mobile's Internet Best Suited For?

T-Mobile's home internet is a commendable option, particularly for those in remote areas with limited choices. The service is well-suited for moderate streaming, but may face challenges with multiple devices streaming in 4K simultaneously. Gaming performance was satisfactory with minimal latency for the majority of games. However, professional streamers broadcasting their gameplay to a large audience might consider other alternatives better tailored to their requirements. Personally, I rely on a cable service known for its consistent performance, offering both impressive download and upload speeds, coupled with low latency.

If you require a sophisticated network setup, I wouldn't recommend T-Mobile as your primary internet provider at this time. The router/gateway they provide is basic, offering limited customization options like enabling bridge mode or turning off the wireless feature. As of this writing, it also appears that the service doesn't support third-party routers. Consequently, in my setup, I've designated T-Mobile's connection as a backup solution.

This service excels for users seeking an easy-to-set-up internet service with reliable and decent speeds. If that's what you're looking for, this service is ideal for you.

Future Expectations and Wishes

If I had the ability to influence the future of this service there would be a couple of items I would ask for, keeping in mind that I tend to like to customize everything I touch.

I would like the capability to use third-party equipment with T-Mobile's Internet service. If I could transfer the SIM card between devices, enabling me to use more advanced equipment, I might consider using this service as my primary Internet provider.

I would also prefer enhanced coverage and the flexibility to use this service on the go. Ideally, I'd like the option to install it in an RV or another vehicle, ensuring internet access even in remote locations. For T-Mobile's service to be a genuine competitor to services like Starlink, its coverage must improve significantly.

Conclusion

T-Mobile's venture into the home internet market with its 5G technology is undeniably noteworthy. Drawing from my own experiences and a deep dive into their offerings, it's clear that they've made strides in providing a competitively priced, fairly reliable, and straightforward internet service for a variety of consumers. While it might not be the top choice for tech-savvy individuals requiring advanced customization or professional streamers in need of flawless latency, it's a commendable option for the average user seeking a blend of affordability, simplicity, and speed.

T-Mobile's history in the telecom industry, characterized by innovation and a focus on customer experience, reflects in this new service. Their 5G home internet promises and largely delivers on the kind of seamless connectivity that the modern world demands. The no-contract, no data cap feature, paired with their competitive pricing strategy, places T-Mobile as a strong contender in this burgeoning space.

However, every service has room for improvement. The challenges with the router's limitations, certain latency issues, and the apparent gap in customer service training for this specific service indicate areas that T-Mobile can improve. Moreover, as the world shifts even more towards remote work and digital solutions, flexibility and adaptability in their offerings, like more mobile options, will further solidify their position in the market.

Looking forward, I'm eager to see how T-Mobile continues to innovate and expand its reach, leveraging its strengths and addressing its weak points. Their trajectory in the mobile world has been one of transformation and resilience, and there's potential for their home internet service to echo that journey. For now, T-Mobile's home internet is a robust solution for many and, with time and feedback, has the potential to be the choice for many more.

The final verdict on T-Mobile’s internet service is unless you have an advanced network configuration or you are a Twitch streamer where upload speeds and latency are important then T-Mobile Internet service should work great for you. This service really shines when it comes to people that want a quick easy install that is fast and reliable.

Disclaimer

This review of T-Mobile's home internet service is in no way sponsored or endorsed by T-Mobile and all of the content in this blog post is from my own personal experiences with the service. Your experience may differ based on your own usage of the internet service. Try the service out for yourself to see if it fits your needs.