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For some people, Earthlink is a familiar name to small business internet. Earthlink business internet plans was one of the first internet service providers in the U.S. market dating as far as 1994. It’s no secret that the company has seen better days but somehow managed to hang around for all this time.
How does Earthlink’s services for small business internet stack up from the rest of the many providers offering competitive solutions to businesses?
This goes a long way to prove their tenacity. That aside, Earthlink is an ISPs that deals exclusively with DSL internet.
However, since there have been immense advancements in technology, they expanded their network and started offering high-speed fiber internet. One of the common things in the internet service market is stiff competition. There are many internet service providers in the U.S., and all of them are competing for the same customers. Therefore, the companies are ever-growing and improving their services to meets the demands and needs of the customers. Earthlink has not been left behind either.
The company provides internet access to residential customers, small as well as large businesses. Because it’s a service provider that has been around long enough, they may be in a better position to meet all of your demands. As we speak, Earthlink has garnered itself more than a million subscribers in the U.S. market. Though in 2016, Windstream took over Earthlink.
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Packages and prices
The Earthlink internet speeds and prices vary according to the locations. This is the norm with the majority of internet service providers. Also, not all their plans are available in every area that has the service. At a glance, Earthlink offers a variety of options for its customers, which is a good thing. You are given a wide array of internet speeds to choose from and decide which will serve you best. Another impressive thing is that they have some fiber options. This is exciting news for those people who are crazy about high-speed internet.
On the other hand, I am not happy about the fact that Earthlink prices and speeds change with the location. For one thing, this makes it hard to determine the exact amount of money you are likely to spend on the internet if you decided to sign up. In addition, when you check their website, you will find that they don’t really list down all the available options.
Here is a brief outline of their plans;
- Hyperlink Internet- starts at #49.99 per month, with maximum speeds of up to 1gbps
- Satellite internet-starts at $49.99, with maximum speeds of 100mbps
- DSL internet-starts at $14.95 for the first three months, with speeds of up to 15mbps
- Dial-up internet- goes for $9.95 for the first three months.
Earthlink satellite internet
Earthlink understands that people in rural areas need reliable internet. Since many of the cable service providers don’t cover the remote communities, satellite internet is usually the only option. The Earthlink satellite service is now powered by HughesNet. This plan has coverage across the country and comes with speeds of 25mbps. There is also the 50GB monthly data allowance, which is more like a bonus.
Earthlink Hyperlink
Hyperlink is the company’s flagship fiber-optic service. Any small or large business requires reliable internet for normal operations. Nowadays, almost everything is done online, and a small hitch can cost business tons of money. Therefore, high-speed fiber optic internet service is a big deal. At only 49.95 per month, you are given internet access with speeds of 75mbps. They also state that this plan has no data caps
However, there are a number of hidden charges involved with this particular plan. For instance, the installation alone will cost you a whopping $69.95. Aside from this, there is the modem fee that goes at $74.95, or you rent it for $6.95 per month. You are also locked into a twelve-month contract that includes an early termination fee of $200.
When you put two and two together, you will quickly realize this Earthlink package is way too expensive compared to other providers.
Earthlink DSL
The DSL plan is one of their inexpensive options. It’s not that fast, but with speeds of about 15mbs and is acceptable business internet
Earthlink Dial-up
If you are looking for the cheapest deal, then the Dial-up package is the best available option. The maximum download speed here is 56kbps, and this quite low. Therefore, this plan may not be suitable for heavy use. You can use it for activities such as browsing and checking emails.
With that said, there is an added advantage of being able to access the internet from anywhere as long as you have the phone line. Furthermore, you are allowed as many as eight email addresses with spam blocking abilities and virus detection.
Earthlink’s internet speeds
The truth is Earthlink covers almost all purposes with its wide variety of internet speeds. The Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is one of their internet connections that transmits through a telephone line. Generally, the DSL speeds are way faster than the dial-up. It’s unlikely for people to choose the dial-up plan because it’s quite slow and may not be suitable for business purposes.
The fiber plans offer the fastest internet speeds and are more reliable. As a matter of fact, business owners may be better off choosing fiber over the DSL internet plans. With that said, you have to remember the Earthlink fiber plans are not available in all areas. This can be an inconvenience for the people who want high-speed internet.
In addition, the price of the fiber plans from Earthlink is very high. If you did some research, you would discover many other service providers offer similar speeds at a lower cost. Take, for instance, Earthlink’s fastest internet speed is 1000mbps and costs $99.95 per month. There are some ISPs that will offer you a better deal for the same speeds.
Contracts, equipment and service fees
So that you know in detail exactly what you are getting yourself into, it’s vital to look into the details concerning service fees, contracts, and equipment. Many people sign up with a service company only to realize it’s more expensive than they initially thought. Most of the additional costs come from the equipment and service fees.
Contracts
The majority of people are not fond of contracts. Unfortunately, this is a standard practice that is common with many internet service providers. Earthlink requires at least a twelve-month contract for many of its internet plans. Well, as you already know, a contract is usually closely followed by an early termination fee. In this case, the termination fee for the DSL plans is $90 and $200, respectively, for the fiber plans.
There is nothing wrong with getting into a contract with the company if you are sure you want their long term services. The issue comes when you want to change companies, and you are slapped with a hefty termination fee. Furthermore, the prices might spontaneously rise, and there is nothing you can do but stick to the agreement. Awful!
Equipment
Earthlink makes you pay for their equipment and installation. It’s mandatory if at all you want their services. For the hyperlink internet service, the required equipment is a modem which you can rent at $6.95 per month. They also go ahead to specify that you are not allowed to buy your own modem. This means that you must purchase the modem from them for $74.95.
There is nothing as disheartening as being forced to buy equipment from the ISPs. You might find that their provided equipment does not offer the features you want, or it’s a bit more expensive than if you got your own. When calculating your monthly bill, make sure you have added the cost of the equipment. One thing should light you up, though; their rental fee is a bit lower.
The service fee
Installing the lower plans is easy, and with a clear guide, you can do it yourself. However, the hyperlink plan requires professional installation. Keep in mind; the installation is not free. You have to pay $69.95 for it. As much as the customers have no choice, it would be great if ISPs such as Earthlink provided lower-priced installations. I am doing the math quickly in my head, and when you add up everything, the costs only seem to be going higher and higher.
Customer service
Customer service is an important aspect of every service provider. There are so many things that people would like to find out directly from customer service. This can be the available plans, prices, or equipment and service fees. How then will you get your questions answered if the customer care service is unresponsive?
Unfortunately, poor customer service is another common issue among ISPs. There are tons of complaints from customers about the slower speeds which don’t match what was advertised, frequent price jumps, and unexpected service interruptions. These are just a few of the issues the Earthlink customers bring to the table.
Fortunately, Earthlink has a live chat option. This is way faster and more convenient than having to send an email. Calling on the customer service number should probably be the last resort. They will put you on hold for a couple of minutes before answering the call. You can also talk to them through their social media accounts.
Service reliability
Earthlink gives the spotlight to its hyperlink internet service as the best in terms of fast speeds. This is true considering the 1Gbps plan allows heavy-duty use, and you can connect lots of devices. With such fibre-optic speeds, your business will run smoothly without buffering and downtimes.
The fiber service is available in about 21 states. All things considered, this is a high number because fiber internet is not readily available or even widespread.
Furthermore, their satellite internet provides coverage in rural areas. This means that even if you have no access to the hyperlink plans, there is still a chance of getting good internet.
Pros and cons
There are some benefits you can reap from using Earthlink internet services. However, some things make it a not so good option.
The Good
A wide array of internet speeds
When it comes to speed, Earthlink has a lot of choices for the customers. There is a plan for everyone and one that will suit every purpose. They also have fiber plans that offer super-fast speeds for commercial uses.
There are no data caps.
The best part of using Earthlink is their unlimited data. There are no data caps, and this means you can use their internet as much as you like.
Affordable plans
The Earthlink plans may seem expensive, but they are not that far apart from what the other service providers have to offer.
The Bad
The speed varies depending on your area
It seems like a wildcard when it concerns the promised internet speeds, so it’s important to note that each location has different internet speeds, and this may not be what is specified on the plans. Check with Earthlink business department to confirm the plans and speeds available within your locality.
Questionable transparency on price and serviceability.
Information about the plans is not clearly outlined on the website. Unless you call them, there is no way of knowing the plans available in your area and what or if there are any additional fees in their prices.
Limited high-speed coverage
The fiber-optic internet is only accessible in a few selected regions, to check if your business location is a viable option for Earthlink’s fiber network then scroll down and click your state below.
Frequently asked questions
Where is EarthLink available?
Earthlink offers its services in most of the U.S. states. However, if you are unsure, simply go to their website and enter your address to check whether it’s available in the area.
Does Earthlink provide internet-only services?
Yes, the company deals with internet-only packages.
How fast is Earthlink internet?
The company uses advanced fiber-optic technology to provide download speeds of up to 75mbps. There is also the premium plan with a 1Gbps speed.
Does EarthLink have wifi or wireless internet plans?
To access their internet, you are given a modem that works the same as a wireless router. This provides wifi to your home or business.
Conclusion
Earthlink business internet is not a bad internet service provider to go with for your business venture however you may find them lagging behind some of the top competitors of the market such as Centurylink, AT&T, Spectrum and the others. They do their best to ensure customer satisfaction. On the other hand, there are several things to consider before making the decision, the high prices are one crucial aspect that may not sit well with business owners. That said, at the end of the day, it’s your choice to make depending on the area you do business in, in which case its best to choose the provider that offers the most competitive service in your area.
Scroll below to see what are the best deals for business internet in your area by clicking your state below and see how much you can potentially save.
