First Time Internet Buyer? Let Us Help.

Written by Jason H. | Aug 19, 2024 12:00:00 PM

Whether moving out of your parents or buying your first home for your family, buying internet or TV service can be intimidating. We're here to tell you what to consider when picking the right speed and bundle for your new place.

How does internet connection work?

A connection to the internet relies on a network of copper or fiber-optic cables, which deliver signals to and from gateways in homes and businesses. The gateways then transfer the signals to wired and wireless devices in its network, and the result is an internet connection.

Copper networks use electromagnetic signals, while fiber uses pulses of light. This light-speed transmission means the speed of a fiber internet connection is limited only by the equipment at either end, making it fast, reliable, and future-proof.

How do I understand internet speeds?

Internet speeds are measured by how quickly data is transferred over a network. This speed is based on the amount of bandwidth you have; the more bandwidth, the faster your internet.

Internet speeds are usually referred to in Megabits per second (Mbps). Simply put, a higher number in front of the Mbps equals a faster connection. If your internet plan is measured in Gigabits per second (Gbps, equal to 1,000 Mbps), you have some lightning-fast speed! 

One more thing to know: The speed advertised by many internet providers only refers to downloads; upload speeds are often much slower. To learn more about why you might want a "symmetrical" internet plan with high upload speeds, check out our blog article: Symmetrical Internet: Everything You Need to Know.

What internet speed do I need?

To determine what speed to purchase, you will need to consider a few things within your everyday life. How many devices will be used simultaneously? What are you using your internet for? How many people are in your household? This all determines the speed that will most benefit your everyday needs.
 
For instance, the Q1 2022 Open Vault Broadband Insights Report states each U.S. broadband household has an average of 25 connected devices. If you are living with roommates, each with their own phone, laptop, smart TV, gaming console, and more, it's easy to see how all these online devices add up! For a home with 20+ devices, we recommend at least 800 Mbps download speed. 
 
Learn more about internet connection and speed by reading our blog: How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?

What internet speeds and features are available through altafiber?

altafiber has been hard at work investing in fiber infrastructure to offer customers whatever Internet speeds suit their needs. With plans ranging from 400 Mbps to 2 Gbps, many of which offer symmetrical upload and download speeds, you can elevate your connection however you wish. Click here to see what your address is qualified for.

Depending on your everyday use and the number of people living with you, you may want to consider some extra features to enhance your connection. Here are some additional features offered by altafiber to accommodate your needs:

  • Whole Home WiFi: Have an attic or room in the basement that stubbornly resists internet connection? Are all the roommates trying to avoid claiming the bedroom with spotty WiFi? Whole Home WiFi enhances the performance of your network, ensuring every corner of your home is connected.
  • Fioptics Home: This bundle of services includes Whole Home WiFi and much more! Never worry about your connection again with Premium Technical Support, Fioptics Care, and 

Oh, and did you know altafiber also offers TV service? Fioptics+ television offers the ultimate way to watch TV, with hundreds of channels, integration for all your streaming services, and more

I purchased Fioptics Internet from altafiber. Now what? 

Once you have chosen your custom bundle, you will have the option to self-install your service or have a technician professionally install it for you (depending where you live). If a technician installs, you will schedule a time that is convenient for you. The technician will come to your home for a few hours to do the install. (Please note: someone will need to be home during this time.) Once your installation is complete, you can set up paperless billing in our My altafiber App and set reminders or create automatic payments for your monthly bill. Easy as that!

Once your network is up and running, maintain it with these best practices:

  1. Reboot your gateway monthly to clear piled up stored data and maintain good connections with your devices.
  2. Always keep your devices updated to the latest version of their system software,

Visit the button below to get started today and check out our bundles. Have more questions? Use our live chat for immediate assistance.