Windstream used to offer office internet service via telephone lines in my area. Speeds were acceptable but I couldn’t stream in 4K. They just recently overbuilt their DSL network in my area with fiber, and let me tell you, their service has gotten pretty good since then.
I had to buy an optical network terminal to upgrade to fiber internet, but now I’m getting 500 Mbps max speeds, which is their slowest tier available. Even at this speed, I’m able to stream in 4K on multiple devices simultaneously at any time of the day with no buffering whatsoever.
They’ve been replacing their networks with underground fiber-optic cables in rural areas, from what I could dig up (pun intended). If you happen to live in an area where Windstream Internet is provided via fiber, I highly recommend it.
But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are seven fact-based reasons Windstream Internet is worth switching to.
7 Reasons Windstream Internet is Worth It
1. Fiber is Better Than Cable, DSL, and Wireless Internet
I mentioned fiber, right? Windstream has chosen fiber for its new networks because of its many benefits over conventional internet connections, including cable, DSL, and wireless internet services such as satellite.
Fiber internet uses pulses of light traveling through glass cables to transmit data. These signals are less susceptible to interruptions that would lead to errors in the data, allowing ISPs to provide higher speeds without increasing the latency. As a result, fiber internet is faster, more reliable, and superior to other types of home internet in almost every way.
2. Speeds Up To 8 Gig
Windstream has introduced an 8-gig speed tier across its fiber footprint in 18 states. This new inconceivably fast internet plan is available to 400,000 homes today, making Windstream the largest 8-gig internet provider in the nation.
You can ask Windstream customer service if you’re among the households with access to Windstream’s 8-gig tier. But even the starter fiber internet plan, which costs the same as Windstream’s DSL service, has a max speed of 500 Mbps. This is enough to power most modern homes. If you want faster speeds for downloads, you can at least get the 2 Gbps tier even if the 8 Gbps tier isn’t available where you live yet.
3. Symmetrical Speeds
One of the exclusive and identifying features of fiber is symmetrical speeds. Fiber-to-the-home internet typically allows the same maximum upload speed as the download speed. Symmetrical speeds allow for better-quality video calls and much faster uploads.
4. Low Latency
Fiber Internet has much lower latency than other types of internet service, including cable. This isn’t because light signals travel faster than electronic signals, but because fiber networks have more bandwidth. Data packets don’t have to wait for the network to get decongested as much, so there’s less delay between transmission and reception. As a gamer, I can vouch for the lower ping I’m not getting with Windstream fiber.
5. High Reliability and Consistency
Despite popular belief, reliability and consistency are two different things. Reliability is the percentage of time the network is online, while consistency measures how the speeds vary depending on the time of day. Windstream boasts a 99.9% reliability for its network, which is as high as you can get with residential internet. The consistency is pretty good too and you can game or stream in 4K even during peak usage hours.
6. Unlimited Data
Data caps are a deal breaker for me. I don’t use terabytes of data every month, but I don’t like having to pay overage fees when I download too many games in a month. Windstream Internet doesn’t have a data cap for any of its plans, which is a great plus at least for me.
7. No Annual Contract
If you’re worried about being locked into a plan you can’t switch from, I have good news for you. Windstream doesn’t require a term contract with any of its plans now. You can switch to a different speed or cancel the service any time you want.
Is Windstream Internet Available in Your Area?
It can’t all be good news, can it? The only catch is that Windstream Fiber isn’t available everywhere Windstream operates. In many areas, it still provides internet service via DSL, although it is bringing fiber to more markets. The DSL service only has speeds up to 100 Mbps, but you still get unlimited data with 99.9% reliability without signing a term contract. Here are the Windstream internet plans that may be available in your area.
100 Mbps DSL
I had been using Windstream’s DSL internet before I upgraded to fiber. It’s not the fastest internet service out there, but it gets the job done. The speeds were more than sufficient for my day-to-day internet needs; I didn’t face any problems while streaming videos, working from home, or gaming.
Currently, the DSL plan is offered as Kinetic Internet Basic at $39.99 per month for 12 months. It’s a great entry-level option even if Windstream doesn’t have fiber in your area.
500 Mbps Fiber
The upgrade to Kinetic Fiber Internet has been a game-changer for me. The difference is noticeable, especially when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. 4K streaming and video conferencing are free from buffering, and large file downloads take little time. The reliability and consistency have also continued to impress.
The 500 Mbps tier is available at the same price as Windstream DSL Internet, i.e. $39.99 per month for 12 months.
1 Gbps Fiber
While I haven’t personally subscribed to the 1 GIG plan, it’s a good value for money from what I’ve heard. The Kinetic Fiber Internet GIG currently costs $69.99 per month for 12 months for a symmetrical 1000 Mbps speed. Other perks of fiber internet such as low latency and consistent speeds are retained.
2 Gbps Fiber
The 2 Gbps plan is available in most Windstream fiber markets at variable prices. Most applications won’t use such high speeds, but if you download/upload large files and think multi-gig speeds can save you time, this plan is definitely worth considering.
8 Gbps Fiber
The new 8 GIG plan from Windstream is as fast as you can go with residential internet service. At 8 Gbps, you can theoretically download a massive 100 GB file in under 2 minutes—now that’s what I call FAST!
This plan is not currently available in all of Windstream’s fiber markets and the prices may vary by location. If you want nothing but the best and happen to be among the 400,000 homes with access to this tier, go ahead and call Windstream customer service!
Multi-gig speeds or not, Windstream is a solid choice of internet with consistent speeds, unlimited data, no contract requirements, and 99.9% network reliability. Most homes will find the 500 Mbps plan sufficient for everything from 4K streaming to file sharing.
Windstream is still in the process of replacing its DSL networks with fiber. As this is a costly process and requires hefty investments along with grants, it will take some time before Windstream Internet is provided with fiber everywhere. In the meantime, you can still expect reliable speeds up to 100 Mbps with Windstream Kinetic Internet Basic which also includes unlimited data and requires no term commitment.
