When cable companies like Xfinity started offering cell phone service plans, they worked like MVNOs, getting people to bundle another service with their cable plan. The only choice for home internet for some people is a single cable company. These companies often have networking equipment in most homes and businesses in an area, which they use to create a Wi-Fi network for customers.
A mobile carrier like Xfinity Mobile is an MVNO that uses Verizon’s network for mobile data. If you stay in your local area most of the time, most of your data usage could be on your ISP’s Wi-Fi network rather than on LTE or 5G. This saves money for the carrier and can be faster than using mobile data.
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Faster data speeds on average
Wi-Fi hotspots boost speeds
If you rent a gateway (modem and router) from your ISP, like Xfinity, that gateway’s extra capacity can be used to create an Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspot that other Xfinity users can use to access the internet. You can turn this off in your account settings or stick with the default settings. With Xfinity Mobile phones able to connect to these hotspots automatically, there’s not much of a downside.
Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest tool, released a report showing that this helped Spectrum Mobile users have faster data speeds than those using mobile data alone. In early 2024, an increase in speeds to Xfinity customers with WiFi Boost, now called PowerBoost, allowed speeds up to 1Gbps on compatible devices, pushing Xfinity Mobile closer to Spectrum Mobile through the end of 2024.
The best part is that nothing has changed for the user. Customers do not need to connect to Wi-Fi when they are out and about and can use their phones normally.
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All of your data connections on one bill
Wi-Fi and mobile data on the same account
Source: Xfinity
While carriers have made their apps better with easy payments and reminders, it’s nice to reduce the number of companies you pay. Xfinity and Spectrum aren’t the only ones offering home and mobile internet plans. The Big Three carriers are getting in on the action, with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offering home internet.
If you’re not tech-savvy, these big ISPs often have physical stores within driving distance. If something is wrong with your hardware, you don’t need to spend hours diagnosing it with phone or chat support. You can take it to a store for help. While you can find prepaid carriers with cheaper prices, this access to face-to-face support could be a big deal for many.
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Bundle discounts help you save
Get multiple services to save overall
Simplicity isn’t the only reason to bundle, with savings or perks for those who get multiple services through the same company. For example, in my area, you can get a year of Xfinity Mobile Unlimited for free with a 1,000Mbps home internet plan. While many of these deals are timed or limited to new customers, it’s worth checking out if you can save with one of these deals before getting locked into a new contract.
You still get many of the same discounts you would with any carrier, such as multi-line discounts for families. You could also get help if you need to pay off a phone to leave another carrier, or you could save by bringing your own phone. You’ll still pay taxes and fees, even for so-called free phone lines.
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No compromises on LTE and 5G coverage
The same towers as the Big Three away from Wi-Fi
The biggest reason to get phone service through your ISP is that when you leave Wi-Fi coverage, you have the same network as any other MVNO. For example, Xfinity puts you on the Verizon network with full Ultra Wideband 5G support. This gives you the best of both worlds since you get some of the best Verizon speeds while out and about. Speeds are potentially faster when close enough to an Xfinity customer’s gateway to get a solid Wi-Fi signal. If you’re not sure which carriers offer the best coverage, you can try them out with free trials if you own your phone.
These plans often have a set amount of high-speed data per month. If you’re a heavy user, you could be looking at reduced speeds by the end of the month if you mostly use LTE and 5G. If these plans aren’t a good fit for you, some of the other best value data plans could be a better fit.
Should you go out of your way to switch?
If you move to a new home and are setting up your home internet plan, these bundled mobile phone plans can look like a great deal, but there are some things to be aware of. First, check for extra taxes and fees. Spectrum includes taxes and fees. Xfinity adds them on at the end, making its plans pricier than they appear. You should also check for current promotions. These ISPs frequently have promotions and bundles to bring in new customers, so there’s a good chance you could save some more by shopping around a little.
Finally, if you’re looking for access to your ISP’s Wi-Fi hotspots and have a home internet plan, you can get connected. You may need to sign in to your account to get online, but you should still be able to connect your phone to these hotspots, even if you’re not a mobile customer.
