What you need to know
- AT&T is reportedly raising home Internet prices again, with traditional Fiber and Internet Air customers facing a $5 monthly increase starting August 16.
- Promotional discounts will remain in place, but affected customers will continue to pay more because the base monthly rate is increasing.
- AT&T says the additional revenue funds network and service improvements, although customers have heard that explanation before.
AT&T can’t seem to stop raising prices, and now its home Internet customers may be next. The carrier already raised prices on a handful of wireless plans earlier this year and is reportedly planning a second monthly price increase for some internet customers starting August 16.
PhoneSand has known from internal documents that the clients’ invoice in legacy AT&T Fiber and Internet Air plans will increase by $5 per month starting in mid-August.
Notices are expected to be included on future statements before the changes are implemented. Existing promotional discounts should remain in place, but the higher base price means many subscribers will end up paying more overall.
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It is a movement that is becoming more and more familiar to AT&T customers. In recent months, the carrier has raised prices on several legacy wireless plans, added more fees to retired Unlimited Your Way offerings, and even increased its administrative and regulatory cost recovery fee by $1 per line.
AT&T’s explanation also sounds familiar. The higher prices help support continued investments in the company’s network, service quality and customer experience, internal documents say. It’s the same explanation used for previous increases in wireless service prices. The question is whether customers will see enough added value to justify another bill increase.
Android Central’s opinion
If I pay more every few months, I’d like to see something tangible in return, rather than the usual promise of “networking investments.” Faster speeds, broader coverage, or some significant new perks would make the extra $5 easier to swallow. Instead, customers are again wondering if they are being rewarded for their loyalty or simply being taxed.
AT&T has been touting newer offerings, like its customizable Build-A-Plan service that now includes wireless and home Internet in one subscription. The carrier isn’t forcing a move, but raising the price of older plans could naturally prompt some subscribers to look for newer options.
If you have AT&T Internet, look for a price notice on your next bill. The increase won’t be the same for everyone, but if you have an older Fiber or Internet Air plan, your monthly bill could soon increase another $5. At this point, you may want to compare your current plan to newer offerings, or even competing providers, to see if staying still makes financial sense.
