Plans starting at: $45
Popular Package: Up to 1Gbps
Download speeds up to: 8 Gbps
Connection Types: Fiber
Plans starting at: $35
Popular Package: Fiber Internet Gig
Download speeds up to: 10 Gbps
Connection Types: Fiber
Quantum Fiber Staff rating
Quantum Fiber brings superior internet speeds and reliability at an appealing price.
Quantum Fiber is a fiber-optic internet service originally developed by Lumen Technologies. On February 2, 2026, AT&T acquired Lumen’s Mass Markets fiber-to-the-home business (including Quantum Fiber) in an all-cash deal valued at $5.75 billion. The acquisition included consumer fiber operations in 11 states, adding more than 1 million fiber customers and over 4 million enabled fiber locations to AT&T’s network. Lumen retained its enterprise network infrastructure and copper-based services, while AT&T integrated the acquired fiber assets into its expanding fiber broadband portfolio.PROS
Cons
Cities with Quantum Fiber availability
Ziply Fiber Staff rating
Ziply Fiber offers all-fiber service with great pricing, but many customers still only have DSL option
Ziply Fiber is another newcomer to the world of internet providers, and thus far, the word on Ziply Fiber is mostly positive. Ziply Fiber provides a mix of all-fiber and DSL connections across its coverage area, with a goal to move to all-fiber as quickly as possible. With Ziply Fiber, you will get some of the best fiber internet prices in the industry. Ziply Fiber is also on the leading edge of fast fiber speeds, with an amazing 50 Gigs available across its service area as of October 2023 [1] Ziply Fiber launched in 2020 when it bought Frontier’s Northwest footprint in four states: Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon [2]. At the time, only 30% of the network was fiber and the rest was DSL. In 2021, Ziply Fiber stated a goal to move to 80% fiber by 2024 [3]. With Ziply Fiber’s commitment to fiber expansion, great pricing, unlimited data, and free installation, there’s a whole lot to like about this newcomer ISP. The only downside is that a high percentage of its customers still have only DSL access, which brings higher prices and lower internet performance.PROS
Cons
Quantum Fiber Internet Plans
| Plan | Service Type | Download Speed | Monthly Price | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Ziply Fiber Internet Plans
| Plan | Service Type | Download Speed | Monthly Price | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Quantum Fiber Pricing
Competitive, straightforward prices.
Quantum Fiber offers straightforward pricing that includes an autopay discount. Monthly costs are approximately $5 higher if you don't enroll in automatic payments. In most markets, the two primary plans available are the 500 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps (1 Gig) tiers. Multi-gigabit options—up to 2 Gig, up to 3 Gig, and up to 8 Gig plans—are available in select areas. All plans include free equipment rental during an initial period, unlimited data, and no contracts [7].Value Analysis
When evaluating internet plans, the cost per megabit provides insight into true value. Quantum Fiber's entry-level 500 Mbps plan at $50 per month equates to 10 cents per Mbps—a competitive rate for fiber service. This pricing structure positions Quantum Fiber favorably against cable providers that may advertise lower introductory rates but dramatically increase rates after promotional periods end. Three potential cost increases:- Equipment rental fees: Quantum Fiber provides free equipment during an "initial period." After this period ends, rental fees may apply. You can drop these fees altogether by using your own compatible router.
- Installation costs: Professional installation is currently free, though Quantum Fiber states this "could change in the future," and additional products or services might incur extra installation costs.
- Taxes and miscellaneous fees: Local and state taxes and regulatory fees may increase over time, beyond Quantum Fiber's control.
No Data Caps or Contracts
All Quantum Fiber plans include unlimited data, allowing unrestricted internet use within the acceptable use policy without overage fees or speed throttling. The absence of contracts means you can cancel or modify service at any time without incurring early termination fees.Ziply Fiber Pricing
Ziply Fiber’s prices are unbeatable for all-fiber internet, but DSL internet is no bargain
Ziply Fiber is one of only a few fiber internet companies in the nation that offers a rate of $/month for fiber internet. That’s a good deal! Ziply Fiber also offers Mbps download/upload speed for $/month. If you are lucky enough to have access to Ziply Fiber's all-fiber network, you will save 30-40% over some competitors’ prices. But Ziply Fiber has the same split fiber/DSL profile as a couple of other start-up fiber providers. The existing network that Ziply Fiber took over from Frontier in 2020 was 70% DSL. Since then, Ziply Fiber has built out more fiber to bring fiber/DSL ratios to about 50-50 [4]. But there’s a good chance you may get DSL instead of fiber even if Ziply Fiber serves your area. And if you sign up for DSL, your prices will be much higher, even though you will get slower speeds. No matter what your DSL speed is, it won’t match the speed of Ziply Fiber’s first-tier fiber plan, and yet you will pay more for a DSL plan. That’s the way the industry works right now, and it’s certainly not fair to DSL customers. But on the positive side, Ziply Fiber’s pricing for both DSL and fiber is predictable because there are no data caps. You won’t have to worry about unexpected overage charges with a Ziply Fiber plan of either kind. You also won’t be required to sign an annual contract, which means you won’t face any early termination fees.Quantum Fiber Reliability and Performance
Symmetrical upload and download speeds and superior reliability during peak usage times.
Quantum Fiber utilizes fiber-optic technology, which provides two key advantages over cable and DSL: symmetrical upload and download speeds, and superior reliability during peak usage times. Symmetrical speeds mean your upload capacity matches your download speed. On the Mbps plan, for instance, you receive Mbps in both directions. This is valuable for video conferencing, uploading large files, livestreaming, and cloud backups.Fiber-to-the-Home vs. Fiber-to-the-Curb
In most installations, Quantum Fiber deploys Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), where fiber-optic cable runs directly to your residence. This provides the fastest possible speeds with full symmetrical performance. However, in some cases, Quantum Fiber may install Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC), where the final connection to your home uses coaxial cable. Even a short coaxial cable segment will reduce upload speeds compared to pure fiber. If you receive an FTTC connection, your download speeds may remain at the advertised levels, but your upload speeds will be slower than the symmetrical speeds typical of FTTH. Before installation, confirm which connection type your location will receive.Performance Capacity
A gigabit fiber plan from Quantum Fiber supports about 10 devices simultaneously, enabling high-bandwidth activities (such as 4K streaming and online gaming) while maintaining smooth performance. The combination of low latency, high bandwidth, and consistent speeds makes fiber particularly well-suited for households with multiple heavy internet users.Ziply Fiber Reliability and Performance
Ziply Fiber is super-fast on its all-fiber network, but its DSL speeds vary widely
An all-fiber connection will give you much faster, more reliable internet access than a DSL internet connection. You'll get multi-gigabit speeds for both download and upload from your fiber plan. Ziply Fiber even offers speeds as high as 10 Gigs in some places! Though Ziply Fiber’s plan says that its DSL speed goes up to 115 Mbps download/7 Mbps upload, those numbers indicate a maximum speed. Your DSL could also be as slow as 7Mbps download/1 Mbps upload, which was the speed listed for one property we tested in Shoreline, WA [5]. Or, you could get the most common range for today’s DSL speeds, which tends to be about 10-25 Mbps download, 1-3 Mbps upload. Ziply Fiber will tell you what your estimated speed will be when you sign up, but you can also test your internet speed here. Clearly, there’s no comparison between these DSL speeds and even the speeds of the lowest-level Ziply Fiber all-fiber plan. With slow DSL, you may not be able to stream in HD or play real-time games. But if you get Ziply Fiber plans that are 100% fiber, your household will be able to stream and game on multiple devices without glitches or freezing screens.Quantum Fiber Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Get free use of a 360 Wi-Fi mesh router or use your own router
Quantum Fiber provides its 360 Wi-Fi equipment at no additional cost during an initial period. This system includes a SmartNID ONT device and up to four mesh Wi-Fi pods. The number of Wi-Fi pods will be determined by your installation technician based on your home's size. Most equipment has Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, but Wi-Fi 7 is available in select areas. The mesh network architecture offers better coverage than traditional single-router setups. This is beneficial for larger homes or properties with thick walls that impede wireless signals. The 360 Wi-Fi system creates whole-home connectivity by placing pods throughout your space, eliminating dead zones and ensuring seamless handoff as you move between areas. This setup supports the high device counts and bandwidth demands typical of modern households.Professional Installation
Quantum Fiber currently provides free professional installation. The internet provider has noted this "could change in the future," and customers requiring additional products or services may incur extra installation costs. Professional installation ensures proper fiber-optic connection, optimal equipment placement for your home's layout, and immediate resolution of any technical issues. The installation process:- Running fiber-optic cable to your home (FTTH) or to the curb (FTTC)
- Installing the SmartNID ONT
- Positioning mesh Wi-Fi pods throughout the home
- Testing connection speeds and performance
- Explaining system features and troubleshooting resources
Ziply Fiber Equipment, Installation and Bonus Features
Optional equipment rental fees, free installation with Ziply Fiber plans
Ziply Fiber will provide DSL customers with a combined modem/router for between $10-20/month. You can use your own compatible modem and router to avoid the fee, but Ziply Fiber won’t be able to help you with any technical issues related to your personal equipment [6]. If you choose fiber internet from Ziply Fiber, you will get a Wi-Fi 6 fiber router for the same monthly rental fee of $10-20/month. Installation for all Ziply Fiber plans is free, which will save you up to $100 over standard ISP installation fees.Quantum Fiber Experience & Support
Quantum Fiber satisfaction scores below fiber industry average
According to the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) report comparing internet providers, Quantum Fiber scored 71 out of 100 points—a 7% decline from the previous year. This places Quantum Fiber four points below the fiber industry average of 75 [3]. The 2025 ACSI data also indicated that overall fiber provider scores decreased by 1% year-over-year across the industry [8]. The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study did not differentiate between Quantum Fiber and CenturyLink DSL, instead reporting combined results for Lumen Technologies. In the West, where Quantum Fiber has its strongest presence, Lumen Technologies ranked last with a score of 511 out of 1,000. This combined scoring methodology means CenturyLink's lower-performing DSL service likely impacted the overall rating. If you compare fiber and DSL services within the Lumen portfolio, the ACSI shows Quantum Fiber's fiber service scores 16 points higher than CenturyLink's DSL offerings. This gap showcases that fiber customers report better experiences than DSL subscribers. The 7% satisfaction decline and below-average ACSI score suggest Quantum Fiber has customer experience downfalls regardless of its technical advantages. Issues affecting its customer experience ratings likely include installation delays, equipment problems, billing discrepancies, and customer service responsiveness. Reddit backs this up, with some users frustrated with Quantum Fiber's reliability: "The speed is great, consistent 550mbps up and down, but it is so unreliable" [9]. Other subscribers report a more positive experience, but do note that they are utilizing their own equipment instead of the Quantum Fiber-supplied equipment: "Love [Quantum Fiber], just get your own wifi equipment" [10]. Despite the below-average satisfaction scores, Quantum Fiber remains a strong technical choice where available. The combination of fast symmetrical speeds, unlimited data, no contracts, and competitive pricing creates genuine value.Ziply Fiber Experience & Support
Customer service about average
Ziply Fiber is still too small an internet provider to qualify for independent review in the J.D. Power survey of customer satisfaction for ISPs. A sampling of online user reviews indicates that most user complaints were related to billing and account administration, especially during the time of transition, right after Ziply Fiber took over its network from Frontier. The balance of positive and negative user comments leads us to award Ziply Fiber 3.5 stars for customer service. But overall, Ziply Fiber is an excellent choice if you have access to its all-fiber plans.Quantum Fiber FAQ's
Ziply Fiber FAQ's
Quantum Fiber Sources
Ziply Fiber Sources
[1] GlobeNewswire.com. "Ziply Fiber Unveils America's Fastest Internet."
[2] APNews.com. "Ziply Fiber Completes Acquisition."
[3] FierceTelecom.com. "Ziply Raises 350 Million to Fuel Fiber Expansion."
[4] ZiplyFiber.com. "Construction Process."
[5] ZiplyFiber.com. Data retrieved for home on N Park Ave, Shoreline, WA.
Quantum Fiber Customers Review
Ziply Fiber Customers Review
