AT&T Internet for Seniors

But First, a Bit About AT&T

AT&T is a familiar company in American households as its roots go back to Alexander Graham Bell's telephone developed in 1876. Since then, they have followed the evolution of communication technology development and have grown into a company that provides high-speed internet and communication networks in 21 states — with the most extensive coverage in California, Texas, and Florida. They pride themselves on being the largest communications company in the world based on revenue by providing service to over 100 million customers in the United States, and they also offer services in Latin America. AT&T offers its internet services and connectivity to almost all of the Fortune 1000 companies.2 Below are some pros and cons for seniors that we found in their internet plans:

AT&T Internet Plans At-A-Glance

All of AT&T's Internet plans start at $49.99 per month for the first 12 months plus taxes, fees, and an equipment fee of $10 per month. The difference in each plan is how fast the internet connection is. Your geographic location will determine the availability of internet speed.

Which AT&T Internet Plan is Best for Seniors?

AT&T Internet 1000 Plan

The best value in terms of speed and price is AT&T's Internet 1000 plan, as it offers the fastest internet speeds for the same rate ($49.99 per month) as the rest of their plans. The biggest drawback is that this plan has the most limited availability of all AT&T's plans at the moment.3 While most seniors won't need this much speed, with AT&T we highly recommend this plan as it doesn't cost extra; you might as well get the fastest and most reliable connection to get the most bang for your buck!

The Internet 1000 plan is a good option for seniors who use the internet multiple times a day for a variety of tasks such as emails, downloading videos and movies, streaming music and television, and make frequent use of video calls. It's also great for seniors who host friends and family often, as several users can be online at once without any issue. With this service, you also get an unlimited data allowance, which is a $30 value on other AT&T plans.

If you reside in a location where this fiber plan is available, you can receive the industry's leading internet technology at a moderate price. Other companies such as Spectrum have the same speeds of up to 940 Mbps at the same price, but in cable form, which is slower and less reliable than fiber. Compared to other fiber internet providers, such as Verizon which starts at $79.99 per month for up to 940Mbps, and Xfinity which starts at $89.99 per month for up to 1000 Mbps, AT&T's Internet 1000 plan proves to be one of the more affordable options for this connection speed.

AT&T DSL Plans

If you live in a location where fiber is not available, but you still want to take advantage of the reliability of speed and connectivity that AT&T offers, their standard internet plans may be another good option. These plans operate on a DSL and/or fixed wireless (in select areas) connection, offering speeds from 10 Mbps up to 100 Mps. This is perfect for seniors who want to connect with their family on social networks, download music, or stream movies and television. Again, the speed available will vary depending on your geographic location. In terms of value, compared to similar connections, companies such as Xfinity and Suddenlink offer similar speeds of up to 100 Mbps for only $34.99 per month. This shows that although competitive, these AT&T plans are on the higher end for this specific range of speeds. They're still a solid option if AT&T is the main provider in your area.

Senior Discounts for AT&T Internet Plans

AT&T does not currently provide senior-specific discounts or plans for internet service. However, they do have a couple of programs that can provide savings for eligible seniors.

AT&T Access

AT&T Access is an internet plan that provides low-cost internet services to households with low income. This includes all of the provider's perks, such as free installation and in-home WiFi, no contracts, and no deposit. The price of this plan is $10 per month for up to 25 Mbps on AT&T's high-speed internet connection. Eligibility requirements include participating in one of the following programs:

• Supplemental Nutritional Access Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for California residents only
• AT&T is temporarily expanding eligibility to households that participate in the National School Lunch and Head Start Program and meet the income requirements.

AT&T Lifeline

Lifeline is a federal program that provides a discount of up to $9.25 towards the monthly internet bill. Eligibility requirements for lifeline include:

• Income of 135% or less than the federal poverty guideline
• One household member who participates in any of the following programs:
  • Supplemental Nutritional Access Program (SNAP)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
  • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit
  • Tribal Programs

How to Get the Most from an AT&T Internet Plan

AT&T provides several perks for their customers, including antivirus software, AT&T Internet Security Suite powered by McAfee, and WiFi Hotspot access in 30,000+ locations nationwide, so you remain connected when you travel.

Depending on your plan, you may also have access to the AT&T THANKS appreciation program, which provides special offers on tickets to movies, dining, and events. This includes TickeTwosdays that provide buy-one-get-one-free movie tickets at select theatres. Another great way to get the most out of your AT&T plan is to bundle with TV. We'll get into the details below.

Can AT&T Provide a Better Internet Experience for Seniors?

Using the internet can be beneficial to the well-being of older adults.4 75 percent of seniors are using the internet as an opportunity to connect to family and friends via social media, email, and video chats.5 This increases social engagement and lowers feelings of loneliness for seniors who can be vulnerable to isolation as they get older.6 Additionally, seniors use the internet to access important information like medical and health-related data. Many healthcare organizations are using electronic health (eHealth) websites to connect patients with medical professionals and manage patient care online. This makes having access to quality, secure, and fast internet connection important for the lives of seniors. The internet has to work when you need it, and AT&T's internet service provides some of the highest reliability, with 80 percent of their customers receiving consistent connectivity speeds 95 percent of the time.7

With 40-50 percent of seniors using the internet for either education, news, or entertainment, AT&T offers speeds up to 940 Mbps that can handle even your largest online tasks. Lastly, the high monthly cost is often a barrier for many seniors, and AT&T still has room to improve on making their plans more cost-friendly. However, they do offer discounts for low-income consumers that may be suitable for seniors on a tight budget. We've highlighted a few AT&T plans and options that seniors can use to get the most out of an AT&T internet plan.

AT&T Versus the Competition

Despite older adults feeling challenged in respect to learning how to use the internet,8 many seniors are increasingly willing to learn. If you or someone you may only use the internet for basic activities, such as emailing and light web surfing, you may benefit from comparing plans with lower speeds; there's no need to pay for more speed or features than you need. Below is a convenient comparison of basic internet plans from AT&T and other leading providers:

Internet Starter Plan Comparison

Bundle and Save with AT&T

Many seniors use the television for news, information, and entertainment in addition to the internet. Bundling up services still provides the best way to get a deal on both the internet and television. If you bundle your TV and internet service with AT&T, you gain unlimited data allowance and WiFi capabilities. Below are several internet and TV packages that AT&T offers.

AT&T TV and AT&T Internet Bundles

AT&T offers its own TV service, which provides over 65 channels and can be bundled with the Internet 1000 plan for $89.98 per month. You'll have access to on-demand shows and movies, and you can record your favorite shows to watch later with 500 hours of DVR cloud storage. Whether you're having a movie night with friends or watching a show with the kiddos, adding AT&T TV to your internet plan really ups the entertainment options available to you.

In addition to television, you also get access to over 5,000 apps, including Netflix and Pandora music. AT&T's 1000 Mbps fiber internet connection is coupled with this TV package, which saves you an average of $20 per month when compared to ordering the two services separately. This bundle also comes with three months of free access to premier movie channels like SHOWTIME, STARZ, and EPIX. One thing to keep in mind with this bundle is that it requires a two-year agreement for AT&T TV. If you're okay with committing long term, the perks that come with this package are worth it in our book.

If you are in an area where fiber is not available yet, you can still save on an AT&T TV and Internet bundle. Since AT&T TV works through an internet connection, it is recommended for areas with available speeds of 24 Mbps or higher so that your connection will be reliable. In this bundle, AT&T TV offers 65+ channels, and 40,000 On-demand shows with a $10 discount on internet service.

Other TV and Internet Bundles

The Bottom Line

AT&T is one of the leading communication providers in the world and offers the latest technology to its customers. AT&T's internet plans start at a flat rate of $49.99 per month, but only some speeds and technologies are available to certain areas.

With their high-speed fiber connection, AT&T provides a great value to seniors who are heavy internet users or have multiple individuals and devices that connect to the internet on a daily basis. Once you get into lower speeds below 100 Mbps, the value of AT&T's plans begin to decrease as plans from other providers offer the same speeds at lower prices. However, the value of AT&T's fiber plans and the lack of long-term contracts shouldn't be overlooked. Seniors who love to watch TV and movies will find the best value by bundling their services with one of AT&T's TV and Internet packages. Although AT&T internet is only offered in 21 states, they are continuing to invest and build their infrastructure to bring their service to more people.