Remembering those old days when I used a 2G, 3G internet connection. At that time, I experienced sluggish speed in downloading and uploading. But, time has changed, and now we have what we expect.
In the ISP market, there are various ISPs available. They offer decent internet speed and better availability on their service. Brightspeed is a new name in the ISP market. Today, we will unpack the ins and out of Brightspeed.
Let’s see the Brightspeed internet reviews. What’s the user experience about Brightspeed, why should you pick it as your regular internet service?
Brightspeed At a Glance!
Brightspeed is a new internet service provider in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a subsidiary company of Apollo Global Management. In 2021, 3 former Verizon executives (Tom Maguire, Robert “Bob” Mudge, and Chris Creager) unveiled the Brightspeed.
They agreed to a $7.5 billion deal to acquire the DSL and Landline phone service of Lumen Technologies. Brightspeed provides over 6.5 million households and businesses with internet and telecommunications services.
Their vision is to help people and businesses to access the connectivity they need. Almost 4000 employees work to bridge the digital divide by deploying fiber networks, ensuring the best customer experience, and making the connection simple and seamless.
According to telecoms, Brightspeed would spend $2 billion to build fiber infrastructure in 3 million US homes and businesses over the next five years.
Key Features of Brightspeed
- Brightspeed ranks 5th among incumbent local exchange carriers (ILEC).
- Brightspeed DSL plans start at $50 per month with unlimited data, no annual contracts, and no introductory prices.
- Brightspeed offers a gigabit fiber internet plan with limited availability
- It offers a dedicated WiFi 6 connection to the home.
- Brightspeed mostly offers DSL service with slow to modest speed at a standard rate.
- DSL plans offer up to 100 Mbps speed.
- There are no data caps, giving you the flexibility to enroll.
- No overage fees are applicable and no throttle speeds.
- Brightspeed is only available in 20 US states.
- Brightspeed offers Bring Your Own Modem (BYOM) service.
What to Praise
- Reasonable internet and landline plans
- Good support only for business customers
- No contracts or data caps
- Available in 20 states
- Fiber coverage is praiseworthy
- DSL speeds only
- BYOM and BYOR service
- Simple billing structure
What to Criticize
- Fiber service is not widely available
- DSL plans are expensive and have slow service
- Limited deals and bundles
- No wireless or TV service
- Poor customer service
Is Brightspeed The Same as CenturyLink?
According to Centurylink, From October 3, 2022, Brightspeed took over Centurylink’s internet and telephone service in 20 states. Officially, Centurylink’s customers will become Brightspeed customers from October 3, 2022.
Existing CenturyLink DSL users’ information will be moved to Brightspeed. But, users can continue using CenturyLink’s login credentials to access their accounts. Don’t worry, Brightspeed will provide the same plans at the same prices and speeds as Centurylink does.
You don’t need to pay extra bucks for the same internet. Brightspeed is working to unveil more internet plans to meet all famous ISP ranges. You may experience, a Brightspeed internet outage but they promise an outage will happen in the early morning.
There is no need to buy a new modem or router for Brightspeed, you can use the same modem you used with CenturyLink.
Quick View: Brightspeed DSL-Fiber Internet Plans and Pricing
We analyzed Brightspeed Internet Reviews and found that Brightspeed comes in two different forms: DSL and Fiber. Here’s a quick breakdown of how DSL and Fiber plans look.
| Plans | Speed (D/U) | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSL 100 Mbps (Simply Unlimited) | 100 Mbps/90 Mbps | $50/mo.+Tax | Beginner |
| Fiber 200 Mbps | 200 Mbps/100-200 Mbps | $60/mo.+Tax | Light to moderate users |
| Fiber 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps/500 Mbps | $80/mo.+Tax | 3-4 users |
| Fiber 1 Gig | 1000 Mbps/ 940 Mbps | $100/mo.+Tax | Heavy users |
Brightspeed DSL
Brightspeed offers DSL service to primary customers. This plan is also called “Simply Unlimited”. It’s expensive for the speed you get. In fact, it can be slower gradually. Simply Unlimited plans give you a download speed of up to 100 Mbps but in different speed caps.
Though the download speed is advertised as 100 Mbps, they didn’t mention the upload speed. As per research, we found up to 10 Mbps upload speed you may get with this plan. Speed may increase in a few locations but the price remains unchanged, no matter how fast speed you get.
Unlike other ISPs, Brightspeed doesn’t assign data caps in Simply Unlimited DSL plans. With no minimum contract limits, you can go with Brightspeed and cancel anytime you want to.
Brightspeed Fiber
If you reside in an area where Brightspeed fiber service is available, you are lucky! Because It offers the fastest fiber service in limited areas. In all fiber-optic plans, Brightspeed includes compatible modems at no cost, no contracts, and early termination fees.
Some extras such as unlimited data, equal download-upload speed, and a secure WiFi system are also available on Fiber plans to ensure smooth internet service. I’ve attached the Fiber plans above. Here are some details for you!
Fiber 200 Mbps
Brightspeed’s 200 Mbps fiber line costs $60 per month. It’s a beginner-friendly plan. I would recommend, if you want a minimum speedy fiber line, start with a 200 Mbps plan. Change later upon your requirements.
It enables you to connect up to 10 devices at once with non-stop streaming, web browsing, emailing, and social networking. The Plan name indicates the speed as usual. So, you will get up to 200 Mbps fiber speed with this plan.
Fiber 500 Mbps
The 500 Mbps package from Brightspeed is designed for light to moderate users. It allows connection to up to 20 devices so, your friends and family will get optimum speed at a time.
Unlimited HD streaming, non-stop web browsing, non-stop social networking, restless gaming, and unlimited email service is available on a 500 Mbps plan. Though, it’s a moderate plan but provides speed up to 500 Mbps or more.
Fiber 1 Gig
For heavy internet users, Brightspeed offers a 1 Gig or 1 Gbps plan. I don’t know what is missing in this plan! Almost 20+ devices you can connect to, when you enroll in this plan.
For just $100/mo., you can stream 4K videos, non-stop social surfing, unlimited emailing, non-stop browsing, and competitive gaming. Speed is a plus point as it provides around 1000 Mbps to 940 Mbps speed.
Can’t decide what ISP should you choose? Learn more another ISP – Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast: Side by Side Comparison
How Fast is Brightspeed Internet?
Brightspeed offers various internet plans with different speeds. Internet speed depends on location and the type of service available in your area. Brightspeed provides both DSL and Fiber options.
DSL speed from Brightspeed ranges from 40 Mbps to 100 Mbps and Fiber-optic speeds range from 800 to 1000 Mbps. But, fiber service is not widely available. I’m outside of the USA, and using a separate ISP.
Of curiosity, I’ve tested Brightspeed internet speed from other ISPs. When I tested it with LeaseWeb, I found a 1.3 Mbps download speed, 4.4 Mbps upload speed, Ping latency of 291 ms, and Jitter of 193 ms.
Then, I tested with SK Net City, surprised to see, 5 Mbps download and 4.9 Mbps upload speed with 314 ms Ping latency and 2 Jitter. Both tests were from separate locations and separate ISPs. I hope Brightspeed’s available area people will get the optimum speed.
Brightspeed Internet Coverage Map
Brightspeed is available in only 20 US states including East Coast, South, and Midwest parts. In the total coverage map, Brightspeed covers 65-70% with DSL service and 30-35% with Fiber service. Home Voice service is also available in those areas where Internet plans are available. On a map, Brightspeed looks like this, and Brightspeed city’s also listed in the table:
| Alabama | Arkansas | Georgia |
| Illinois | Indiana | Kansas |
| Louisiana | Michigan | Missouri |
| Mississippi | North Carolina | New Jersey |
| Ohio | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania |
| South Carolina | Tennessee | Texas |
| Virginia | Wisconsin |
What About Brightspeed Rural Internet Options?
Brightspeed has gone through with broadband internet options in rural areas. It provides reliable internet service in rural and suburban areas in the U.S. But, achieving advertised speeds can be challenging in rural areas where fiber service is not fully accessible.
As per a report, customers may only get a range of speed of 4.2 Mbps to 6.6 Mbps. The “Brightspeed Internet” or “Simply Unlimited” DSL plan is more suitable for rural households. Brightspeed promises to provide consistent service across coverage areas and wishes to expand the coverage area soon.
While Brightspeed is finding a way to improve coverage and speed in rural areas, it’s a source of frustration for every customer who needs optimum speed on available plans. We encourage existing Brightspeed customers to communicate with Brightspeed about their needs. It will explore the possibility of significant change in their service in available rural areas.
Brightspeed Internet Fees: Hidden, Installation, Extras
Brightspeed charges Taxes and hidden fees on each plan that is not visible when advertised. These fees add up to your monthly internet bill. They separate extra fees in two forms- (1) Govt. fee (2) Installation fee
Govt. Fees
- State Universal Service charge
- Federal Universal Service charge
- Regulatory Recovery fee
- 911 Emergency Service fee
- Taxes
Installation fee
Brightspeed DSL Internet Fees
- Equipment fee is $15.00/mo. for modem
- Self-installation is free
- Installation by a professional technician costs $99 for one-time
Brightspeed Fiber Internet Fees
- Equipment fee is $15.00/mo. for modem
- Professional installation costs $99 for one time (For up to 100 Mbps)
- Professional installation at no cost (More than 100 Mbps)
What Equipment Brightspeed Provides?
Nothing more. Brightspeed only provides modem service to every customer. For modem service, Brightspeed opens two options – (1) Lease and (2) Purchase. When you pick the Lease option, Brightspeed will charge only $15 for the modem per month.
It includes Secure Wifi service. On the other hand, if you choose the Purchase option, it will cost $150 to $200 with a 12-month warranty for replacement or repair.
Can You Bring Your Own Modem to Brightspeed?
Yes, you can use your own modem if it is compatible with Brightspeed Internet. Not every modem works with Brightspeed, only limited modem works.
DLS users are recommended to use a modem that supports ADSL2+ technology. TP-Link Archer VR400, Netgear DM200 and Zyxel C1100Z uses ADSL2+ technology. You can buy these modems.
Fiber users are recommended to use GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) supported modem. Calix 844G-1, Nokia G-240W-B, Huawei HG8245H uses GPON technology. So, we recommend you buy these modems.
| DSL Speed | Fiber Speed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | ADSL | ADSL2 | VDSL | GPON | Ports | Features |
| Actiontec C1000A | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 80 Mbps | N/A | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Actiontec C1900A | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 40 Mbps (100 Mbps bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Actiontec C2000A | 7 Mbps | 20 Mpbs (40 Mbps bonded) | 40 Mbps (100 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Actiontec C2300A | N/A | 25 Mbps bonded | 100 Mpbs (140 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac, CBRAS |
| Actiontec C3000A | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 100 Mpbs (140 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac |
| Actiontec PK5000 | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | N/A | N/A | 100 Mbps Eth (4) | 2.4 GHz b/g |
| Actiontec PK5001A | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | N/A | N/A | 100 Mbps Eth (4) | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Actiontec Q1000 | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 40 Mbps | N/A | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Adtran C424G | N/A | N/A | N/A | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4) | Brightspeed ON, IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5GHz n/ac |
| Axon C4000BG | N/A | 40 Mbps pair-bonded | 140 Mbps pair-bonded | N/A | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Axon C4000LG | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 100 Mbps | N/A | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Axon C4000XG | N/A | N/A | N/A | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Calix C844G | N/A | N/A | N/A | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | Brightspeed ON, IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5GHz n/ac |
| Cisco 2200DDR | N/A | 25 Mbps pair-bonded | N/A | 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps Eth (4) | 2.4 GHz b/g |
| Greenwave C4000 series | See Axon models above | |||||
| Technicolor C1100T | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 40 Mbps | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, CBRAS |
| Technicolor C2000T | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 40 Mbps (100 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Technicolor C2100T | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 40 Mbps (100 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac, CBRAS |
| Westell 7500 | 6 Mbps | 10 Mbps | N/A | N/A | Eth (4) | 2.4 GHz b/g |
| Zyxel C1000Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 40 Mbps | N/A | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C1100Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C2100Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 40 Mbps (100 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C3000Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps (40 Mbps pair-bonded) | 100 Mbps (140 Mbps pair-bonded) | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, Vectoring, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C3510XZ | N/A | N/A | N/A | 940 Mbps | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C4000BZ | N/A | 40 Mbps pair-bonded | 140 Mbps pair-bonded | N/A | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Zyxel C4000LZ | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 100 Mbps | N/A | Gig Eth (5), USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz n/ac/ax, CBRAS |
| Zyxel FR1000Z | N/A | N/A | N/A | 500 Mbps | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port C | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Zyxel PK5000Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | N/A | N/A | 1000 Mbps Eth (4) | 2.4 GHz b/g |
| Zyxel PK5001Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | N/A | N/A | Gig Eth (4); USB Host Port | IPv6, 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Zyxel Q1000Z | 7 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 40 Mbps | N/A | 100 Mbps Eth (4) | 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
Customer’s Honest Opinion About Brightspeed
When we research the Brightspeed internet reviews, we found that Brightspeed customer reviews are bad. While researching customer opinion for Brightspeed, there are two types of customer reviews I found. I feel disappointed to see Brightspeed offer poor customer service. Let’s separate this.
Internet Outage
Constant internet outages deprived customers of using their service. In the beginning, they promised an outage would happen every morning, but it was a lie. Few customer complaints that there was no schedule for an outage.
Without any notice, Brightspeed turns off the internet or keeps the connection slower suddenly. It’s an unhelpful and uncaring decision for every loyal internet user. We heard Brightspeed accepted federal funds to bring reliable internet service to available areas, but they failed miserably.
They should care about internet outages or will lose huge customers in the coming years.
Customer Support
Brightspeed customer support is insane. Though they promise to provide service 24/7, I don’t think they do. Because sometimes the phone lines down or redirects multiple times.
It is almost impossible to get to a person with an automated system and we can’t contact anyone online without an account. They need to work on better customer support. At the end of the day, customers are their business. However, see Reddit users’ opinions below about Brightspeed from CenturyLink’s subreddit.
Feeling disappointed with this? Consider checking GoNetspeed Vs Optimum!
Anyone dealing with Brightspeed since they took over for CenturyLink?
by u/weasel-king68 in centurylink
Is Brightspeed Better Than CenturyLink?
Nope. CenturyLink was better. There was a minor outage and great customer support. We found those missing on Brightspeed. I believe they will focus on these limitations because customer satisfaction depends on good outages and good customer support. If both are missing on any ISP, they will soon be drawn into the river.
Final Word
In Brightspeed internet reviews, we realize that it has to go through several steps to become a reliable internet service. Currently, customers are complaining about poor customer support and sudden internet outage. Both are critical issues for any ISP. Brightspeed should care about this.
Information Sources:
- https://www.fiercetelecom.com/operators/former-verizon-execs-talk-strategy-for-brightspeed-s-2b-makeover-lumen-assets
- https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/brightspeed-becomes-5th-largest-us-ilec-75b-lumen-deal-wraps
