Are you looking for a reliable and consistent internet service provider for your home and business? Then stop right here because we are discussing Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast. So, you might get a chance to select your top ISP for a smooth internet experience. Fidium and Comcast are popular internet service providers in the US.
They have lots of features in common and some features can overdraw one of them. If you are confused to choose any of them, we have described a side-by-side comparison between Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast in detail. Let’s overlook the expectation from two reliable internet providers in your area.
Comparison Table of Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast
| Subject | Fidium Fiber | Comcast (Xfinity) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fiber To The Home (FTTH) | Fiber/DOCSIS 3.1 (Cable) |
| Release at | 2008 (FairPoint) 2021 (Fidium) | 1996 (Comcast) 2010 (Xfinity) |
| Download Speed | 50 to 2000 Mbps | 200 to 2000 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 50 to 2000 Mbps | 10 to 35 Mbps |
| Data Caps | No | 1. 2 Tb or Unlimited |
| Latency | 5 ms to 25 ms | 20 ms to 35 ms |
| Ping Performance | Excellent | Very Good |
| Service Cost (Monthly) | $35 to $95 | $25 to $120 |
| Contract Option | No | Optional |
| Guarantee | Money Back (30 days) | Money Back (30 days) |
Key Features Between Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast
- Fidium Fiber’s upload speed is faster than other traditional ISPs.
- Unlimited data is included in each Fidium Fiber plan.
- Fidium is available in New England’s rural areas while Comcast is missing.
- Fidium Fiber’s low-priced plans are comparatively faster than Comcast high priced plans.
- Fidium recommends using their equipment and paying for the service monthly.
- Comcast and Fidium both have superb internet speed in the New England area.
- Comcast recommends you use your own router and modem.
- Comcast is available in urban and suburban areas, while Fidium has some service there.
- Comcast provides competitive pricing rates depending on download speeds.
- The common thing in Comcast Plan is, it comes with 1.2 TB of data or unlimited data
Fidium Fiber vs Comcast: A Small Briefing
About Fidium Fiber
Are you tired of finding reliable internet service? It is wise to analyze available internet options to find an appropriate service for your ISP. We know, internet type is important to define a smooth online experience and you can’t go wrong with fiber service.
In the fiber internet era, Fidium Fiber is a new name that catches a huge market due to rapid expansion. With a competitive pricing mark and attractive features on internet plans, you will be forced to switch to Fidium Fiber.
The Beginning of Fidium Fiber
Fidium Fiber is a brand of Consolidated Communications. It is being offered as a 100% fiber service in Pennsylvania in November 2021. Consolidated Communications unveils Fidium Fiber in parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Later on, it expanded the coverage to other states. Fidium dramatically increased the download and upload speeds in Gibsonia, Mars, Cranberry Township, Valencia, Wexford, and Saxonburg. Now, it’s one of the most demanded ISPs ever.
“Fidium is the future of Consolidated’s consumer fiber internet service, and we’re proud to offer it at a competitive price point to our customers in Pennsylvania,” said Erik Garr, president of consumer and small business for Consolidated Communications. “Fidium’s reimagined customer experience includes more choices, control and personalization, but most importantly, Fidium delivers the ultra-fast speeds that customers need to work and learn from home.”
What Service Fidium Fiber Usually Offers?
Fidium Fiber is dedicated to providing an excellent online experience with no hassle. Fidium Fiber offers affordable plans and high-speed fiber internet for homes and small businesses. No hidden fees or extra charges are required. However, each Fidium Fiber plan offers some extras. Check it out below-
- Simple and reasonable pricing at $70/mo. Gig service including installation and wi-fi equipment, with no contract, no data caps, and no required bundles.
- Built-in home mesh wifi comes with wifi 6 gateway and up to 2 extenders.
- The Attune wifi app offers new insights, customization, control, and clear communication from network and home devices.
- Hassle-free installation on schedule with text updates and 2-hour appointment windows.
- Customer portal with self-service.
- Real-time network monitoring to solve network issues.
- Premium support by passionate, experienced team members.
- Free professional installation on all fiber plans.
- $5 discount with a subscription on AutoPay and Paperless billing.
- Uses Dynamic IP address to assign IP address for instant configuration and easy setup.
Pros
- No data caps
- Reasonable monthly pricing
- Home security add-ons available
- Faster internet speed 24/7
- Free installation
- No hidden fees
- Symmetrical download and upload speed
Cons
- Limited availability
- Contracts required
- Expensive plans
- Speed variation on high-tier plan
Are you confused and can’t choose a reliable ISP for home and business, check out another ISP Comparison of GoNetspeed Vs Optimum and pick the right one!
About Comcast
Still confused? Can’t choose an internet service provider near you? Then, Comcast/Xfinity is a good option to think about before choosing another ISP. It is fast and reliable in all ways! Nowadays, the internet is not a luxury material. It is necessary for people from home and office working in different sectors.
Unreliable or inconsistent network frequency may hamper your regular internet activities. Choosing Xfinity is a solid choice for you because it offers Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) in 36 different states. You may be in the range of Xfinity/Comcast coverage.
The Beginning of Comcast Xfinity
Xfinity launched in 2010 as the largest internet service provider in the United States. It is all-rounder in the internet era, offering internet service, TV service, home security plan, and phone services. Later on 2022 October, Comcast announced that it will increase the internet speed on all Xfinity plans.
Then in February 2023, Comcast started using DOCSIS 4.0 technology in all networks to make connections faster than before. Xfinity rolled out multigigabit tiers in 36 cities and will try to cover more states by 2025.
What Service Comcast Usually Offers?
Apart from coverage and speed, Xfinity usually offers several things like-
- Xfinity offers internet with bundles such as TV service, Stream app, Instant TV, or Cable TV.
- $10-$25 per month will be shaved off from your internet bill. It will go on for 2 years with an active Xfinity Mobile plan.
- You can combine all home security systems with smart home devices.
- Xfinity partners with Norton Antivirus to provide internet security.
- $10 per month discounts available when you enroll in automatic payments and paperless billing.
- You can use your own router and modem on Xfinity, but it must be compatible with Xfinity.
- Xfinity costs you a one-time installation fee of $15. You can activate this service using an Xfinity app.
- No hidden fees when you sign up for internet service.
- Xfinity offers Xfinity Flex 4K streaming TV box and voice remote.
- Unlimited Gig internet speed on high-priced plan
- xFi Gateway to boost the wifi stability and increase performance for devices
- Students can avail up to $200 Visa Prepaid Cards
- xFi Complete and xFi Gateway offer 50-1200 Mbps internet speed
- xFi Pod cover your whole home
Pros
- Extensive internet bundles
- Huge coverage in U.S
- Best customer service
- Promotional offers available
- Reliable internet
- Advanced security to protect your device
- Customer support 24/7
- Reasonable internet plans
Cons
- Data caps on DSL line
- Contracts required
- Downtime issue
- Not satisfied with customer support
Still confused? Check out another ISP comparison of Assurance Wireless vs QLink Wireless
Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast: Features Comparison
Internet Package Differences
Fidium Fiber and Comcast provide plenty of internet packages for new and old customers. Here’s a breakdown of internet plans and their pricing.
Fidium Fiber Internet Package:
Fidium Fiber is a bit pricey for internet plans. It comes with a 12-month promotional period. During the promotional period, internet plans dropped at $35 to $80 per month.
| Package | Data | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futuristic | 2 Gigabit | Up to 2000 Mbps | $240/mo |
| Supreme | 1 Gigabit | Up to 1000 Mbps | $190/mo |
| Advanced | 600 Mbps | Up to 600 Mbps | $140/mo |
| Essential | 300 Mbps | Up to 300 Mbps | $80/mo |
Comcast Xfinity Internet Package:
In contrast, Comcast (Xfinity) offers a 24 months pricing guarantee with no contacts. They don’t even charge any primary fees on pricing. Comcast’s basic pricing starts from $19.99 to $80 per month. For home internet users, Comcast’s 1 Gbps plan is the best fit. Additionally, you will get Flex 4K streaming TV box on Xfinity at no extra cost. Overall, Xfinity is cheaper than Fidium Fiber.
| Package | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connect | 75 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $19.99–$30.00/mo. |
| Connect More | 200 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $25.00/mo. |
| Fast | 400 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $35.00–$55.00/mo. |
| Superfast | 800 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $60.00–$65.00/mo. |
| Gigabit | 1,000 Mbps | 15 Mbps | $60.00–$70.00/mo. |
| Gigabit Extra | 1,200 Mbps | 35 Mbps | $70.00–$80.00/mo. |
Fidium Fiber vs Comcast: Service Comparison
Internet Speed of Fidium Fiber
Fidium declares a speed of 50 Mbps to 2000 Mbps on internet plans. Fidium Fiber provides 100% symmetrical internet speed. When you subscribe to a 50 Mbps plan, you will get 50 Mbps upload and 50 Mbps download speed.
It seems well-enough speed but not for all fiber service. After several tests, we found Fidium Fiber delivers a speed range from 105% to 110% of the advertised speed in both Upload and Download. In a 50 Mbps plan, you will get a maximum of 53 Mbps speed most of the time.
On higher-level plans, there are a few drops we face. With a 1 Gbps Fidium plan, you will get 948 Mbps upload and download speed consistently. At a glance, the speed seems right and with the right equipment, you may get a higher speed.
Internet Speed of Comcast
Xfinity delivers over the internet speed more than they said in the advertisement. After several tests, we got a 15% to 20% faster upload and download speed than advertised. On a 200 Mbps plan, you will get 235 Mbps or higher speed. But, I’m not satisfied with Xfinity’s upload speed.
It is much lower than Fidium’s upload speed. Still, we got 120% upload speed on Xfinity. It indicates 20% more speed than advertised. Xfinity shows humanity and honesty in advertising internet speed, that normally we can’t see on traditional ISP providers.
Internet Speed Comparison Table of Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast
| Factors | Fidium Fiber | Comcast Xfinity |
|---|---|---|
| Upload Speed (As advertised) | 50 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps | 10 Mbps to 35 Mbps |
| Download Speed (As advertised) | 50 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps | 200 Mbps to 2,000 Mbps |
| Upload Speed (As tested in %) | 105% | 118% |
| Download Speed (As tested in %) | 108% | 120% |
Ping-Latency of Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast
Both Xfinity and Fidium are stable on different service addresses in New England (Northern Side). Fidium and Comcast win the competition when compared to Starlink, T-Mobile, or Verizon 5G home internet. Though, Fidium Fiber delivers lower latency in most cases.
It is quite unsurprising as it offers a 100% fiber optic line while Comcast uses a coax/fiber hybrid line. Xfinity and Fidium both provide consistent and stable internet service during peak hours. After doing some online activities such as video conferencing (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex), online gaming, and VoIP service, we found the average pings for Comcast and Fidium is less than 25 ms.
Ping-Latency Comparison Table of Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast
| Factors | Fidium Fiber | Xfinity |
|---|---|---|
| Off Peak Hours Latency (On average) | 7 ms to 15 ms | 18 ms to 25 ms |
| During Peak Hours Latency (On average) | 7 ms to 18 ms | 20 ms to 33 ms |
| Maximum Latency (Off Peak Hours) | 20 ms to 30 ms | 35 ms to 40 ms |
| Maximum Latency (Peak Hours) | 20 ms to 35 ms | 35 ms to 40 ms |
Reliability of Fidium Vs Xfinity
In general, both services are good and maintain overall reliability. But, Fidium has more downtime than Comcast Xfinity. We know Fidium Fiber is a rebrand of Consolidated Communications.
There were a few complaints about Consolidated Communications as it is not reliable. But, after 6 months of testing, we found Fidium Fiber gains 99.4% uptime according to Net Uptime Monitor. That means, you may get 52 hours of downtime per year.
In contrast, Xfinity shows 99.8% uptime in Net Uptime Monitor. This result shows 17 hours of downtime each year. With a minor uptime check, we can’t decide the overall reliability as it can be affected by weather and other barriers.
According to most residential internet service providers, ISPs never offer Service Level Agreements (SLA) on various plans. But, they always try to give the best output with no reliability guarantee at all. Both ISPs are fine for home internet service but if you work from home or run a business or require the highest reliable internet connection, you may face downtime in both services.
Though it seems funny, I would like to recommend using Fidium Fiber and Comcast both services at a time. Because you can get more speed in at least one ISP at a time in a home. It is wise to choose a lower-tier plan on both ISPs and use a load-balancing router to split the internet load over both services.
Remember that, an Enterprise organization with two ISPs can achieve 99.95% reliability in most cases but a battery backup system should be ready to continue the supply electricity system to the modem and router to avoid power outages.
Fidium Vs Comcast: Customer Support
Customer support is crucial in the event of fame. Unfortunately, most internet service providers got criticism for technical and customer support. This rule doesn’t apply to Fidium Fiber, because it has 99% customer satisfaction and customer support is overall good.
“In addition to the enhanced customer experience and best internet connection Fidium offers, we’re unequivocally proud of the service’s straightforward pricing and friendly, flexible service,” Garr added.
There were lots of support-related issues and customer complaints about Consolidated Communications for the DSL line. Now it’s turned to Fidium and improves a lot. Generally, technical support in the evening hours is lengthy. So, you should choose the call-off hours to reach out to the support agent early.
For account and billing support, the waiting time is minimal. Also, canceling a service is a simple task that can be completed within a minute.
On the other hand, Comcast (Xfinity) got criticized for poor customer service. Technical support is almost missing with Xfinity. They always transfer calls multiple times and put the caller through some auto attendants. Though, after a few requests, they were able to fix any internet issues.
There was a reason behind the bad online customer support of Xfinity. Xfinity has better information resources online than Fidium Fiber such as resetting or restarting your router and modem. Comcast customer billing support is incredibly great compared to other ISPs.
They can analyze and report us for a monthly bill or solve any error on the bill. The solution will also be instant, when they mistakenly charge you for router rental, but you are already using your own router.
Overall, Fidium Fiber’s customer support is better than Comcast. But, Comcast is an old and reputable ISP. So, their support is also acceptable and it will never let you down. Most people rarely contact customer agents anyway.
Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast – Which is Best?
Before choosing an ISP, ask yourself, which matters to you most? Internet Speed or Price? If at the end of the day, speed matters a lot to you, go for Fidium Fiber to achieve 100% fiber optic to get symmetrical speed.
Besides, speed Fidium shows low latency for online gaming. I also like the customer support of Fidium Fiber. However, the comparison report indicates Fidium Fiber is too expensive but offers maximum speed. It is best suited for home or business internet.
But, if you need an affordable plan, reliability, and stable internet connection, you should select Comcast. It is a great choice when working from home or running a small business. Moreover, Comcast offers higher ping latency ranges from 10 to 20ms.
For gamers and real-time communicators who use Google Duo and Zoom, they can choose Comcast Xfinity internet.
Final Say
We have discussed the difference between Fidium Fiber Vs Comcast. In short, Comcast offers better pricing on plans with quite good speed. On the other hand, Fidium Fiber comes with expensive internet plans and good upload-download speed. Both offer faster internet experiences for different purposes. Now the decision is yours, which one to choose as your primary ISP?
Source of Information
- https://www.consolidated.com/about-us/news/article-detail/id/854/fidium-fiber-a-new-gigabit-fiber-internet-service-from-consolidated-communications-coming-soon-to-pennsylvania
