As we've been expecting, cable giant Spectrum Communications has at last launched a new mobile offering called Spectrum Mobile.
The service is very similar to Comcast's Xfinity Mobile service, with both options running on Verizon's network behind the scenes.
Spectrum Mobile service is only available to Spectrum home internet customers, but for those that qualify it is potentially an affordable way to add access to Verizon's network to your connectivity arsenal.
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Table of Contents
Spectrum Mobile Background
Spectrum (formerly known as Charter Communications) is the nation's second largest cable company, behind Comcast's Xfinity.
Back in 2011 Charter and Comcast were part of a cable industry consortium that sold billions of dollars of cellular spectrum to Verizon, but as part of the deal the cable companies retained rights to eventually launch their own cellular services using Verizon's network behind the scenes.
This deal is what enables the big cable companies to buy service from Verizon at wholesale prices, allowing Spectrum Mobile to launch with competitive prices on Verizon's network - including providing access to Verizon's roaming partners.
Without this deal - launching with nationwide coverage would have been impossible.
Details, Pricing, and Limitations
Spectrum Mobile offers two plans with different data packages. Both plans come with unlimited talk and text, and with unlimited access to Spectrum's network of nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots.
Like Xfinity Mobile, you can have up to five total lines (based on the customer's credit rating), but new Spectrum home internet customers will be limited to 2 lines for the first 30 days.
Unlimited: $45/month - Mobile Hotspot: 5GB of high-speed data per month, throttled to 600kbps for the rest of the month. Hotspot data counts against network management limit.
- Network Management Limit: 20GB - all data used after this amount, to include hotspot data, is subject to deprioritization during times of network congestion.
- International Use: Available at usage rates which vary by country. For Canada and Mexico, the rates are 10 cents per text or minute of talk and 5 cents per MB of data.
- Video Streaming: All video streams are throttled to provide 480p resolution.
"By the Gig": $14/month per GB of data. Data is shared by all "By the Gig" lines on the account. Data refills in 1GB increments for $14. - Mobile Hotspot: Included
- Network Management Limit: None - data is not deprioritized.
- International Use: Available at usage rates which vary by country. For Canada and Mexico, the rates are 10 cents per text or minute of talk and 5 cents per MB of data.
- Video Streaming: All video streams are throttled to provide 480p resolution.
December 2018 Update: Customers must purchase a new phone through Spectrum Mobile to sign up or trade-in an old phone to receive a new one at a discount. Spectrum initially started with only a small number of Android options are available, but have expanded to include most iPhone models.
May 2019 Update: Spectrum Mobile customers can bring their own Verizon-compatible Apple or Samsung without needing to purchase a new device. Phones from other makers are not currently supported.
For Spectrum Internet Customers Only
The most important limitation is that Spectrum Mobile is only available to Spectrum home internet customers.
However, if you cancel Spectrum home internet service in the future, you can keep the Spectrum Mobile lines, with some limitations:
- Each line will be charged an additional $20/month access fee.
- Speeds when using Spectrum W-iFi hotspots will be limited to 5Mbps.
- You can change your plan, but you won't be able to add additional lines.
Analysis
For those who maintain a home base in a Spectrum area, and who subscribe to their home internet service and travel occasionally, then this can be a worthwhile plan. However, until they roll out BYOD, you'll have to purchase a phone from them.
For those transitioning to full-time travel, the extra $20 per line access fee for not having home internet service makes these plans unattractive compared to other available options.
5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot use for $45/month is not great, especially since the 5GB counts toward the 20GB network management threshold.
If you have both Spectrum and Xfinity available at your home, you may want to consider the mobile aspect when deciding on a home internet service. Spectrum Mobile is very similar to Xfinity's service but there are some differences:
Potential customers will need to look at the whole package when evaluating these offers as well as compare with other available data plan options, but in the right circumstance, Spectrum Mobile could be a solid choice for a part-time nomad with a home base served by Spectrum cable.
Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of