Performance Characteristics

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What factors affect the performance of my mass market broadband internet access service?

AT&T offers many mass market broadband internet access service options, each of which may have a different service capability speed. The term speed is commonly used as a shorthand way to describe the capacity at which a particular mass market broadband internet access service can transmit data. This capacity is typically measured in the number of kilobits, megabits or gigabits that can be transmitted in one second (Kbps, Mbps or Gbps). Some applications, like a short email without attachments or basic web browsing, do not require high service capability speeds to function optimally. Other activities, like transferring large data files, can be performed faster with higher-speed services. Your service capability speed may not be suitable for some applications, particularly those involving real-time or near real-time, high-bandwidth uses such as streaming 4K video or video conferencing.

Because service performance varies on an end-to-end basis, AT&T’s service capability speeds are limited to, and measured between, your location and a point on AT&T’s network, which constitutes only one segment of the end-to-end transmission path connecting your location to internet websites or content providers. End-to-end performance of your service depends on a variety of factors, including: the number of subscribers simultaneously using the network; customer location; destination and traffic on the internet; Wi-Fi connectivity; the capabilities and performance of your Local Area Network (LAN); interference with high frequency spectrum on your telephone line; wiring inside your premises, office or apartment; the capacity or performance of your devices or modem; the server with which you are communicating; internal network management factors (including overhead, which refers to the various control and signaling data required to achieve the reliable transmission of internet access data); and the networks you and others are using when communicating.

AT&T offers a wide variety of services to its customers that share network resources with its broadband internet access services, including but not limited to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Internet Protocol (IP)-video, unified messaging, Voice over LTE (VoLTE), enterprise networking, public safety (including FirstNet®), and national security services. AT&T offers a variety of wireless broadband internet access services, such as AT&T Internet Air^TM, AT&T Internet Air^TM for Business Premium and AT&T Business Unlimited Premium, and service add-ons, such as AT&T Turbo, that share network resources with its other broadband internet access services. These services may rely on class of service, scheduler weighting or other related network management practices to ensure that services sharing network resources are able meet their relevant service requirements (“Class of Service Management”). Use of services with Class of Service Management may affect the availability of network resources for the other broadband internet access services that share network resources and thus may impact service performance. For example, your service may be interrupted, delayed, or otherwise limited in the event of a disaster or emergency or during periods of congestion to accommodate the needs of national security and emergency preparedness personnel using FirstNet services with Class of Service Management.

In addition, although AT&T engineers its network to accommodate all users and user types based on a variety of factors, including average and anticipated peak usage of the network, many factors cannot be anticipated or are outside of AT&T’s control. These factors can impact the availability of network resources for mass market broadband internet access services at any particular time. Consequently, AT&T does not guarantee the performance of your service on an end-to-end basis.

Other factors that are relevant to specific services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Wired Services. Service performance may be affected by the wiring inside your premises, the distance between your premises and an AT&T central office, the capabilities of the device you are using to access the service, and the applications you use. For customers making use of in home Wi-Fi to connect to wired services, service performance may also be affected by a device's distance from the in home Wi-Fi antennae, the technology used by the Wi-Fi antennae to broadcast the in home Wi-Fi signal, the technology used to broadcast the Wi-Fi signal in the device being used, the number and activity level of devices connected via Wi-Fi at any given moment and features unique to the design and construction of your premises. In addition, to provide our U-verse TV customers with a consistently high-quality video service, the speed of AT&T broadband internet access service may be reduced when a customer is using his or her U-verse TV service in a manner that requires high bandwidth. Please click here for our AT&T Internet Terms of Service.
   
• Mobile Services. Service performance may be affected by your proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the technology at the cell site, the number of other users connected to the same cell site and the services they are using, the surrounding terrain, use inside a building or a moving vehicle, radio frequency interference, your mobile data plan, the capabilities of your device, applicable network management practices as discussed on this page, and the applications you use. In addition, AT&T has designed its wireless services to provide our customers with a high-quality voice experience during simultaneous voice and data sessions, which may affect data performance, including but not limited to a temporary reduction in speed to minimize the likelihood of dropped calls. In areas not served by AT&T’s owned and operated mobile networks, customers may be able to access data via “roaming” on another carrier’s network as AT&T has agreements with other wireless carriers. This off-network (or off-net) partner coverage roaming service and service quality is not guaranteed. We may reduce roaming data speeds to 2G or suspend service entirely at any time without notice.  Please see att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html for a coverage map.
   
• Fixed Wireless Services. As with mobile services, fixed wireless service performance may be affected by your proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the technology at the cell site, the number of other users connected to the same cell site and the services they are using, the surrounding terrain, characteristics of the building or structure in which the services are used, radio frequency interference, your internet and/or data plan, the capabilities of your device or gateway, applicable network management practices as discussed on this page, and the applications you use. For customers making use of in home or in business Wi-Fi to connect to fixed wireless services, service performance may also be affected by a device's distance from the in home or in building Wi-Fi antennae, the technology used by the Wi-Fi antennae to broadcast the in home or in building Wi-Fi signal, the technology used to broadcast the Wi-Fi signal in the device being used, the number and activity level of devices connected via Wi-Fi at any given moment and features unique to the design and construction of your premises.
  
  
• Nationwide Wi-Fi Hotspot Services. Wi-Fi hot spots are generally provided at a given site on behalf of the business owner or operator for the benefit of their patrons. It is common practice that the internet access is shared between both the business’ patrons and the business’ operational traffic. In some instances, business operational traffic may be prioritized to minimize the potential impact on critical communications, such as credit card processing. This prioritization may intermittently impact the speed available. Additionally, service performance may be affected by your proximity to a Wi-Fi hot spot, the capacity of the Wi-Fi equipment at the hot spot, the number of other users connected to the same site, the composition of the building where the hot spot is located (wood, concrete, etc.), radio frequency interference, the capabilities of your Wi-Fi capable device, the internet connection to the Wi-Fi hot spot, per-user bandwidth limits used to provide fair internet access at a hot spot, and speed tier options made available at the hot spot.

Where can I find information about the performance of my mass market broadband internet access service?

Because many different factors can affect the performance of your mass market broadband internet access service, AT&T does not guarantee specific performance levels (such as of speed or latency) for our mass market broadband internet access services. We strive to manage our network to provide you optimal performance. The performance you can expect to receive from the mass market broadband internet access services we offer is described below.

Speed

• Wired Service
  
• AT&T offers mass market wired broadband internet access services in discrete speed tiers. Our mass market wired broadband internet access customers should expect to see service capability speeds consistent with the median speed of the speed tier of their service plan. PLEASE NOTE: The median speeds denote midpoints of speed values observed over a period of time, therefore there is an equal probability of any particular observed speed falling above or below the median speed at any given point of time.
  
  
• Please click here for a list of our wired service offerings and expected speeds. To find out which speed tier is well-suited for the types of applications you use most often, please click here.
  
  
• The table below sets forth data showing the expected and actual 24-hours median download and upload speeds for AT&T’s mass market wired broadband internet access services, by transport technology type and speed tier. The “Expected Speed” for each Internet speed tier is the anticipated, theoretical speed, based on network design and engineering. “Actual Speeds” reflect the median of speed tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T provided home router for a statistically valid sample of the applicable speed tier which then measures network performance between the home router to the closest AT&T Internet access point to the applicable customer. Please note that customer applications’ throughput can be 3-5% lower than “Actual Speeds” due to IP/Ethernet packet framing overhead.

IPBB includes ADSL2+, VDSL2, G.Fast and Ethernet technologies delivered over a hybrid of fiber optic and copper facilities which provides subscribers with significantly faster download speeds compared to traditional DSL connections. All speed tiers are asymmetrical or the download/upload speeds are different.

In certain areas where AT&T has accepted Connect America Fund Phase II funding, IPBB includes internet delivered via bonded pair ADSL2+. Notwithstanding the results reported above, this configuration is designed to deliver download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 1 Mbps.

AT&T Fiber is an ultra-fast broadband technology delivered over a fiber optic connection to the premises or to units within certain Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU). All speed tiers are symmetrical or the download/upload speeds are similar.

AT&T DSL is a legacy internet access service based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The legacy nature of the technology involved means that AT&T cannot test “Actual Speed” for AT&T DSL using the same software tool described above for IPBB and Fiber. As a result, the reported information for AT&T DSL speed tiers in the table below comes from data compiled by AT&T from the measured ATM DSL sync rates. AT&T DSL ”Actual Speeds” are estimated to be 85% of the measured sync rate, based on accepted industry standards assuming a 15% overhead rate compared to measured ATM DSL sync rates.

AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) service provides an unshared fiber connection to the internet that's only used by one customer. Dedicated internet connections are generally more reliable and faster than shared connections because they are not affected by other users on the access network. AT&T offers dedicated internet speeds to small businesses up to 1Gbps. All speed tiers are symmetrical or the download/upload speeds are similar. In no case does AT&T guarantee particular minimum speeds for ADI services. Speeds available are affected by many different factors that can impact internet network performance as discussed above.

• Fixed Wireless Service. AT&T’s mass market fixed wireless broadband internet access services provide qualified households and small businesses with internet access service using 5G or LTE technologies wireless antennas, and an indoor Wi-Fi gateway. Service performance may be affected by the customer’s proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the number of other users connected to the same cell site, the surrounding terrain, radio frequency interference, applicable network management practices, and the applications used. As with wired services, customers making use of in home or in business Wi-Fi to connect to fixed wireless broadband services may see their service performance affected by a device's distance from the in home or in business Wi-Fi antennas, the technology used by the in home or in business Wi-Fi antennas to broadcast the Wi-Fi signal, the technology used to broadcast the Wi-Fi signal, the number and activity level of devices connected via Wi-Fi at any given moment, and features unique to the design and construction of the customer’s premises.
  
  • Fixed Wireless Internet (FWI). Fixed Wireless Internet service is a mass market fixed wireless broadband internet access service that uses an outdoor wireless antenna affixed to the customer’s premises and is designed to provide high speed access to the internet with download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps. It does not impose a maximum speed limit, and thus provides customers with the highest speed available at the customer’s location and at a given point of time, subject to the factors and the network management practices that can affect network performance, discussed above. The table below sets forth data showing the expected and actual download and upload speeds for AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet service. The “Expected Speeds” for Fixed Wireless Internet is the designed minimum speeds, based on network design and engineering. “Actual Speeds” for Fixed Wireless Internet reflect a range of speed tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T-provided home router for a statistically valid sample of AT&T’s fixed wireless customer population. The tool measures network performance between the closest AT&T Internet access point and the customer.

• AT&T Internet Air (AIA). AT&T Internet Air is a mass market fixed wireless broadband internet access service that relies on wireless antennas incorporated into the included indoor Wi-Fi gateway. It does not impose a maximum speed limit, and thus provides customers with the highest speed available at the customer’s location and at a given point of time, subject to the factors and the network management practices that can affect network performance, discussed above. The table below sets forth data showing the typical download and upload speed ranges for AT&T Internet Air service. In no case does AT&T guarantee particular minimum speeds for AT&T Internet Air services. Speeds available are affected by many different factors that can impact wireless network performance as discussed above.
  
  • Based on a limited range of speed tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T-provided home Wi-Fi gateway, AT&T expects customers will typically experience speeds within the reported range, subject to location, device, and other factors as discussed above. The tool measures network performance between the closest AT&T Internet access point and the customer. The range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were:

• AT&T Internet Air for Business. AT&T Internet Air for Business is a mass market fixed wireless broadband internet access service that relies on wireless antennas incorporated into a compatible router (sold separately or “bring your own”), which can only be used in a stationary location at the customer’s qualified business service address. AT&T Internet Air for Business Standard and Premium plans do not impose a maximum speed limit, and thus provide customers with the highest speed available at the customer’s location and at a given point of time, subject to (a) the factors described above that can affect the performance of both mobile services and fixed wireless services (see “What factors affect the performance of my mass market broadband internet access service”) and (b) the network management practices for mobile services discussed at the Network Practices tab above, including (i) Congestion-based Data Management that is always on for the Standard plan and triggered after 250GB of wireless data usage in a bill cycle for the Premium plan and (i) the Video Management feature that aims to render content identified as streaming video in standard definition (max of 2 Mbps for customers on both a 5G-enabled device and rate plan or 1.5 Mbps for customers with devices or plans not compatible with 5G) but can be turned off by customers online at any time to get higher video resolution.
  • In no case does AT&T guarantee particular minimum speeds for AT&T Internet Air for Business services. Speeds available are affected by many different factors that can impact wireless network performance, as discussed above. Based on data compiled by AT&T through crowd-sourced speed tests for its mobile services, AT&T expects customers with an AT&T Internet Air for Business Standard or Premium plan will typically experience the following speeds, subject to location, device, which network technologies are available at the customer’s qualified business service address, and other factors discussed above. Some video and other content may be slower due to the Video Management feature included with the plans.
  • The range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were):

• Mobile Service.  Some AT&T mass market mobile broadband internet access services limit access to certain network technologies or impose a maximum speed limit, which is outlined in the applicable data service plan, subject to the factors described above that can affect mobile services performance (see “What factors affect the performance of my mass market broadband internet access service”) and the network management practices discussed at the Network Practices tab above.
  
  Other plans provide access to all available network technologies and provide customers with the highest speed available from the network at a particular location and at a given point of time based on the capabilities of the customer's device, subject to the factors and network management practices discussed above. In addition, some service plans include maximum data transmission rates for traffic we can identify as video and/or for other data types. For example, the now retired AT&T Unlimited Choice plan limits data transmission rates to 3.0 Mbps, and most of our wireless plans strive to render streaming video in standard-definition (SD), with a max speed of 2 Mbps for customers on both a 5G enabled device and rate plan or 1.5 Mbps for devices or plans not compatible with 5G (for content we can identify as video and potentially other content that content providers bundle with video). If a data plan includes HD or 4K UHD, with the ability to manage video settings, customers can manage their video online turn off the video treatment to get higher video resolution. Similarly, some AT&T plans provide customers a monthly per line allotment of mobile hotspot/tethering usage after which the data transmission rate for tethered data for that device will be limited to a significantly slower speed (e.g., 128 Kbps) for the remainder of the bill cycle, as set forth in the terms of the plan.
  • In no case does AT&T guarantee particular minimum speeds for its mass market mobile broadband internet access services. Speeds available are affected by many different factors that can impact wireless network performance as discussed above. Based on data compiled by AT&T through crowd-sourced speed tests, AT&T expects customers on plans without maximum speed limits will typically experience the following speeds, subject to location, device, and other factors as discussed above. Depending on plan terms, some video and other content may be slower due to Video Management. In addition, roaming data speeds may be lower. 
  • The range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were):

• FirstNet. Based on data compiled by AT&T through crowd-sourced speed tests, AT&T expects customers on FirstNet Rate Plans will typically experience the following speeds, subject to location, device, and other factors as discussed above (see “What factors affect the performance of my mass market broadband internet access service”). 
  • The range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were):

• Nationwide Wi-Fi Hotspot Service. AT&T's mass market Wi-Fi broadband internet access service is designed to provide customers with the highest speed available from the network at any given point in time, subject to the many different factors discussed above that can affect network performance. AT&T's Wi-Fi services generally support the IEEE 802.11n/ac standard, with some AT&T locations also supporting the IEEE 802.11a/b/g standard. Although the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards have theoretical maximum speeds ranging from over 10 Mbps to over a gigabit per second, actual Wi-Fi service speeds will be substantially lower than the theoretical maximum speeds which describe the physical throughput rate including Wi-Fi protocol communications; the result is that the theoretical maximum speed a customer can receive is 40%-50% of the quoted Wi-Fi standard speed. In addition to the factors discussed above, the actual speed experienced over Wi-Fi will depend in part on the speed of the connection between the Wi-Fi hotspot and the destination the customer wants to reach on the internet, which may be significantly below the theoretical maximum speed of the service. For more information about AT&T's mass market Wi-Fi broadband internet access services, please click here.

Latency

Latency, also known as delay, is the amount of time from when a data packet is sent by a user over the network to when a response back to the user is received. For mass market broadband internet access services, latency is usually expressed as the round-trip time in milliseconds (ms) that it takes for a data packet to travel between two end points on the internet (from point A to point B and then back to point A). Some applications, such as email, can tolerate a substantial amount of latency without any noticeable impact on the application's performance. Other applications, such as real-time video conferencing, require lower latency levels to function properly. End-to-end latency reflects the cumulative effect of the individual latencies that occur along the end-to-end network path.

Although latencies can vary due to several factors, including some beyond AT&T's control, mass market broadband internet access service customers can typically expect the following round-trip latencies when accessing the internet:

• Wired Service.
  
  • The table below sets forth data showing the median of actual latency for AT&T’s mass market wired broadband internet access services, by transport technology and speed tier.
    
    
  • Reported latency reflects the median of latency tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T provided home router which measures network performance to the closest AT&T Internet access point to the customer.

• AT&T Fiber is ultra-fast broadband technology delivered over a fiber optic connection to the premises or to units within certain Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU). 

AT&T DSL is a legacy internet access service that uses Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, and relies on equipment discontinued by the manufacturer. As a consequence, AT&T cannot deploy the software tool described above to test “Actual Latency” for AT&T DSL services. Nor can we test “Actual Latency” using other methods, which would require real-time access to subscribers’ remote gateways. Nonetheless, based on the most recent latency performance data from 2017 and 2018 for these services, we expect that latency performance for AT&T DSL services do not vary from that of AT&T’s comparable IPBB services, reported above. Subscribers to AT&T DSL services may test the performance of their service connections at https://www.speedtest.net/, or other third party speed test sites.

• Fixed Wireless Service.
  
  • Fixed Wireless Internet. The table below sets forth data showing the latency of AT&T’s Fixed Wireless Internet service. Reported latency reflects the median of latency tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T provided home router which measures network performance to the closest AT&T Internet access point to the customer. Service performance may be affected by the user’s proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the number of other users connected to the same cell site, the surrounding terrain, radio frequency interference, applicable network management practices, and the applications used.

• AT&T Internet Air.  The table below sets forth data showing the latency of AT&T’s Internet Air (AIA) broadband internet access service. Reported latency reflects latency tests conducted by AT&T using a software tool installed on the AT&T provided home router which measures network performance to the closest AT&T Internet access point to the customer. The range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were:  Service performance may be affected by the user’s proximity to a cell site, the capacity of the cell site, the number of other users connected to the same cell site, the surrounding terrain, radio frequency interference, applicable network management practices, and the applications used.

• AT&T Internet Air for Business.  Based on data compiled by AT&T through crowd-sourced performance tests for its mobile services that measure latency to the closest geographical server to the customer, AT&T expects customers with AT&T Internet Air for Business Standard and Premium will typically experience the following latency, subject to location, device, and other factors as discussed above (the range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were):

• Mobile Service and FirstNet:
  
  • Based on data compiled by AT&T through crowd-sourced performance tests that measure latency to the closest geographical server to the customer, AT&T expects customers will typically experience the following latency, subject to location, device, and other factors as discussed above (the range reported is based on the 25th to the 75th percentile, which means that the 25th percentile lower bound is the value below which 25% of the test readings were, and the 75th percentile upper bound is the value below which 75% of the test readings were):

• Nationwide Wi-Fi Hotspot Service.
  
  • Approximately 10 to 250 milliseconds