CenturyLink is one of the fastest internet providers in Idaho and one of the biggest network operators working on fiber. It currently offers symmetrical fiber internet in Boise, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Hayden, Mountain Home, and several other cities in Idaho. Where it’s yet to bring fiber-to-the-home service, it offers DSL internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps.
Overall, CenturyLink internet is quite dependable with a 99.9* reliability based on network uptime. All CenturyLink Internet plans include unlimited data and are free for annual contacts.
I’ve used several ISPs operating in Idaho. In this review, I provide an overview of CenturyLink’s fiber and DSL service, weigh its pros and cons, and compare it to Cox, Spectrum, and TDS. Let’s begin.
Overview of CenturyLink Internet in Idaho
CenturyLink provides two types of internet service depending on the service area. Let’s look at each service type one by one.
Service Type
CenturyLink DSL Internet
CenturyLink offers Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet services in many areas. DSL is a type of broadband connection that uses existing telephone lines to deliver internet access.
CenturyLink DSL service features speeds up to 100 Mbps. Unlimited data is included and there’s no term contract. However, the maximum speeds you get may vary depending on various factors including the distance to CenturyLink’s central office.
CenturyLink Fiber Internet
CenturyLink offers Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) internet in some major cities in Idaho. Available speed tiers range from 140 Mbps to 940 depending on the service area.
CenturyLink boasts a reliability of 99.9% based on network availability for its fiber service. Unlimited data is included and there’s no annual contract.
Price and Plan Options
DSL
CenturyLink offers the following plans via DSL in different areas:
- Simply Unlimited Internet up to 30 Mbps
- Simply Unlimited Internet up to 40 – 80 Mbps
- Simply Unlimited Internet for speeds up to 100 – 140 Mbps
The price of these plans in Idaho is $55 per month.
Fiber
CenturyLink offers the following plans via fiber in different areas:
- Fiber Internet up to 140 Mbps
- Fiber Internet up to 200 Mbps
- Fiber Internet up to 500 Mbps
- Fiber Internet up to 750 Mbps
- Fiber Gigabit up to 940 Mbps
- G.Fast Fiber Gigabit up to 940 Mbps (Fiber to the curb)
The 140 Mbps fiber plan costs $55 per month in Idaho. Faster plans start at $75 per month.
Equipment
CenturyLink’s current offer on fiber internet includes a modem at no additional charge and free installation.
DSL internet may require equipment provided by CenturyLink. You can either lease the equipment for up to $15 per month or purchase it at a one-time charge of up to $200. An installation fee may also apply depending on the local network technology. Standard installation costs up to $15 while professional installation costs $149.
Additional Services
CenturyLink Internet plans can be bundled with phone service. The current offers are the following:
- CenturyLink Simply Unlimited Internet (DSL) + Simply Unlimited Phone at $95/mo
- CenturyLink Fiber Gigabit + Simply Unlimited Phone at $115/mo.
Simply Unlimited Phone included unlimited nationwide calling. The prices may vary depending on the location.
Availability
DSL
CenturyLink DSL Internet is available in Blackfoot, Boise, Burley, Caldwell, Hailey, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Meridian, Mountain Home, Nampa, Pocatello, and Rexburg.
Fiber
CenturyLink Fiber Internet is available in Boise City, Burley, Hailey, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello, Rexburg, and Twin Falls in Idaho.
Pros and Cons
Pros of CenturyLink Internet
Wide Availability: CenturyLink provides internet services in many areas. It’s also available in some rural and suburban areas in Idaho where other high-speed options are limited.
Fiber-Optic Service: In some areas, CenturyLink offers fiber-optic internet to provide faster and more reliable speeds compared to DSL, fixed wireless access, cable, and satellite internet.
Price: CenturyLink Internet prices are competitive with other ISPs offering similar speeds.
No Data Caps: All CenturyLink internet plans come with unlimited data, so you don’t have to worry about exceeding data caps or paying overage fees.
Contract Flexibility: CenturyLink offers both contract and no-contract options, giving you flexibility in choosing your commitment level.
Customer Service: While experiences can vary, many customers find CenturyLink’s customer service to be satisfactory and responsive to their needs.
Cons of CenturyLink Internet:
Speed Variation: CenturyLink DSL speeds can vary significantly depending on your location and distance from the central office. Although its fiber service doesn’t suffer from this problem.
Limited Fiber Coverage: CenturyLink’s fiber-optic service is not available in all areas. Cable Internet from other providers may be faster than its DSL service.
Latency: CenturyLink’s DSL connections can have higher latency compared to CenturyLink Fiber internet. However, the latency with DSL is still lower than satellite internet.
CenturyLink vs. TDS vs. Spectrum vs. Cox
Now let’s compare CenturyLink Internet to some of the other ISPs that also service in Idaho.
Coverage:
CenturyLink: CenturyLink offers DSL and fiber-optic internet services primarily in rural and suburban areas. Fiber availability is limited compared to DSL.
TDS (TDS Telecom): TDS provides DSL, fiber, and cable internet services mainly in rural and suburban communities in Idaho.
Spectrum (Charter Spectrum): Spectrum offers cable internet services in urban and suburban areas in Idaho, with widespread availability.
Cox (Cox Communications): Cox provides cable internet services in various urban and suburban areas in Idaho.
Speed and Plans
CenturyLink: CenturyLink Offers a range of plans with speeds from 30 Mbps to 940 Mbps via DSL and Fiber.
TDS: TDS offers DSL and Fiber internet with speeds ranging from 1 Mbps to up to 8 Gbps
Spectrum: Spectrum offers a variety of internet plans with speeds ranging from basic to high-speed gigabit options.
Cox: Cox offers various internet plans with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps in most areas.
Data Caps
CenturyLink: All CenturyLink internet plans include unlimited data.
Cox: Cox has a data cap of 1.25 TB across its plans.
TDS: TDS also has various data caps on its plans.
Spectrum: Spectrum offers unlimited data with all its plans.
Service Type
CenturyLink: CenturyLink offers symmetrical fiber internet in some areas and DSL internet in others.
TDS: TDS also offers fiber and DSL internet depending on the area.
Cox: Cox primarily offers cable service, although it has launched a fiber product in some areas.
Spectrum: Only cable internet is widely available with Spectrum.
Reliability
Fiber-optic internet services offer more reliable and consistent speeds compared to DSL or cable. Spectrum and Cox offer cable internet while CenturyLink and TDS also have fiber options. However, CenturyLink boasts a 99.9% network uptime, making it the most reliable ISP among the four.
The Verdict
CenturyLink Internet is competitively priced, includes unlimited data, and doesn’t require a term contract—which is more than we can say for its competitors. CenturyLink Internet offers symmetrical speeds up to 940 Mbps where it’s provided through a fiber connection.
CenturyLink’s DSL service also supports speeds up to 140 Mbps depending on location. While it’s not as fast as fiber or cable internet, it’s still better than other rural internet options such as satellite and fixed wireless access.
While other ISPs in Idaho such as Spectrum, Cox, and TDS may have some attractive features, CenturyLink’s fiber service with unlimited data, 99.9% reliability, and no annual contract requirements makes it the best choice in Ihado overall.
Also Read About: FeetFinder Pros and Cons (Must Read!) – A Balanced View About the Platform
