CenturyLink VS TDS Telecom

Speed, ping, and price of broadband plans from Centurylink and TDS tend to be in the same ballpark, although this might change as both providers are working to bring more fiber-based solutions to areas throughout the US. TDS is expanding fiber based on community interest, and you can request access via the “Fiberville” section of their website. With Centurylink, ask your local reps what the roadmap is for your local network in the next few years, and also take add-ons like TV and phone service into consideration while you compare offerings.

CenturyLink

SETUP SERVICE

(844) 366-4801

PRICE RANGE $45 to $80 / mo.
TECHNOLOGY DSL
SPEED RANGE (DOWNLOAD) 10 mbps to 1,000 mbps
SPEED RANGE (UPLOAD) Up to 1,000 mbps

CenturyLink OVERVIEW

CenturyLink is a communications company that provides DSL and fiber Internet, phone, and TV service. Their TV offerings are marketed under the name “PRISMTV.”

CenturyLink TECHNOLOGY

CENTURYLINK INTERNET DEALS

$45 for 10 mbps DSL
$45 for 40 mbps FIBER
$60 for 100 mbps FIBER
$80 for 1,000 mbps FIBER

CenturyLink RATINGS AND REVIEWS

35.3% recommendation rating according to 55,577 verified users.

TDS Telecom

SETUP SERVICE

(888) 317-7540

PRICE RANGE $29.95 to $99.95 / mo.
TECHNOLOGY DSL
SPEED RANGE (DOWNLOAD) 15 mbps to 1,000 mbps
SPEED RANGE (UPLOAD) 0.768 mbps to 400 mbps

TDS Telecom OVERVIEW

TDS provides DSL, cable, and fiber Internet connectivity across much of the US, in addition to TV and phone services. Select areas within their network have access to gigabit speeds via 100% fiber connections.

TDS Telecom TECHNOLOGY

TDS INTERNET DEALS

$29.95 for 15 mbps DSL
$29.95 for 25 mbps DSL
$29.95 for 50 mbps DSL
$39.95 for 60 mbps CABLE
$44.95 for 50 mbps FIBER
$49.95 for 100 mbps FIBER
$59.95 for 100 mbps CABLE
$89.95 for 1,000 mbps FIBER
$99.95 for 600 mbps CABLE

TDS Telecom RATINGS AND REVIEWS

43.1% recommendation rating according to 4,170 verified TDS users.

CenturyLink Installation

CenturyLink customers have two options for installation: self-installation or professional installation.

Self-installation is generally very simple, particularly for DSL broadband. Everything needed to perform the installation, including step-by-step instructions, should come with the modem or welcome kit. The whole process generally takes no more than 40 minutes.

Professional installation is necessary if your house has never been connected to CenturyLink before, or if the customer simply doesn’t care to fiddle with the cables and settings. An appointment with a professional technician can be made directly through CenturyLink.

There is usually a fee associated with bringing in a professional, so customers with pre-wired homes who are comfortable plugging in a few cables and following simple instructions can easily save money by doing it themselves.

Contract Fine Prints and Promotions

Promotional offers can be good and bad depending on details

Steep sign-up discount for new customers in your area? That’s great news, but don’t rush to sign on the dotted line without considering a couple things: namely, ETFs (early termination fees) and final monthly pricing.

No matter how cheap a plan seems with the discount you get for the first few months, be sure to consider that the final cost when the promotion times out will matter much more in the long run. Switching isn’t always easy if you change your mind, and if the plan in question has an early termination fee you could wind up paying more out of pocket than if you’d simply bought a more expensive plan in the first place.