Straight Talk Wireless is the first carrier-owned prepaid brand to introduce a home internet plan. Straight Talk, owned by Verizon Wireless, formally announced the plan today. Hints of the plan's launch were leaked a couple of weeks ago when displays started popping up in some Walmart stores.
Straight Talk's home internet plan will cost $45/month for unlimited data and requires the one-time purchase of a $99 router. The plan does seem to be tax inclusive. Straight Talk is advertising that there are no contracts or hidden fees, "the price is what you pay," their website reads.
Depending on their locations, customers will receive either 4G LTE or 5G network service. Download speeds are advertised as being anywhere between 25-100 Mbps. Typical upload speeds will be in the range of 3-10Mbps. The router, made by Arcadyan Technology, has two ethernet ports, supports WiFi 6, and can connect up to 130 devices.
The new service plan can now be purchased online through the Straight Talk wireless website. It is also available online at Walmart and in nearly 2,000 Walmart stores. The service plan will not be available to use everywhere, but you can use this location checker to see if it's available in your area.
Fixed wireless access (FWA), such as the new home internet offering from Straight Talk, has been dubbed 5G's killer app by some analysts across several industries. Indeed, FWA providers have been primarily coming online over the last year, with T-Mobile-based providers taking the lead.
Last year, T-Mobile announced its commercial launch of 5G home internet. And earlier this year it was introduced in Metro by T-Mobile stores. However, Metro by T-Mobile does not sell its own branded home internet plan like Straight Talk is now doing for Verizon. T-Mobile's 5G Home Internet plan, which is sold in both Metro and T-Mobile stores, costs $50/month with autopay.
Last October, BestMVNO reported on the launch of Earthlink's fixed wireless plans, which now start at $64.95/month for 50GB of data. And earlier this year, BestMVNO reported that Ultra Mobile launched its own fixed wireless plans. Ultra's plans start at $54.99/month for 25GB of data. Both providers use the T-Mobile network for coverage.
Other carrier owned prepaid brands including DISH's Boost Mobile, AT&T's Cricket Wireless, and T-Mobile's Metro by T-Mobile have yet to launch any branded home internet plans.
T-Mobile is the only other brand to at least try and push home internet through one of its prepaid brands, but it is still a T-Mobile-branded service, not Metro-branded home internet.
Straight Talk's home internet plan is eligible for an ACP discount. Persons and households who qualify for the benefit will receive a $30 monthly discount on the plan. Those living on tribal lands can get it for free.
Verizon has also released a video filmed within a Walmart store that showcases and talks about Straight Talk's Walmart partnership and the new home internet plan. You can watch the video below.