Altafiber Internet Review: Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability Compared

Altafiber internet review

You might have heard of some of the big names in fiber such as Google Fiber, Frontier Fiber and AT&T Fiber, but this regional provider deserves some recognition as well. There’s nothing small about the services you can expect when signing up. Formerly known as Cincinnati Bell, this Ohio-based internet provider offers internet, TV and phone services. A fiber-optic connection supports its home internet, which offers up to 3 gigabit speeds. Keep in mind that multi-gig plans are available in very select areas.

Altafiber was first launched in 1873 as Cincinnati Bell and was known for revolutionizing communication between businesses and the community through its telegraph services. The company was acquired by Macquarie Asset Management in 2018, which led to the expansion of its fiber footprint in the Greater Cincinnati area. That same year, Altafiber acquired Hawaiian Telecom, expanding its services in Hawaii. In 2022, the company officially changed its name to Altafiber and began offering its services to Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana residents.

If you’re looking for value, you’re in the right place. Altafiber has one of the most competitive introductory rates among fiber providers and a five-year price lock on its top-end plan. It’s a rare gem, especially since most competitors like Frontier only offer a standard one-year price lock in most markets.

Altafiber internet plans and pricing

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

With Altafiber, you can choose between six plans. All tiers come with unlimited data and no contracts. Customers can expect a price lock of one to five years. If the top-end 3-gig tier is available at your address, you’re in luck because it boasts the longest price lock among all the plans. After the promo period ends, you can expect all plans to increase by $15 a month. 

The starting plan features symmetrical download and upload speeds of 100 megabits per second, which is on par with what most internet service providers offer. However, not all Altafiber plans come with symmetrical speeds; the 800Mbps plan and the gigabit plan offer upload speeds of up to just 600Mbps.

CNET’s pick for Altafiber’s best plan is the Fioptics 1 Gig plan, which has download speeds of 1,000Mbps and 600Mbps in upload. The gigabit plan boasts faster download speeds with a three-year price lock. That means the gigabit plan boasts a cheaper cost per Mbps of 7 cents versus 9 cents for the 400Mbps tier. Although your housheold may not need that much speed, you can consider downgrading to the 800Mbps plan for a similar cost per Mbps of 7 cents.

Altafiber also offers multi-gig plans that top out at 6 gigabits. However, these are only available to a select few addresses in the Greater Cincinnati region.

Last month, Altafiber announced that over 10,000 households in Trotwood, Ohio, can now access its fiber-optic internet service. Residents in the area can access speeds of 400Mbps to 6,000Mbps. This is after the company announced in February that it would be expanding its multi-gig fiber network to new cities in Ohio. In fact, over 27,000 homes in Centerville, Washington Township and Kettering neighborhoods can expect to see download speeds reach a speedy 10 gigabits.

As of 2024, Altafiber has invested over $2 billion in its fiber network and plans on bringing multigig speeds to over 400,000 new homes outside of its main service area.

Here’s where Altafiber offers internet service

According to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission, Altafiber’s main coverage area is the Cincinnati metro region, which encompasses parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. According to the company’s website, over 61% of residents in this area are covered by its fiber-to-the-home connection.

However, the FCC map doesn’t paint the full story. A spokesperson from Altafiber tells CNET that as of last year, the company has begun expanding its multigig fiber network to over 400,000 homes beyond the Greater Cincinnati area.

These new markets include Butler, Warren and Greene Counties in Ohio; and Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties in Kentucky; and regional cities like Dayton, Middletown, Waynesville, Xenia, Lawrenceburg and Greendale.

Additionally, since 2018, the company has been providing its services in Hawaii under the brand Hawaiian Telecom.

That said, while over 500,000 homes in Ohio might have access to Altafiber’s network, the available speeds will vary depending on your location. If you reside in the Cincinnati area, you’ll likely have access to speeds of up to 2 gigabits. But residents in nearby Dayton can expect to see only gigabit speeds.

Those not under the blanket of this ISP’s fiber coverage may have access to Altafiber’s lesser-known DSL copper connection, which provides a slight percentage of area coverage, per the latest data from the FCC. Altafiber’s DSL connection, which tops out at 50Mbps in download, is no match for fiber, but it could be a decent alternative if fiber is unavailable at your address.

Straightforward terms for Altafiber home internet

Altafiber’s services are pretty clear-cut: there are no data caps or contracts. However, you should know some details in the fine print before signing up.

Additional monthly fees

Your monthly bill will be slightly higher than the charge for your given speed tier. Leasing a wireless gateway (a modem and router combo device) will cost you an additional $12 monthly. You can opt out of this charge by using your own modem and router, but you’ll need to check with Altafiber to ensure your equipment is compatible with its system.

You can also add Fioptics Care to your service for an additional $20 monthly. This program is essentially designed to provide customers with insurance for repairs on damaged equipment. This price may increase after your plan’s promo period ends.

One-time fees

The greatest advantage of starting service with Altafiber is that installation is free. This is a plus, considering that most ISPs charge you between $50 to $100 for professional installation. Still, several one-time fees will hit your balance sheet. For example, customers can expect a $40 activation fee when they begin service. If you have a larger home and decide to purchase a whole-home Wi-Fi extender, this will be an additional $5 monthly charge. On the plus side, since there are no contracts with Altafiber, you can cancel your service anytime if you run into any issues. But be aware that for any unreturned equipment, you can be charged upwards of $120.

No data caps

You don’t have to worry about paying the overage fees that come with other providers when you exceed your monthly data cap. With Altafiber, all plans come with unlimited data.

Money-back guarantee

For a limited time only, Altafiber offers new customers a 30-day, money-back guarantee to try out its internet and TV services.

Perks and promos

If you want to avoid some of these fees altogether, you can upgrade your service for an additional $5 a month. The Whole-Home Wi-Fi upgrade includes a free Wi-Fi extender, a wireless gateway router, Fioptics care repair protection and internet security. This upgrade also comes with a three-year price lock, ensuring you won’t have any bill surprises in the immediate future.

You can also bundle your internet service with Altafiber’s TiVo-powered Fioptics Plus, which includes the basic TV plan and gives you approximately 75 channels. You can also stream your favorite shows with the Fioptics Plus app.

What do customers think of Altafiber?

With Altafiber’s coverage limited to three states, it did not place in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index or the J.D. Power survey. However, Altafiber made a splash on the Better Business Bureau. Altafiber earned an average score of 1.19 out of 5 stars, better than its competitor, Quantum Fiber, which came in at 1.03. Additionally, Altafiber nabbed an A-plus rating, which might have something to do with the 313 customer complaints they successfully resolved over the last three years.

Reddit discussions online highlight the ISP’s reliability and solid speed and price offerings.

One Reddit user writes, “I never had a bad experience with them. No drops, crazy fast internet, never even hooked anything up with wires. Xbox, Netflix and anything else can all run at the same time no problem.”

What’s the bottom line on Altafiber?

The main downside to Altafiber is that availability is limited apart from the three states in which it operates. In fact, if you don’t reside in the Cincinnati metro area, you won’t have access to all the speed tiers. However, if Altafiber is available at your address, you’ve got a decent option for your home: competitive introductory prices, a fixed rate for three years on some plans and unlimited data.

Altafiber internet FAQs