CenturyLink vs XFINITY from Comcast

CenturyLink OVERVIEW

CenturyLink is a telecommunications company that provides DSL and fiber optic internet, phone, and TV services. Their TV plans are known under the name PRISMTV.

CenturyLink TECHNOLOGY

The primary technologies offered by CenturyLink are DSL and fiber-to-home (FTTH) for customers looking to get an internet, tv or phone service plan.

CenturyLink will offer lower prices because they use the DSL technology - an infrastructure that is older in the internet technology and uses phone infrastructure to deliver internet service.

DSL is an older internet technology that uses Centurylink’s existing telephone infrastructure to deliver internet service. The network is readily available and that is what allows them to offer less expensive packages compared to the competition. However, they will not offer fast internet speeds or higher latencies. Pay special attention to the speeds offered in your area before making any decision.

CenturyLink makes up for this older infrastructure by launching the Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). They run a fiber optic connection directly to the consumer location, thus offering higher bandwidth and lower latency. FTTH usually comes at a higher monthly cost than other broadband technologies such as DSL, cable, or fixed wireless.

CenturyLink RATINGS AND REVIEWS

35.3% recommendation rating according to 55,288 verified users.

XFINITY from Comcast OVERVIEW

Xfinity by Comcast provides broadband internet, cable TV, and phone service via their hybrid fiber coaxial network. Xfinity availability ranks at the top of the cable Internet providers in the US.

XFINITY from Comcast TECHNOLOGY

Xfinity by Comcast offers Internet, TV, and phone service through hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. They are also starting to offer fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks in some areas.

Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) networks are used globally by cable providers to deliver broadband internet access to consumers. HFC networks deliver a fiber optic connection to a connecting node within a neighborhood, which then branches off to service 2500 to 2000 homes in the surroundings. Comcast and other cable providers are able to take advantage of their existing coaxial infrastructure to offer competitive broadband speeds at lower up-front installation fees.

On the other hand, FTTH installations are fiber-optic cables run directly to the residential or commercial place of service. Running fiber optic cables is expensive for the providers so this technology is not yet widely available.

XFINITY from Comcast RATINGS AND REVIEWS

40.5% recommendation rating according to 145,755 verified XFINITY users.