What Internet Service Does DirecTV Use?
DirecTV is among the leading satellite TV providers in the United States providing hundreds of programming options in diverse packages. Since cable infrastructure is not necessary, DirecTV can bring television services to millions of homes across the country through satellite. However, DirecTV does not offer home internet connectivity, which some of its competitors offer.
DirecTV provides television programming through the medium of satellite, yet it lacks the capacity to offer broadband Internet connections over satellite in the same vein. Offering affordable broadband Internet access over satellites covers some key technological difficulties connected with bandwidth and speed of transmission.
Although DirecTV is not in the position to offer home broadband internet connection, it has struck a deal with some ISPs and offers bundled services of TV and internet. Bundle is a way through which consumers can benefit from cheaper TV and internet services by acquiring them in a single package. Here are some of the prominent methods that DirecTV customers can incorporate internet into their homes:
ATandT Internet In July of 2015, ATandT announced that it had acquired DirecTV for $49 billion. Therefore, ATandT currently owns and manages the DirecTV brand and channels. It also enabled both companies to launch bundled products that include DirecTV TV service together with ATandT internet.
A large number of customers prefer to buy both ATandT Internet and DirecTV services to combine accounts and payments. Depending on the region, ATandT Internet provides fiber optic internet connection options that offer up to 1Gigabit per second. Nevertheless, the option of getting the fastest ATandT Fiber connection is still somewhat restricted compared to cable internet today. Thus, bundled DirecTV and ATandT subscribers may suffer from reduced Internet speeds in many places.
As of this writing, ATandT advertises the following bundled service offers when you get both DirecTV and ATandT Internet:As of this writing, ATandT advertises the following bundled service offers when you get both DirecTV and ATandT Internet:
->$49. 99/month for 12 months per service, which is $30 cheaper per month.
-250+ linear channels and up to 100 Mbps internet speed.
-Unlimited talk and text with mobile service
Thus, one can conclude that bundling DirecTV and ATandT Internet can offer some savings to consumers searching for both television and Internet services. However, its capability to get fast internet is still limited by ATandT fiber availability.
Other Internet Providers
Where ATandT’s internet service is either unavailable or offers only a relatively low speed, DirecTV customers can always acquire internet from other leading providers such as Charter Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Communications, Altice Optimum, Verizon Fios etc In most localities, cable internet or fiber is obtainable from at least one or two providers.
Therefore, even though DirecTV does not offer an internet service package of its own, its customers can easily order a home internet service from an internet service provider of their choice. Internet can then be installed alongside your DirecTV connection. Some customers opt for this strategy when bundling deals for both DirecTV and internet is not an option or is expensive in their area.
Using Satellite Internet While not as popular or fast as cable or fiber optics, some households use satellite internet provided by HughesNet and Viasat. Satellite internet is also like DirecTV in that it directs connectivity from satellite orbiting the earth to small receiver dishes at customer homes.
Satellite internet has wider reach because it does not require cable or fiber optic cables along the ground. However, data speeds, bandwidth allowances, and reliability are not as high as with cable and fiber services because of the inherent limitations of the technology.
In the course of the DirecTV installation, the customers were also able to opt for a satellite dish to install for HughesNet or Viasat to receive TV and internet through satellite networks. Yet again, many households will always opt for the faster and more reliable connections from cable or fiber optics internet service providers.
DirecTV + Internet Bundle Limitations
While the above section discussed options to bundle DirecTV with internet, it’s important to note the limitations around these bundles:While the above section discussed options to bundle DirecTV with internet, it’s important to note the limitations around these bundles:
Internet connection speeds may sharply differ depending on the availability of providers and their facilities in customers’ locations. Consumer complaints indicate that bundling with ATandT usually results in slower internet connection than over cable and fiber services.
Discounts must come with a 1 or 2 year contract to keep bundle prices intact and combat early cancellation fees. The use of contracts may also restrict the ability to alter plans or providers.
After the promotional period, the normal monthly tariffs may experience a rise in price from the initial bundled rate.
Cable TV and internet package deals do not always allow consumers to pay less than if they would subscribe for both of them individually using two different promotions. Shop plans carefully.
Now, more specific channel lineups and higher-level DVR features are very much distinct from one provider to another. Restrictions on features while bundling DirecTV is also limited.
Is There any Internet Only Package Available on DirecTV?
No, DirecTV cannot directly provide home internet services to consumers without offering a video service at the same time. They are a satellite television provider company and do not have the necessary infrastructure or capacity to offer broadband internet on their own.
The only option of getting home internet service in addition to DirecTV is to buy internet service from another ISP. This will lead to having two different bill, install, contracts etc DIrecTV has the limitation of not being able to directly provide users with internet service.
Nevertheless, ATandT CEO John Stankey has signaled the intent of constructing fiber networks and deploying IPTV streaming services onto DirecTV frameworks. Although DirecTV itself does not offer Internet today, future upgrades with IPTV video and high speed Internet are on the way.
The ATandT fiber-enhanced DirecTV service has been rolled out for testing in some areas as early as in 2020. This first wave of beta deployment integrates fiber internet, DirecTV video, and even mobile service on a single IP network.
Thus, the next generation of DirecTV will contain high speed internet incorporated with satellite television right away. However, only the external Internet suppliers can offer broadband service to current DirecTV satellite subscribers.
The Bottom Line
It is also important to note that DirecTV does not offer home internet access or WIFI to customers at the moment. The only way to receive the internet along with DirecTV television subscription is by subscribing to an additional internet service from AT&T, Spectrum, Xfinity, Cox, etc.
From the study, majority of the DirecTV users subscribe internet from a cable /fiber company and they opt for the two services as two different services. There are actually some bundle promotions discounts available in some regions when DirecTV is combined with appropriate internet service providers such as ATandT Internet. However, consumers are always free to buy Internet standalone from any one of the many national or regional Home Internet suppliers.
Moving to the future, ATandT has plans to offer DirecTV service to fiber-powered IPTV accompanied with high speed internet. However, until infrastructure advancements are made across the country, DirecTV is still a satellite television provider that lacks bundled in-home internet connectivity. However, even today’s DirecTV consumers still have to look for another dependable internet service supplier to avail home wifi.