AT&T Internet

AT&T Internet

Type	Division
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	September 19, 2016; 5 years ago (2016-09-19)
Areas served	Select US States
Services	Broadband internet
Owner	AT&T
Parent	AT&T Communications
Website	www.att.com/internet/

AT&T Internet is an AT&T brand of broadband internet service. Previously, AT&T Internet was branded as U-verse Internet and bundled with U-verse TV, which was spun off into the newly independent DirecTV in 2021. AT&T Internet plans powered by fiber-optic cable use the AT&T Fiber brand.

Services[]

AT&T delivers most internet service over a fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) or fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) communications network. In the more common FTTN deployment, fiber-optic connections carry all data (internet, IPTV, and voice over IP) between the service provider and a distribution node. The remaining run from the node to the network interface device in the customer's home uses a copper-wire current loop that is traditionally part of the PSTN (public switched telephone network). In more recently constructed housing developments, AT&T uses an FTTP deployment—they run fiber-optic cable from their DSLAM all the way to an optical network terminal in the customer's home.

In areas where AT&T deploys internet through FTTN, they use High-speed digital subscriber lines with ADSL2+ or VDSL technology. Service offerings depend on the customer's distance to an available port in the distribution node, or the central office.

In so-called "fringe" areas, AT&T provides High Speed Internet through IP-DSLAM ADSL2+, which does not require pair bonding or a VRAD and operates at slower bitrates than pair-bonded VDSL2. In practice, VRADs are not installed in many older urban neighborhoods as AT&T prepares to abandon the fixed-line broadband market.^[1] AT&T Internet provides internet access to computers connected on-premises via Ethernet cabling or Wi-Fi from the included residential gateway or DSL modem.

AT&T Fiber, or as it is known AT&T Internet powered by Fiber,^[2] provides fiber to the home (FTTH) service in select markets. Historically a form of AT&T Fiber Internet launched in the fall of 2013 branded as GigaPower, and bundled with U-verse TV as "U-verse with GigaPower".^[3] In 2014, it launched in Austin, Texas with 300Mbps speeds, but as of 2014 top download speeds have increased to 1Gbps (1000Mbps).^[3] In 2019, AT&T rolled out 100% Fiber Network Powered by AT&T Fiber Live in 84 Metro areas.^[4]

AT&T announced Internet 18 service (then called "Max 18") in November 2008,^[5] and Internet 24 (then called "Max Turbo") was announced in December 2009. Basic, Express, Pro, Elite and Max (VDSL) are usually available for self-installation. Max (ADSL2+), Max Plus, and Max Turbo can be self-installed if only one jack is connected for DSL (through a splitter installed by a technician), or splitter-free if no landline shares the pair. Conditions where higher speeds are still attainable through filters or quality wiring to more than one jack occur less often.

AT&T announced Internet 45 service (formerly "Power") on August 26, 2013.^[6] Internet 45 required two conditioned line pairs (pair bond) and a Motorola NVG589 VDSL2+ Gateway.^[7] AT&T charges a service fee to condition and pair bond the lines and install a new gateway, plus additional monthly charges.^[8]

Equipment[]

Line equipment[]

AT&T Internet uses the Alcatel-Lucent 7330 or 7340 Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) shelf, also called a video-ready access device (VRAD), deployed either in a central office (CO) or to a neighborhood serving area interface (SAI). These models are both composed of circuit boards providing service, which are fed by fiber. FTTN (fiber to the node) systems use model 7330, which uses existing copper wiring to customers' homes,^[12] leading to distance limitations from the VRAD cabinet to the customer's home. The 7330 ISAM is an internet protocol DSL access multiplexer that supports VDSL and ADSL protocols.^[13] FTTP (fiber to the premises) systems use model 7340, mostly in areas such as new neighborhoods or large housing developments, where AT&T chooses to run fiber to the household, removing the distance limitations of copper. The 7340 then connects to a serving area interface, which distributes service to homes in the neighborhood, via a dual strand fiber, which then splits into 32 customer fiber pairs. The fiber pairs typically lead to a customer's residence at the network interface device.

The VRAD typically connects upstream to an Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Ethernet service switch in the central office hub, then to the headend .^[12]

Customer equipment[]

AT&T provides the customer premises equipment (leased for a monthly fee, or purchased with a 1-year warranty), and includes a wireless router and modem, which they call a residential gateway (RG) or internet gateway. They also provide TV receivers made by Cisco (through Scientific Atlanta) and Arris (from the former Motorola cable division) (including standard receivers, wireless receivers, and DVR receivers).

Those eligible for triple play (TV, Internet, and Phone) will use a VDSL2 transport link which uses one of the following modems:

• 2Wire 3600 (Deprecated)
• 2Wire 3800 (Deprecated)
• 2Wire 3801
• Pace 5031NV
• 2Wire iNID (which comes with the 2Wire i3812V for the outside unit, the iPSU (Intelligent Power Supply Unit) which powers the i3812V, and one or more i38HG for internet access via wireless or ethernet connectivity inside the customer premises) (Deprecated)
• Arris NVG589
• Arris NVG599
• Pace 5268AC
• Arris BGW210

Along with the modems above, those eligible for fiber-to-the-home may have additional routers that could be used:

• Nokia BGW320 (Integrated ONT utilizing a SFP transceiver to provide optics) also has a standard ONT port

Those who are eligible for double play (Internet and Phone) only, and aren't serviced by fiber-to-the-home, will use an ADSL2+ transport type which uses one of the following modems:

• 2Wire 2701HGV-B (the model number must contain a "V", otherwise it will not function with the AT&T Internet platform) (Deprecated)
• Motorola 2210-02-1ATT (the AT&T Internet version of the 2210 and is black; the silver version is for PPPoE and not 802.1x) (Deprecated)
• Motorola NVG510
• Pace 5168NV (Only RG that can support VOIP on a 1.5 Mbit/s profile and support bonded ADSL+2)

Currently four devices support bonded pair: the 2Wire iNID, Arris NVG589 and NVG599, and Pace 5268AC. The Motorola NVG589 originally replaced the 2Wire iNID for all bonded pair installs. The NVG599 and 5268AC both have replaced the NVG589 and are used interchangeably. These three devices are capable of both ADSL2+ and VDSL.

All AT&T AT&T Internet transport types use 802.1x authentication. This means only equipment on AT&T's approved list works with the AT&T Internet service, as other (non-AT&T) equipment cannot authenticate with AT&T DSLAMs and GPONs. Another side-effect of AT&T Internet's authentication protocol is the lack of bridge mode support (unlike standard DSL that uses PPPoE authentication, which is easily bridgeable). At best, the 2Wire/Pace routers support DMZ+ mode, while the Motorola devices support IP Passthrough. AT&T allows residential and business customers to pay for static IP addresses, which they support on all AT&T approved equipment (including the 2Wire/Pace and Motorola routers.)

When AT&T launched IP-DSL (ADSL2+, double play only), they installed connections with either the 2Wire 2701HGV-B or Motorola 2210 (pairing the latter with a Cisco Linksys E1000 for residential customers, or an EdgeMarc 250AEW for business customers). The 2Wire 2701HGV-B was limited to a top speed of 6Mbit/s, while the Motorola 2210 was capable of higher speeds. In later installations, AT&T standardized on the Motorola NVG510, phasing out the other routers for new service installation.

When AT&T introduced the Internet 45 tier in 2013, installations were initially done with the iNID. AT&T later standardized on the Motorola NVG589, which supports pair-bonding for both ADSL2+ and VDSL2. AT&T also uses the NVG589 in some installations where the customer otherwise is too far from a node for service. Additionally, it supports an internal battery for those who subscribe to AT&T Phone service for battery backup during power failures. AT&T no longer supplies the battery to customers for any residential service.

References[]