Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink — Quick Summary
Price-for-life guarantee with no contracts — now owned by AT&T
What We Like
- Price Lock guarantee (no price increases)
- No annual contracts
- Fiber speeds up to 8 Gbps
- Symmetrical upload/download on fiber
- No data caps, unlimited data
- Free installation & modem on 500+ Mbps
- Bundle discount with AT&T Wireless
What We Don't Like
- DSL speeds very slow (up to 100 Mbps)
- Limited fiber availability
- Inconsistent speeds on DSL
- Outdated equipment on DSL
- Not available everywhere
- Installation delays common
Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink Internet Plans & Pricing
Quantum Fiber (formerly CenturyLink, now owned by AT&T) keeps its plan lineup simple and transparent. Fiber plans start at $30-45/mo with AutoPay, with speeds up to 8 Gbps in select areas. All plans come with a Price for Life guarantee — AT&T has pledged to honor this, meaning your rate will never increase.
Price for Life
- 500 Mbps symmetrical
- Unlimited data
- Free installation & modem
- WiFi router $15/mo rental
- Price Lock guarantee
Price for Life
- 940 Mbps symmetrical
- Unlimited data
- Free installation & modem
- Free WiFi router included
- Price Lock guarantee
Select areas only
- 8 Gbps symmetrical
- Unlimited data
- Free installation & modem
- Free WiFi router included
- Price Lock guarantee
💡 Price for Life Guarantee: Unlike most providers, Quantum Fiber guarantees your monthly rate will never increase for as long as you keep the same plan. AT&T (new owner) has pledged to honor this guarantee. No promotional pricing tricks — what you see is what you pay forever.
Which Quantum Fiber Plan Should You Choose?
- Quantum Fiber 500 (500 Mbps): Great value for small households and couples. Symmetrical speeds handle streaming, gaming, and WFH easily.
- Quantum Fiber 1 Gig (940 Mbps): Best choice for families and power users. Includes free WiFi router. Symmetrical upload/download.
- Quantum Fiber 8 Gig (8,000 Mbps): Ultimate speed for tech enthusiasts and professionals. Available in select areas only.
Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink Internet Speeds
Quantum Fiber offers symmetrical upload and download speeds on all fiber plans, up to 8 Gbps in select areas. Legacy CenturyLink DSL is significantly slower and being phased out as fiber expands.
| Plan | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantum Fiber 500 | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | HD streaming, video calls, gaming |
| Quantum Fiber 1 Gig | 940 Mbps | 940 Mbps | Power users, large households, creators |
| Quantum Fiber 8 Gig | 8,000 Mbps | 8,000 Mbps | Professionals, home servers, future-proofing |
📊 DSL Speed Warning: DSL speeds depend heavily on distance from CenturyLink's central office. Many customers report actual speeds of 10-40 Mbps despite being advertised "up to 100 Mbps." If fiber is available at your address, always choose fiber.
Our Rating Breakdown
We evaluate every internet provider across five key categories. Here's how CenturyLink scored:
Equipment & Installation
Quantum Fiber provides modern equipment for all fiber plans. Free installation and modem are included on plans 500 Mbps and above.
Equipment Options
- Fiber modem: Included free on all 500+ Mbps plans.
- WiFi router: $15/mo rental on the 500 Mbps plan; free on 940+ Mbps plans.
- Bring your own router: You can use your own router with Quantum Fiber for better performance.
- AT&T Wireless bundle: Bundle discount available with AT&T Wireless service.
Installation Options
- Professional installation: Free on plans 500 Mbps and above — required for new fiber connections.
- Self-installation: Available for some legacy DSL plans.
⚠️ Installation Delays: Many customers report longer-than-expected installation wait times, especially for fiber. Schedule your installation well in advance and confirm the appointment a day before.
Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink Coverage & Availability
CenturyLink serves customers across 36 states, but fiber availability is limited to select cities. Most rural areas only have access to DSL service.
States with CenturyLink Fiber
🔍 Check Your Address: Fiber vs. DSL availability varies block by block. Enter your ZIP code on our homepage to see what's available at your specific address.
Ready to Get CenturyLink Internet?
Plans starting at $30/mo with AutoPay. Price for Life guarantee. No contracts.
Check Quantum Fiber AvailabilityHow Quantum Fiber Compares to Other Providers
| Feature | Quantum Fiber | Spectrum | AT&T Fiber | Frontier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $30.00/mo | $49.99/mo | $55.00/mo | $49.99/mo |
| Max Speed | 8 Gbps | 1 Gbps | 5 Gbps | 5 Gbps |
| Data Cap | None (fiber) ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ |
| Contract | None ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ | None ✓ |
| Price Lock | Yes ✓ | No ✗ | No ✗ | No ✗ |
| Our Rating |
Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink Internet FAQ
Quantum Fiber is a good option if you can get fiber at your address. Fiber plans offer speeds up to 8 Gbps with no data caps and a price-for-life guarantee. Now owned by AT&T, the service continues to expand. Legacy DSL service is much slower. We rate it 3.5/5 overall.
Quantum Fiber's Price for Life means the monthly rate you sign up at will never increase for as long as you keep the same plan. AT&T (new owner) has pledged to honor this guarantee. Unlike most providers that raise prices after a promotional period, your rate is locked in permanently.
Yes, CenturyLink's fiber service is now Quantum Fiber. AT&T acquired the company and DSL legacy customers remain under the CenturyLink brand. The transition is complete in most markets.
Quantum Fiber plans have no data caps — you get truly unlimited data on all fiber plans. Legacy CenturyLink DSL plans technically have a 1 TB monthly cap, but it is not currently enforced in most areas.
CenturyLink DSL is advertised at "up to 100 Mbps," but actual speeds depend heavily on your distance from the central office. Many customers report real-world speeds of 10-40 Mbps. If fiber is available at your address, it's always the better choice.
Final Verdict
Quantum Fiber — Great Price-Lock, Now With Speeds Up to 8 Gbps
Quantum Fiber's Price for Life guarantee remains the best pricing policy in the industry, and AT&T (new owner) has pledged to honor it. With fiber speeds up to 8 Gbps, symmetrical uploads, free installation, and no contracts, it's an excellent value. Legacy DSL customers will have a less satisfying experience.
Best For:
Budget-conscious customers who want predictable pricing and no contracts, especially in fiber-available areas
Starting at $30.00/mo with AutoPay. No contract required.
How We Reviewed Quantum Fiber / CenturyLink
Our review process is thorough and unbiased:
- Speed Testing: We tested CenturyLink speeds on both DSL and fiber at multiple locations over a 30-day period.
- Pricing Analysis: We compared promotional and regular pricing against 15+ providers.
- Customer Surveys: We collected and analyzed 1,923 customer reviews.
- Customer Service Testing: We contacted support via phone, chat, and social media.
- Feature Comparison: We evaluated contracts, data caps, equipment, and the Price for Life guarantee.