Hey everyone, I'm reaching out for some help regarding our existing legacy 'fiber+' internet services in the Seattle area. These connections provide us with 100 Mbit symmetrical fiber and VOIP, but we just learned from our Lumen rep that most of our sites can no longer renew their contracts. They're forcing us to upgrade to their higher-end services, which means we'd have to cover expensive infrastructure builds to get next-gen fiber directly to our facilities. Some sites have been quoted as high as $100,000 upfront, which isn't feasible for us. Even though they assured us they won't cut off services soon, they're changing the rules so we can't adjust our current setup and may face annual rate changes. It's essentially a situation where they seem eager to push us away from this platform.
We primarily use these connections for secondary WANs, with the main ones being fiber-fed metro Ethernet from another provider already in place. We do have coax options through Comcast, but we prefer fiber for its symmetrical bandwidth. I'm curious if anyone has insights on how the new organization will handle accounts like ours, which were aimed at small businesses and enterprises. I've seen that Quantum Fiber is available in our buildings, but they don't offer static IPs, and I'm worried about them being willing to convert services for small businesses. Any advice on maintaining our internet service or finding alternatives would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
We dealt with similar issues in Australia. Initially, a build cost for multiple sites was sky-high, but after negotiations, they offered a far more reasonable deal for diversifying paths and installations. Sometimes it helps to push back and negotiate. Who knows, you might find they’re more flexible than they appear.
If you need a backup option, consider WISP, coax, or even 5G. Starlink is another possibility if you’re in a pinch, although it's not the best long-term solution for reliability. But for secondary connections, these could help maintain some level of service while you figure out your primary setup.
It's frustrating that companies put the cost of fiber installation on customers when they've received massive funding to expand the infrastructure. It's not fair that they pocket the money while we have to pay for the upgrades. It's been the case for a long time, where public funding benefits these corporations, and then they charge the public a fortune. It's something we definitely need to keep fighting against!
Have you checked if AT&T Business Fiber is available? Assuming you aren’t already using them for metro Ethernet (which can complicate things), it could be a solid alternative. If they’ve got the setup already in place at your buildings, it can often be added without issues, and we found it to be a decent option compared to coax alone. Plus, you’re likely to get the static IPs you need! It wouldn't hurt to wait and see how the Lumen acquisition pans out; sometimes these shifts can work to your advantage.
That’s a great point—waiting it out could definitely be worth it! I’ll definitely look into AT&T Business Fiber and see if it’s a match for our needs.
Exactly! It’s unbelievable how they treat the public like cash cows while reaping the benefits of tax dollars. It’s time we hold them accountable.