When it comes to choosing a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your business, two major players often come to mind: AT&T Business and Comcast Business. Both companies offer a range of services designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
In this article, we'll compare AT&T Business and Comcast Business to help you determine which ISP is the best fit for your organization. From pricing and speed to customer support and additional features, we'll cover all the essential aspects to guide your decision-making process.
Overview of AT&T Business
AT&T Business, founded in 1885, has been a cornerstone in the telecommunications industry for over 140 years. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company employs around 150,000 people and holds the 32nd spot on the Fortune 500 list. Serving 46 countries, AT&T Business has a global reach that few can match.
One of the unique aspects of AT&T Business is its commitment to innovation. Their AT&T Dynamic Defense™ offers robust cybersecurity, while AT&T Business Fiber® includes a 5G backup for enhanced reliability. Additionally, the AT&T Guarantee ensures connectivity and service, setting them apart in the industry.
Overview of Comcast Business
Comcast Business, founded in 1963, has been a significant player in the telecommunications industry for over six decades. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company employs around 190,000 people and holds the 33rd spot on the Fortune 500 list.
Operating exclusively in the United States, Comcast Business is known for its 99.9% network reliability and comprehensive cybersecurity services. One of their unique offerings includes a 5-year price lock for Gig-speed Internet and security rates, ensuring cost stability for businesses.
ISP Products
DIA
AT&T Business offers its Dedicated Internet (ADI) service with a wide range of speeds, from 10 Mbps to a staggering 1 Tbps through bonded 100 Gbps connections. With an uptime SLA of 99.95% and no utilization caps, ADI ensures reliable and consistent performance. The service is delivered over an extensive fiber network spanning 1,100,000 miles, providing robust coverage and connectivity.
Comcast Business, on the other hand, provides Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) with speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps. EDI boasts a slightly higher uptime SLA of 99.99% and also has no utilization caps. While Comcast's fiber network is smaller at 200,000 miles, it offers additional transport types, including coax and hybrid fiber coax, which can be advantageous for certain business needs.
Both providers offer a suite of common add-on services such as static public IP addresses, BGP routing, managed routers, and DDoS mitigation. However, AT&T's ADI stands out with its higher maximum speed options and more extensive fiber network, while Comcast's EDI excels in uptime reliability and transport flexibility.
Wireless
AT&T Business offers a comprehensive wireless product lineup, including Internet Air - Standard and Internet Air - Premium, which cater to both fixed and mobile 5G/LTE base stations. Serving the US, parts of Canada, and Mexico, AT&T's wireless broadband plans are subject to availability and come with a high-level SLA under their Wireless Service Agreement. The company is transitioning its fixed wireless services to 5G, retiring the older Line of Sight (LOS) technology.
Comcast Business, through its xfinity mobile product, leverages Verizon's 5G network and its own WiFi hotspots from Comcast/xfinity modems. While it offers multiple wireless broadband plans, the service area is limited to Verizon's 5G coverage and Comcast's WiFi hotspots. Unlike AT&T, Comcast does not list any fixed wireless options on its website and lacks a high-level SLA for its wireless services.
Security
AT&T Business offers a robust suite of security products designed to protect businesses from cyber threats. AT&T Dynamic Defense proactively blocks 97% of cyber threats, providing better protection for your network. Additionally, AT&T Active Armor offers 24/7 proactive internet security, included with AT&T Business Fiber®, to help block malicious threats before they reach your devices. For businesses needing secure remote access, Secure Service Active Edge ensures network security right to the edge.
Comcast Business also provides comprehensive security solutions tailored to different business needs. Security Edge serves as the first line of defense against harmful cyberattacks, offering essential protection for businesses. For more advanced needs, Comcast's Managed Security includes a range of services such as Managed VPN, Unified Threat Management (UTM), and DDoS protection. These services offer enhanced monitoring, secure data links, and robust firewall configurations, ensuring comprehensive security for enterprise-level operations.
Broadband
AT&T Business Fiber offers symmetrical speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 5 GIG, making it an excellent choice for businesses that require high-speed, consistent upload and download capabilities. With unlimited utilization caps and fiber transport, AT&T ensures that businesses can operate without worrying about data limits or throttling. However, the specific uptime SLA for AT&T Business Fiber is not readily available.
Comcast Business Internet provides asymmetrical speeds, with download speeds up to 1.25 Gbps and upload speeds capped at 35 Mbps. The service operates on a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network and includes a 1.2 TB monthly data cap. Comcast's 99.99% uptime SLA offers a high level of reliability, making it a dependable option for businesses that prioritize consistent connectivity.
Ethernet
AT&T Business Fiber offers symmetrical broadband internet speeds ranging from 300 Mbps to 5 GIG, making it a robust option for businesses that require consistent upload and download capabilities. With unlimited utilization caps and fiber transport, AT&T ensures that businesses can operate without worrying about data limits or throttling. However, the specific uptime SLA for AT&T Business Fiber is not readily available.
Comcast Business's Ethernet Network Services (ENS) provides a fully meshed Ethernet connectivity solution, ideal for connecting multiple business locations across a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). ENS offers port speeds from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps, with bandwidth increments tailored to meet high data traffic demands. This multipoint-to-multipoint solution allows businesses to operate as if on the same Local Area Network (LAN), ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient data transfer.
POTS Replacement
AT&T Business's POTS replacement product, AT&T Phone for Business – Advanced, offers a comprehensive solution for converting analog phone and specialty data lines to the cloud. It utilizes existing public internet connectivity, whether wireless or wireline, and does not require AT&T internet. The product includes a 24-hour battery backup and optional wireless (LTE) failover, ensuring continuous operation. Additionally, it supports a wide range of specialty lines, including security and fire alarms, elevators, and emergency boxes, and offers unlimited domestic local and long-distance calling.
Comcast Business Voice, on the other hand, requires Comcast Business Internet to avoid service fees for unlimited talk and text. It features a 5-hour internal battery and optional wireless (LTE) failover. While it supports fax, alarm, and point-of-sale applications, it does not include long-distance calling in its basic plan, potentially incurring additional charges. Both products comply with NFPA 72 standards, but AT&T's offering stands out with its broader specialty line support and more extensive battery backup.
Other Key Features
Geographic Coverage
AT&T Business serves 46 countries, offering extensive global coverage. This wide reach ensures businesses can stay connected and operate smoothly, no matter where they are located.
Comcast Business operates only in the United States. This means their services are available nationwide, but they don't extend to other countries. It's a solid choice for U.S.-based businesses.
SLA
Reliability and uptime are crucial for any business. AT&T Business offers an uptime SLA of 99.95% for its Dedicated Internet service, meaning minimal downtime. Comcast Business provides a slightly higher uptime SLA of 99.99% for its Ethernet Dedicated Internet.
In practical terms, these SLAs mean that AT&T customers can expect about 4.38 hours of downtime per year, while Comcast customers can expect around 52.56 minutes.
For businesses, this difference can impact productivity and customer satisfaction. Higher uptime means fewer disruptions, ensuring smoother operations and better service delivery.
Transport Types Available
AT&T Business offers speeds from 10 Mbps to 1 Tbps, making it great for everything from basic tasks to heavy-duty business needs. Their fiber network spans 1,100,000 miles, ensuring wide coverage and reliability.
Comcast Business provides speeds from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps, suitable for streaming, gaming, and business use. Their network includes 200,000 miles of fiber, plus coax and hybrid fiber coax options.
Both providers cater to different needs, but AT&T's extensive fiber network offers more robust options for large-scale operations, while Comcast's diverse transport types provide flexibility.
Customer Support
AT&T Business offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring help is always available. Their support team is known for being responsive and knowledgeable, making it easy to resolve issues quickly.
Comcast Business also provides 24/7 customer support. They have a reputation for being helpful, but some customers have reported longer wait times compared to AT&T.
Both companies aim to provide excellent service, but AT&T's quicker response times give them a slight edge in customer support.
Final Verdict
AT&T Business excels in global reach, extensive fiber network, and higher maximum speeds, making it ideal for large enterprises with international operations and high data demands. Their robust security features and comprehensive wireless options further enhance their appeal.
Comcast Business, with its 99.99% uptime SLA and diverse transport types, is well-suited for U.S.-based businesses that prioritize reliability and flexibility. Their 5-year price lock and comprehensive security solutions offer additional value.
For businesses needing extensive global coverage and higher speed options, AT&T Business is the better choice. However, for those focused on reliability and cost stability within the U.S., Comcast Business stands out.
Get Started with the Right ISP Today
Ultimately, the choice between AT&T Business and Comcast Business depends on your specific needs. Evaluate your requirements carefully to determine which ISP aligns best with your business goals and operational demands.
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