AT&T's Cricket Wireless Enters 5G Home Internet Market to Challenge T-Mobile and Verizon

Cricket Wireless, the prepaid carrier owned by AT&T, has entered the residential broadband market with the rollout of a 5G fixed wireless internet service, intensifying competition against T-Mobile and Verizon as wireless operators pull customers away from traditional cable providers, according to reporting by Yahoo Finance (https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/t-mobile-verizon-face-broadband-181700799.html).

The competitive shift follows steady gains in broadband additions across the wireless sector. T-Mobile added roughly 520,000 broadband customers during the second quarter of 2026, according to data from telecom research firm Recon Analytics, while Verizon reported adding approximately 348,000 internet subscribers in its quarterly earnings.

Telecom analysts point to an evolving market landscape. In a May report from RCR Wireless News, Wave7 Research principal telecom analyst Jeff Moore stated that the "U.S. broadband duopoly of cable and telcos is fading" as "increased competition from carriers and alternative providers is giving consumers more choices, wider availability, easier setup, and lower prices."

Officially launched on Sept. 16, Cricket 5G Home Internet operates on AT&T's wireless network. The plan carries no annual contracts and includes taxes in the advertised rate. Standalone service costs $65 per month, or $75 per month when bundled with a wireless line for new customers. Existing Cricket Wireless mobile subscribers can add the service for $45 per month when applying a $5 autopay discount.

The offering includes unlimited data and provides typical download speeds between 90 and 300 Mbps, upload speeds of 8 to 30 Mbps, and latency ranging from 30 to 65 milliseconds. The carrier said hardware installation requires no technician appointment, allowing users to self-install through the myCricket Internet mobile app.

"Customers are looking for fast, reliable internet that's simple to buy, easy to understand, and backed by a brand they trust," Cricket Wireless President Angela Rittgers said in a press release. "With Cricket 5G Home Internet, we're delivering the internet you need at the value you deserve while removing the complexity; it's just the smarter way to stay connected."

The rollout follows a series of broadband plan revisions across major carriers in 2026. In March, AT&T introduced its OneConnect plan, pairing mobile connectivity with 1-Gbps fiber home internet for $90 per month. T-Mobile updated its fiber lineup in May, adding a 300 Mbps tier at $45 per month, dropping its 1-Gbps plan from $65 to $60 per month, and removing promotional requirements on its $70 per month 2-Gbps tier. In June, Verizon launched its combined mobile and home internet tier, Verizon One, at $70 per month.

The carrier push into alternative broadband options aligns with consumer pushback over rising internet costs. An August survey by PCMag showed that 47% of U.S. consumers experienced a monthly broadband bill increase over the preceding 12 months, with an average hike of $16.58 per month and approximately 11% seeing increases topping $30 per month. The survey noted that 36% of respondents were unhappy with their current internet service and contemplating switching providers.