You may think you know your internet, but much of what is passed about as truth is often out of date or even pure fiction. As the premier provider of high-speed internet service for rural communities in Central California, we thought it was time for some debunking.
MYTH: With unlimited plans I get the speeds I’m promised
While other carriers offer unlimited plans and super-high speeds, there are hidden limitations that can affect what you really get. Data may be unlimited, but speeds are not guaranteed. Only a certain amount of data per month is guaranteed to be delivered at 4G LTE speeds. As of March 1, 2017, Verizon / AT&T caps it at 22 gigabytes; T-Mobile at 28 gigabytes. After you go over your 4G LTE cap, you are eligible to be “deprioritized” for the remainder of your billing cycle and your connection reduced to “3G speeds.” We know this can be confusing, so we’ve provided the information you need in this article, “The hidden limitations of unlimited plans.”
MYTH: I’ve got a long wait for installation or service appointments
There are definite benefits to having our headquarters and operations based centrally in Galt. No long waits – in fact, most new customer installations and on-site services are scheduled within a week of inquiry. Need technical help? Sometimes we can fix your issues in one quick phone call. Software fixes and upgrades can often be done remotely, within minutes, and without an appointment.
MYTH: If rain knocks my internet antenna down, I’m liable for the fix
It’s very rare for antennas to be affected by weather in our area. If there is damage or issues caused by Mother Nature, we will repair the device and verify connectivity and speeds free of charge.
MYTH: Fixed and satellite internet is the same
Fixed internet is different than satellite; both require an antenna in rural areas but fixed is more reliable due to the fact that it’s not trying to get signal through the atmosphere where weather can impact your speeds/connectivity like satellite. To learn more about fixed vs. satellite internet, check out this article, “Fixed Internet vs. Satellite for Rural Internet Access.”
MYTH: To get the best rate, I have to commit to a long-term contract
Maybe this is true for some companies, but not for us. Softcom doesn’t lock you into contracts or force you to pay for services you don’t need. And we won’t make you suffer slow speeds if you use a lot of bandwidth. Click HERE to learn more about our plans, pricing and internet service solutions.
MYTH: Technicians and customer service are all based overseas and I’m just another number to them
Softcom technicians and customer service professionals are people from your own community, located just minutes from you. Whether you call us, drop by the offices, or are visited by our techs on-site, you’ll work with people who understand your unique needs, and suggest and set up the best options to maximize your experience.
MYTH: Streaming is only possible if you live in the big city
In the past, rural communities have often been held back from cutting the cord because of a lack of reliable, high-speed internet. But that’s not true anymore. Softcom provides high-speed internet access to communities throughout Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties that support high-bandwidth applications, no matter how remote the home, school or business may be.
In addition to cutting edge technology and high-speed 4G LTE service, we have partnered with companies like Netflix, Google, and Amazon (to name a few) to establish direct connections with them to make sure that the content that our customers want is delivered as fast as possible.