FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Gamer FAST Internet. No Contracts. FIRST MONTH FREE!
Need more info? Email or text us at 866-4ALTHEA (866-425-8432)
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INTERNET PROVIDERS?
Althea networks function as a standard and “normal ISP”, [internet service provider] whereby a system of antennas spread a high-speed connection and a router in your home provides Internet.
With legacy and Big Telco networks, the antennas and infrastructure are owned by one entity, and that entity can be located miles away. An Althea network, is hosted by people right here in your community which means the revenue and ownership of the network stays local.
"At least once a day people ask us for a good local option for internet, and we always point to Althea. Since we’re a relay we haven’t had a bill in a year, and the router building funds is a great little kickback for having a few antennas on the house."
DIMIDY & KANAN KJELLAND
Local clients & relay in Clatskanie, Oregon
WHAT IS THE COST?
Similar, to a pre-paid phone, you pay a small monthly fee for service and then only pay for what you use. Cost per GB ranges from about 35 to 60 cents, on average most families pay about $40-$60 a month.
Internet Provider
Download speed
Download speed
By design Althea is always the best speed your hardware will provide. New subscribers in our Knappa, Oregon network, report speeds are five times as fast and more affordable than the legacy telcos here.
Average Cost
Average cost
Althea's pre-paid model and always-on Free Tier enable flexible payments for any budget and enable broadband access for more people. You can also earn money for being a key part of the infrastructure of the network.
Throttling
Throttling
Althea is structured to always give you the fastest internet your connection can provide, instead of legacy telco models that artificially throttle and limit access.
Data cap
Data cap
Never! Nothing else to say here!
Only pay for what you use?
Pay for what you use
Althea’s flexible pay-as-you-go model adjusts to your actual internet usage. What other internet provider does that?
Relay
revenue sharing
Relay revenue sharing
Althea has a pay-for-forward model.
Example: In rural Washington, Althea connects with local businesses and homeowners to install equipment on their roofs - users get paid an automatic revenue share for being part of the network.
Referral =
cost-saving?
Cost savings through referrals
Local network operators install a small antenna (about the size of a dinner plate) on your home that connects with other antennas in your neighborhood. Together you and your neighbors create a network. You can earn revenue for getting your neighbors to be a part of the
Althea network!
CenturyLink
Up to 10 Mbps
$65
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
Xfinity
Up to 300 Mbps
$50
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
24 MONTH CONTRACT REQUIRED
HughesNet
25 Mbps
$59.99
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
Viasat
12-30 Mbps
$50+
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
Althea
30-150 Mbps
$40 - $60
NO!
NO!
YES!
YES!
YES!
Prices as of 5/23/22. Source: Allconnect, Comcast, CenturyLink, HughesNet, Viasat
WHY DO IT THIS WAY?
Because Big Telco doesn’t want your business. Small communities don’t bring in BIG bucks. Althea steadfastly believes that rural communities should and must have the same access to hi-speed Internet broadband as big cities. In today’s competitive world connectivity is essential to everyday life from education to farming and business. By using private property, Althea builds networks in an agile way - affordable to areas with a smaller, or spread-out population. We’re GAMER FAST and reliable!
NO CREDIT CHECKS
NO LATE FEES
NO DEPOSITS
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Local network operators install a small antenna (about the size of a dinner plate) on your home that connects with other antennas in your neighborhood. You can earn revenue for being part of the network as well!
IS IT FAST?
YES! GAMER FAST! Althea networks use cutting-edge technology to provide the fastest speed and best user experience. Modern antennas can easily provide similar service to wired networks.
IS MY CONNECTION SECURE?
YES! All local connections are fully encrypted using Wireguard, and we are committed to net neutrality - your content will never be censored or throttled.
WHERE IS THE INTERNET CONNECTION COMING FROM?
We work to provide the very best main, incoming wholesale connection. Sometimes working in conjunction with municipal, open access and local middle mile carriers. Althea’s software load balances, provide failover - automatically choosing the best connection for you on a second-by-second basis.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT WITH ALTHEA INTERNET?
An internet service provider that is GAMER FAST, affordable and a locally run. All connections are secure and encrypted. People who host relay antennas can reduce their bill or get additional credit. Local and resilient redundant connections automatically failover and keep the network running smoothly.