Earthlink

Earthlink sells residential and small-business internet access across DSL, cable and fiber technologies, plus add-on security suites, premium email and no-contract website hosting. Plans run from budget-tier 12 Mbps DSL (≈$55/mo) to mid-range 100-500 Mbps cable/fiber tiers (≈$65-$90/mo) and a 5 Gbps fiber flagship (≈$150/mo). All sales and support are handled online or by phone; the company operates no company-owned retail stores. Founded in 1994 as one of the original U.S. dial-up ISPs, Earthlink still positions itself as a “carrier-neutral” provider that leases network infrastructure rather than building it, letting it offer service in 48 states without regional footprint limits. The brand is best known for unlimited, contract-free data, U.S.-based 24/7 support and a bundled security+backup package called Earthlink Protect. These features make it a go-to alternative for customers dissatisfied with the incumbent cable or telephone carrier. Typical buyers are suburban and rural households that want reliable, no-data-cap broadband without bundling TV or phone, as well as price-sensitive urban renters who hop between providers to avoid contracts. The customer base skews 35-65 years old, values privacy (“we don’t sell your data” is a repeated tagline) and prefers human phone support over chatbots. Earthlink competes in the retail ISP space against both national cable/telco operators and hyper-local fiber start-ups. It differentiates by reselling multiple underlying networks, giving consumers one bill and support interface while preserving freedom to switch backend carriers if better wholesale rates emerge; that agility, combined with lifelong email addresses and no annual commitments, keeps churn lower than most virtual ISPs.