Switching Between AT&T and Spectrum for Business Internet & Voice: What to Know (and an Option 3)
Switching business Internet and voice providers can feel intimidating. Whether you’re moving from AT&T to Spectrum or Spectrum to AT&T, it’s important to understand the pros, cons, costs, and potential savings. As a local authorized agent for both providers, Caliber Solves IT helps Ellis County businesses navigate these choices every day. Here’s what to know.
1) What’s Involved in Switching
Evaluate your contract
AT&T Business Fiber (ABF) is often marketed with no annual contract, but terms can vary. We recommend confirming with AT&T. Many customers choose to sign a Letter of Agency (LOA) with Caliber, and our team confirms your exact terms for you.
Spectrum Business Broadband (cable) is frequently month-to-month in many markets, but a 30-day notice is commonly required. Confirm your account documents.
AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) and many Spectrum Enterprise services typically require at least 30 days’ notice and may include early termination fees if you’re mid-term. These are enterprise-grade dedicated fiber options with SLAs.
Plan for installation and cutover
Both providers will schedule installation, which may involve new cabling, equipment, configuration, and IP addressing. Coordinate with your IT provider or our team to map what’s specific to your site.
Keep your numbers
In most cases, you can port existing phone numbers, but it requires coordination and lead time.
Consider a temporary overlap
Many businesses keep both services active for a short period to avoid downtime. Budget for up to one month of overlap.
2) Advantages of Switching to Spectrum from AT&T
Aggressive promotions: New-customer discounts, waived install, or Internet + Voice bundles are common.
Cable footprint: In some areas, Spectrum may be the only cable provider offering higher speeds than legacy copper/DSL.
Flexibility: After the initial term (if any), many Spectrum Business broadband services move month-to-month.
Growth option: Spectrum Enterprise Fiber is available in Ellis County and can scale as needs grow.
3) Advantages of Switching to AT&T from Spectrum
Fiber reliability & symmetry: AT&T Business Fiber generally offers symmetric speeds—great for backups, VoIP, and cloud workflows.
Strong satisfaction signals: AT&T Fiber frequently performs well in industry satisfaction studies.
Scalability: AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) provides enterprise-grade SLAs for uptime and performance.
4) Disadvantages / Challenges
Spectrum → AT&T
Install timelines can be longer—especially if fiber construction is needed.
Availability: ABF is still expanding in parts of Ellis County; not all sites will qualify. ADI is widely available but may be more expensive than most businesses need.
Support perceptions vary: Some customers report service/support frustrations. (Experiences differ by market and product.)
Contract risk: If you’re under a Spectrum term agreement, ETFs may apply. (This typically doesn’t apply to month-to-month Spectrum Business broadband.)
AT&T → Spectrum
Asymmetric speeds on cable: Upload speeds are usually lower than fiber.
Example: Spectrum 500×20 vs. AT&T Fiber 100×100.
Promo roll-offs: Rates can increase after promotional periods. (We’ll outline all expected charges up front so there are no surprises.)
5) Costs to Expect
Early Termination Fees (ETFs) if you leave mid-term.
Install/activation fees (often waived via promos; otherwise commonly $99–$300).
Overlap month during cutover.
Equipment: Modem/router leases or upgrades as needed.
6) Will I Save Money?
Often—if you switch strategically.
AT&T and Spectrum routinely run competitive promotions.
Many businesses save 10–30% or get higher speeds for similar cost by comparing side-by-side.
The key is having a local, neutral advisor (like Caliber) compare apples to apples.
7) Beyond AT&T and Spectrum: Exploring 3rd-Party Providers
AT&T and Spectrum aren’t the only options. A growing set of third-party providers wholesale Internet and voice and layer on:
Managed IT services (monitoring, support)
Business-grade firewalls & managed cybersecurity
Wireless failover/backup for continuity
Cloud VoIP/UCaaS with mobility and collaboration
8) Why This Matters
By moving beyond a “big-box” approach, businesses can:
Bundle value-adds (security, backup, support) into connectivity spend
Consolidate vendors under a single point of contact
Maximize value—often paying the same or less than AT&T/Spectrum alone, with more included
9) A Better Solution for the Same Spend
Because Caliber works with hundreds of providers, we can show you AT&T vs. Spectrum and best-fit alternatives that may let you:
Add managed services
Enhance firewall/cybersecurity
Ensure wireless backup continuity
—while staying within today’s budget
Conclusion
Switching between AT&T and Spectrum can absolutely lead to savings and performance improvements—but sometimes the best solution is to step outside both and look at third-party options. With the right strategy, you can add managed service, stronger security, and backup protection—for the same or less than you’re paying now.
Caliber Solves IT brings all options to the table and guides you to the right choice—at no cost to you (providers pay us).
Ready to explore? Book a Free Bill Review & Solution Consultation below.