31Truth
CenturyLink
2.5
(1 reviews)PoorDSL
CenturyLink provides DSL internet service in areas where Quantum Fiber is not available. While speeds are limited compared to cable and fiber alternatives, CenturyLink offers affordable options for basic internet needs in rural and suburban areas.
Founded
1968
Locations served
3 million
Headquarters
Monroe, LA
Coverage
National
Pros
- Price lock for life guarantee
- No annual contract required
- Affordable entry-level pricing
- Available in many rural areas
Cons
- Very slow speeds in most areas (up to 100 Mbps max)
- DSL technology is outdated and being phased out
- Speed depends on distance from central office
- Poor customer service reputation
Brand Pulse — Public Sentiment Analysis
AI-PoweredAI-analyzed from 14,271 consumer mentions across Reddit, X, BBB, and review sites
-0.38
out of +1.00Previously -0.28(-0.10)
14,271total mentions
71last 30 days
Category Breakdown
Speed
-0.4
Price
-0.1
Reliability
-0.5
Customer Service
-0.6
Installation
-0.3
Billing
-0.4
What People Love
Price for Life value8
Fiber speed when working6
Self-install flexibility4
Top Complaints
Prolonged outages, no ETA22
Poor customer service/AI hold loops18
Billing and autopay failures11
Slow DSL speeds, no upgrades9
Trending Issues
Multi-week outages with no resolution timeline - customers in Aurora CO, Tillamook OR, and Maricopa County AZ all reporting days-to-weeks of downtime with daily pushbacks on estimated fix timeshigh18
Autopay and billing portal failures silently dropping customers into suspension without notice, particularly after a portal redesign roughly 6 months agohigh9
Legacy DSL customers stuck on 15-100 Mbps plans with no upgrade path, increasingly frustrated as Quantum Fiber transition creates service gaps and confusion over which entity services their addressmedium12
Notable Quotes
“How can one company be so astronomically terrible? Internet went down last Thursday, was told it would be up within 24 hours... called again? Oops, now it's a few days! Repeated over and over - and having to sit through the AI system every time just to beg to talk to a single living person.”
Reddit2026-03-28
“I'm paying for around 15 mbps which isn't great... My emails can't even open. I'm miserable. Where I live CenturyLink is my only option.”
Reddit2026-04-08
“Internet outage in Aurora, CO for 2 weeks now. Zero info from CenturyLink on what's going on or realistic estimated resolution times. Every day they just push the estimated time to the next day.”
Reddit2026-04-10
“The forced internet from CenturyLink in Stirling Ranch is awful. It cuts out all the time. Not worth the money. 2k penalty for canceling and there are no other options here.”
Reddit2026-04-06
Available Plans
| Plan | Download | Upload | Type | Data Cap | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Simply Unlimited Internet Price for life guarantee | 40 Mbps | 3 Mbps | DSL | Unlimited | $50/mo |
Simply Unlimited 100 Price for life guarantee | 100 Mbps | 10 Mbps | DSL | Unlimited | $50/mo |
Simply Unlimited Internet
DSL$50/mo
Download
40 Mbps
Upload
3 Mbps
Data Cap
Unlimited
Simply Unlimited 100
DSL$50/mo
Download
100 Mbps
Upload
10 Mbps
Data Cap
Unlimited
Coverage Area
DSL service available in parts of 37 states across the Lumen/CenturyLink legacy footprint, primarily in rural and suburban areas not yet upgraded to Quantum Fiber.
View on FCC Broadband MapCustomer Reviews
Stuck on ancient DSL
I'm paying $50/month for 12 Mbps DSL in 2024. CenturyLink has no plans to upgrade our area. My kids can't even do homework reliably. Meanwhile, the next town over has Quantum Fiber at 940 Mbps for $65. This is not acceptable.
Carol J.·Rural Nebraska·Nov 12, 2024
Tested: 11 Mbps down / 1 Mbps up