Brace yourself, because your home internet bill is about to get more expensive—again. For the second year in a row, AT&T is hiking prices on its internet plans, leaving many customers wondering why they’re footing the bill for a company that’s already raking in billions in profit. Here’s the breakdown: AT&T confirmed to The Verge that all internet plans will see a $5 monthly increase starting December 1, 2025. This follows a similar $5 hike in November 2024 and, according to reports on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/ATT/comments/15b3xp4/fiberinternet1000wentupby5withno/), another $5 increase for some customers in 2023. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this price hike really about covering costs, or is it just another way for AT&T to pad its already massive profits?
In an email sent out Thursday, AT&T explained the increase as necessary to ‘ensure we continue providing the quality service and support you deserve.’ Sounds reasonable, right? But let’s dig deeper. AT&T spokesperson Jim Kimberly stated, ‘As we work to meet the evolving needs of our business and manage increasing operational costs, we’re adjusting our internet plan rates to help maintain the high-quality service our customers expect.’ The company did report $300 million in higher operating expenses last quarter—but it also made $4.9 billion in profit during those same three months (https://about.att.com/story/2025/2q-earnings.html) and a staggering $12.3 billion in profit for all of 2024 (https://about.att.com/story/2025/4q-earnings.html). So, where’s the balance?
AT&T isn’t completely tone-deaf to customer concerns. They’re offering a $10 monthly discount for customers who enroll in Autopay and Paperless Billing with an eligible bank account, or a $5 discount for those using a debit card. But for many, this feels like a bandaid on a bullet wound. And this is the part most people miss: While the increase applies to all plans, it excludes customers who signed up in the last year and those in the Access from AT&T program for low-income households. Is this a fair compromise, or does it just highlight the growing divide between what companies charge and what consumers can afford?
Take my situation, for example. I signed up with AT&T in 2022 for around $80 a month. Now, I’m paying $85.38, and soon it’ll be over $90. That’s a 12.5% increase in just three years—far outpacing inflation. And I’m not alone. Many customers are left wondering: Are these price hikes truly necessary, or is AT&T prioritizing shareholders over subscribers?
Here’s the full email I received, so you can judge for yourself: [Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge]. What do you think? Is AT&T justified in raising prices yet again, or is this a step too far? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss.
