The acquisition of Starry by a major carrier raises concerns that the promise of increased competition in home internet for renters may be an illusion. The consolidation trend, driven by the rise of 5G and fixed wireless access, could lead to fewer choices and potential monopolies.
With major carriers buying up smaller internet providers, the promise of more competition might just be an illusion for millions of renters.It feels like every other week, another company gets swallowed up by a bigger one.
While that’s true across a lot of industries, it feels particularly painful in the world of internet service providers. For those living in apartment complexes across the U.S., the choices for home internet can already feel frustratingly slim. And based onjust announced it’s acquiring Starry, a company that specializes in beaming high-speed wireless internet into apartment buildings. On the surface, this sounds like a good thing, right? A bigger company with more resources should mean better, more reliable service. But when you pull back the curtain, it looks less like a simple upgrade and more like another step towards a world where your only home internet choices are the same companies you already buy your cell service from. This is a big play, and you can betFor years, the battle for your home internet was fought through cables in the ground. Laying fiber is expensive and slow, which is why your choices have likely been limited to the local cable company and maybe a DSL provider. But 5G and fixed wireless access have completely changed the game. Companies likecan now use their existing cellular networks to beam fast internet directly to a receiver on your building, skipping the costly last-mile fiber installation.was a pioneer in this space, building its network specifically to serve dense, multi-dwelling units , which is basically industry-speak for"apartment buildings." By buying Starry,isn’t just getting customers; it’s acquiring a ton of specialized tech and, more importantly, a massive foothold directly inside buildings packed with potential subscribers. It’s a brilliant, aggressive move to corner the market that cable has monopolized for decades.isn’t operating in a vacuum. This move is a direct response to the massive success of its chief rival,’s 5G Home Internet has been a runaway success story. They made it incredibly simple: a flat fee, no contracts, no data caps, and a gateway you can set up yourself in 15 minutesproved that a huge number of people are ready and willing to ditch their cable company for a wireless alternative, and they’ve been adding hundreds of thousands of subscribers every quarter.is in the mix as well, though its primary focus has been on expanding its top-tier fiber network. Still, they have their own fixed wireless service,has also been investing in and acquiring regional fiber companies to bolster its own network. All three of the big mobile carriers are on the hunt, snapping up smaller, independent ISPs to absorb their infrastructure and customer lists. Each acquisition removes one more local or regional competitor from the board, pushing us closer to a reality where the only players left are the Big Three. This is where it gets a bit messy for apartment dwellers. The core of the issue is that while the FCC has rules against landlords signing deals that give one ISP exclusive access to a building, there are plenty of loopholes. A landlord can sign an exclusive marketing agreement, or a bulk-billing deal where every resident has to pay for a specific service as part of their rent. I've been in that situation myself.now owning a specialist like Starry, it’s easy to imagine them offering a very sweet deal to a property management company to make’s service the"preferred" or default provider. They can dress it up as a convenience for residents. Something like"internet included with your rent!", but in reality, it kills choice.customer and want to bundle your home internet, or if you prefer a local fiber provider, you could be out of luck. We’re trading one set of gatekeepers for another . While the technology is new and the marketing is slick, the end result could be the same: a duopoly or triopoly that leaves consumers with little real power. The small, innovative ISPs that often provide fantastic service are being squeezed out or bought up. And for those living in apartment complexes, where the landlord holds the ultimate power over building access, the walls are closing in. It feels like it’s only a matter of time before our internet provider is chosen for us before we even sign the lease.is a stunningly illustrated book we’ve been crafting for over a year—and it’s set to launch in just a couple of months!is the ultimate coffee table book for any phone enthusiast. Featuring the stories of more than 20 beloved devices, it takes you on a nostalgic journey through the mobile revolution that transformed our world. Don’t miss out—sign up today to lock in your early-bird discount!Data-only plans & global coverage – use code IPHONEARENA30 Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.Phonearena comments rules A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.Multiple accounts - one person can have only one accountTo help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can post or comment.Moderation is done by humans. 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