Earthlink
EarthLink is a US-based, Trive Capital-backed internet service provider offering residential and business connectivity via fiber, 5G fixed wireless, and Viasat satellite across 96% of the continental US, serving millions of consumers, SMBs, and rural households.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Earthlink does
EarthLink is a US-based internet service provider (ISP) headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1994 and currently operating as a private company under private equity sponsor Trive Capital since 2019. The company delivers residential and business internet across approximately 96% of the continental United States (48 states) through three distinct technology platforms: (1) fiber-to-the-door broadband using the company's claimed largest US fiber network, offering symmetrical speeds from 100 Mbps up to 5 Gbps; (2) fixed wireless 5G/4G LTE home internet using cellular tower connectivity with automatic speed optimization; and (3) geostationary satellite internet delivered via a reseller relationship with Viasat for underserved rural geographies. The technology stack is largely multi-vendor and partnership-dependent rather than proprietary, with last-mile fiber often riding AT&T infrastructure lines and security products white-labeled from Norton.
EarthLink monetizes through recurring monthly subscriptions with tiered pricing — promotional fiber plans start at $24.95/month with a 12-month price-lock guarantee, while 5G wireless plans start at $49.95/month and satellite plans scale from 15GB to 300GB data allowances. Revenue streams include residential internet subscriptions, business internet subscriptions (with cybersecurity, digital marketing, and branding bundled), equipment rental (modems/routers), security/privacy add-ons (Cyber Safety, EasyTech, Online Backup), and supplementary services such as EarthLink Live TV (150+ channels) and EarthLink Perks. The go-to-market is omnichannel: heavy reliance on 24/7 toll-free phone sales, website self-service with address-based availability checking, and a separate business portal at business.earthlink.net; notably, EarthLink refers non-serviceable prospects to competitor ISPs (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Frontier, CenturyLink, DirecTV).
The company serves three primary customer segments: residential consumers (primary), small and medium businesses (primary), and rural/underserved households (primary) — the latter being a deliberate strategic focus given the rural positioning. Business and consumer customers are not differentiated by named large enterprise accounts; the book appears to be highly distributed across millions of customers. Since 2023, EarthLink has pursued an aggressive roll-up strategy, acquiring One Ring Networks (FWA, July 2023), BroadAspect (fiber + fixed wireless, April 2024), and Nextera Communications (Minnesota fixed wireless, September 2024) — its fifth business internet acquisition in a year — alongside a 2025 rural network partnership with Wireless Partners Broadband ($70M North Florida buildout).
Earthlink firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Earthlink
- Legal name
- EarthLink, LLC
- Website
- https://earthlink.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- EarthLink is a US-based, Trive Capital-backed internet service provider offering residential and business connectivity via fiber, 5G fixed wireless, and Viasat satellite across 96% of the continental US, serving millions of consumers, SMBs, and rural households.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Earthlink industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Internet Service Provider (Residential and Business Broadband)
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Satellite Telecommunications (5174)
- SIC
- Radiotelephone Communications (4812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Satellite Broadband Internet Access (Consumer/SMB) (HDAIAJAA)
Keywords
Where Earthlink is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Earthlink business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Residential Internet Subscription: Monthly subscription fees for residential internet services including fiber, wireless 5G, and satellite internet. Customers pay recurring monthly fees based on selected speed tiers and service type. Fiber plans offer price-lock guarantees for 12 months.
- Business Internet Services: Dedicated business internet solutions including fiber internet, cybersecurity services, digital marketing, branding, and free business listings. Business plans are priced higher than residential and include additional services like private email.
- Equipment Rental: Monthly router/modem fees for wireless 5G home internet equipment lease. The router fee appears as a separate line item on invoices for equipment leased to customers.
- Satellite Internet Service: Satellite internet service with data plans ranging from 15GB to 300GB per month. Equipment can be leased or purchased. Professional installation required with associated startup costs.
- Security and Privacy Services: Additional security services including EarthLink Cyber Safety (antivirus, VPN, parental controls, identity theft insurance powered by Norton), EarthLink EasyTech (remote technical support), and EarthLink Online Backup (cloud storage). Offered as add-on services with 30-day free trials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | 100 Mbps Fiber - Best for up to 5 devices |
| Subscription | Monthly | 300 Mbps Fiber - Optimal for up to 12 devices |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1 Gig (1000 Mbps) Fiber - Perfect for up to 15 devices |
| Subscription | Monthly | 5 Gig (5000 Mbps) Fiber - Unlimited devices |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Wireless 5G Home Internet - Unlimited Data Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Satellite Internet - Data Plans 15GB to 300GB |
| Subscription | Monthly | EarthLink Security Suite - Cyber Safety, EasyTech, Online Backup |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Earthlink product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EarthLink provides residential and business internet connectivity through fiber-optic, fixed wireless 5G/4G LTE, and satellite (Viasat) networks across 96% of the continental United States. Service plans range from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps with symmetrical fiber speeds, unlimited data, no throttling, and 12-month price-lock guarantees. The portfolio extends to add-on security (Cyber Safety, EasyTech, Online Backup), streaming TV, and dedicated EarthLink Business solutions for SMB and enterprise customers.
Product overview
EarthLink operates as an internet service provider offering a multi-technology connectivity portfolio. The core offering consists of three primary internet service types: Fiber Internet (100% fiber-to-the-door with speeds up to 5 Gigs), Wireless 5G Home Internet (fixed wireless via cellular networks), and Satellite Internet (powered by Viasat for rural areas). These are complemented by business-focused EarthLink Business Internet and a suite of security/privacy add-ons including EarthLink Cyber Safety (powered by Norton), EasyTech remote support, and Online Backup. Additional services include TV streaming via EarthLink Live TV, a customer savings program called EarthLink Perks, and moving/transfer services. The company serves both residential and business segments across 96% of the continental U.S.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EarthLink Fiber: 100% fiber internet service with speeds up to 5 Gigs, no data caps, symmetrical speeds
- EarthLink Wireless 5G Home Internet
- EarthLink Satellite Internet
- EarthLink Secure
- EarthLink EasyTech
- EarthLink Online Backup
- EarthLink Live TV
Products and services
- EarthLink Fiber Internet 100% fiber-to-the-door internet service for households offering symmetrical upload and download speeds up to 5 Gbps, unlimited data, no throttling, and a 12-month price-lock guarantee. Plans span 100 Mbps to 5,000 Mbps.
- EarthLink Wireless 5G Home Internet Fixed wireless home internet delivered via 5G and 4G LTE cellular networks, with speeds up to 100 Mbps, easy self-installation, no contracts, no credit checks, and unlimited data options.
- EarthLink Satellite Internet Viasat-powered satellite internet service for rural and hard-to-reach areas with speeds up to 100 Mbps, data plans from 15GB to 300GB, equipment lease or purchase, and professional dish installation.
- EarthLink Rural Internet Rural internet service combining EarthLink Wireless 5G Home Internet and EarthLink Satellite Internet options, covering 96% of homes across 48 states for residents in underserved areas.
- EarthLink Business Internet Business-focused internet service for SMB and enterprise customers with speeds up to 5 Gbps, unlimited data, cybersecurity, digital marketing, branding, and free business listings via business.earthlink.net.
- EarthLink Cyber Safety Online security suite powered by Norton that bundles antivirus, secure VPN, credit alerts, parental controls, and identity theft insurance for EarthLink subscribers.
- EarthLink EasyTech Remote technical support service for smart devices, providing on-demand product experts to walk subscribers through tech issues and troubleshooting.
- EarthLink Online Backup Cloud backup service that automatically backs up and syncs files, photos, videos, and documents across multiple devices with customizable storage tiers.
- EarthLink Live TV Live TV streaming service offering 150+ channels of live TV, sports, entertainment, and popular shows, available as a bundle with EarthLink Fiber plans of 300 Mbps or higher.
- EarthLink Moving Service Internet service transfer and relocation assistance for existing EarthLink subscribers moving to a new address, including flexible plan options and fast installation.
Quantifiable outcome
- No. 1 Customer Satisfaction Award in 2020 and 2021 by highspeedinternet.com
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Earthlink
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Earthlink technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Earthlink partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Wireless Partners BroadbandcoreStrategic partnership to bring $70 million network upgrade to rural customers in North Florida. Wireless Partners launched a high-speed network to replace outdated DSL infrastructure, with EarthLink providing customer access and service delivery. The partnership enables ultra-high-capacity broadband in underserved communities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Earthlink competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HughesNet: Satellite internet service targeting rural and underserved US households. Closely comparable to EarthLink's Viasat-powered Satellite Internet product for rural customers.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: 5G fixed wireless home internet service leveraging T-Mobile's cellular network — same technology stack as EarthLink's Wireless 5G Home Internet, targeting the same rural and underserved customer segment.
- Frontier Communications: Fiber and DSL internet provider focused on markets across the US including rural regions. Closely comparable to EarthLink's fiber-plus-rural positioning, and one of EarthLink's named referral partners.
- CenturyLink / Lumen Technologies: US telecom carrier offering fiber, DSL, and business internet services. Comparable to EarthLink in serving residential and SMB customers with multi-technology connectivity, and a named EarthLink referral partner.
- Viasat: Satellite internet provider and EarthLink's wholesale capacity partner for its satellite offering. Directly competes with EarthLink's rural satellite product while simultaneously supplying its infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- AT&T Internet: Tier-1 US telecom offering fiber and 5G fixed wireless home internet nationwide. AT&T is both EarthLink's primary fiber wholesaler (per customer-reported technicians and lines) and a competitor, making it the most direct structural peer.
- Verizon Fios / Home Internet: Tier-1 US telecom offering Fios fiber-to-the-home and 5G Home fixed wireless. Direct competitor in fiber internet with overlapping symmetrical-speed positioning and one of EarthLink's named referral partners.
- Charter Spectrum: Major US cable ISP offering broadband to residential and business customers. Direct competitor in residential internet and explicitly named by EarthLink among the cable ISPs it positions against.
- Comcast Xfinity: Largest US cable ISP, offering broadband, mobile, and bundled services. Comparable to EarthLink on residential internet and a primary named competitor in EarthLink's value-proposition contrast.
Emerging players
- Starlink (SpaceX): LEO satellite broadband from SpaceX targeting the same rural and underserved US households that EarthLink serves via satellite and 5G fixed wireless. Increasingly disruptive competitor for EarthLink's rural customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Earthlink social profiles
Digital presenceEarthlink compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance15 records
Earthlink financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Earthlink leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Earthlink subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Earthlink funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Earthlink M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A12 records
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Earthlink
What does Earthlink do?
EarthLink provides residential and business internet connectivity through fiber-optic, fixed wireless 5G/4G LTE, and satellite (Viasat) networks across 96% of the continental United States. Service plans range from 100 Mbps to 5 Gbps with symmetrical fiber speeds, unlimited data, no throttling, and 12-month price-lock guarantees. The portfolio extends to add-on security (Cyber Safety, EasyTech, Online Backup), streaming TV, and dedicated EarthLink Business solutions for SMB and enterprise customers.
Is Earthlink a public or private company?
Earthlink is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Earthlink founded?
Earthlink was founded in 1994. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Earthlink based?
Earthlink is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Earthlink make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Residential Internet Subscription is the primary driver. The others are business Internet Services, equipment Rental, satellite Internet Service and security and Privacy Services.
Who are Earthlink's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HughesNet, T-Mobile Home Internet, Frontier Communications, CenturyLink / Lumen Technologies and Viasat. Broad incumbents are AT&T Internet, Verizon Fios / Home Internet, Charter Spectrum and Comcast Xfinity. Starlink (SpaceX) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Earthlink have an API?
No public API is recorded for Earthlink.
What industry is Earthlink in?
Earthlink's product category is Internet Service Provider (Residential and Business Broadband). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIABAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP/FTTH) Broadband Providers, with a secondary code of HDAIAJAA, Satellite Broadband Internet Access (Consumer/SMB). Its NAICS code is 51711 and its SIC code is 4812.