Astound Broadband (RCN/Wave/Grande/enTouch) — Honest 2026 Review
Astound Broadband is the consolidated brand for what used to be RCN (Northeast/DC metro), Wave Broadband (PNW/CA), Grande Communications (TX), and enTouch Systems (TX). Cable + fiber hybrid network across major US metros. The honest pitch: Astound consistently undercuts Xfinity/Spectrum retail by $10-30/mo in markets where they compete. Owned by Stonepeak since 2020.
The short version
- Who: Astound Broadband (consolidated brand) — Stonepeak owned.
- Footprint: NYC/NJ/DC/Boston (RCN legacy), PNW + Bay Area (Wave), Austin/San Marcos/Corpus Christi TX (Grande/enTouch).
- Tech: DOCSIS 3.1 cable + fiber overbuild in select metros.
- Speeds: 300 Mbps - 1.5 Gbps cable / up to 5 Gbps fiber.
- Recommendation: 🟢 GREEN — usually cheaper than the dominant cable competitor.
Astound tiers + 2026 pricing
Verified at astound.com May 2026. Pricing varies by market.
| Tier | Speed | Y1 promo | Retail Y2+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | 300 / 20 Mbps | $30/mo | $60/mo |
| 600 Mbps | 600 / 30 Mbps | $50/mo | $80/mo |
| 1 Gig | 1,000 / 50 Mbps | $60/mo | $90/mo |
| Fiber 1 Gig (where available) | 1,000 / 1,000 Mbps | $70/mo | $95/mo |
Rick's installer take
Astound is the cable-but-cheaper play. In NYC metro where their RCN footprint competes with Xfinity, you save $20-30/mo for similar specs. Where they have fiber overbuild (parts of Boston, parts of PNW), the symmetric gig at $95 retail is competitive. Solid alternative when fiber from a major operator isn't available.
How to check your address
- Visit astound.com.
- Cross-reference with our Coverage Grid.